but it works for any area that you chose.
Figure 2.19: A gnomonic projection places a flat piece of paper on a point somewhere on
Earth and projects an image from that point. ( 36 )
Robinson Projection
In 1963, Arthur Robinson made a map that looks better in terms of shapes and sizes. He
translated coordinates onto the map instead of using mathematical formulas. He did this so
that regions on the map would look right. This map is shaped like an ellipse (oval shape)
rather than a rectangle (Figure2.20).
Figure 2.20: A Robinson projection uses mathematical formulas to best represent the true
shapes and sizes of areas on Earth. ( 13 )
Robinson’s map shows less distortion near the poles and keeps shapes and sizes of continents
close to their true dimensions, especially within 45 degrees of the equator. The distances
along the equator and lines parallel to it are true, but the scales along each line of latitude
are different. In 1988, the National Geographic Society adopted Robinson’s projection for
all of its world maps. Whatever map projection is used, maps are designed to help us find
places and to be able to get from one place to another. So how do you find your location on
a map? Let’s look.