Description: This is MercatorŐs projection of the earth. In order to show the spherical earth on a flat map, some distortions are inevitable. In MercatorŐs projection, "The directions are correct, but the size of the countries is distorted, the relative size of those portions of the surface situated near the poles being much increased. This projection is, however, more used than any other in Physical Geography, because any given direction is a straight line on the map. For this reason it is also employed for all sea-charts in use by navigators." (— Brewer, 1890)
Source: William H. Brewer Ph.,D., Warren's New Physical Geography (Philadelphia, PA: Cowperthwait and Company, 1890) 10
Map Credit: Courtesy the private collection of Roy Winkelman. |
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