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Managing Misconceptions: Seafarers, great circles, and a tad of rhumb—Understanding the Mercator misconception

Science Scope—November 2010

Being flat, Mercator maps inherently misrepresent some aspects of Earth’s geography. That’s because there is absolutely no way to simultaneously conserve all of the elements of three-dimensional space in a two-dimensional model. To dispel misconceptions, check out the Activity Worksheet and the website resources included in this article. Along with your own arsenal of mapping experiences, these suggested resources offer a rich and varied landscape on which to tackle the Mercator misconception and associated misunderstandings in map projections.
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