Why do distortions occur in maps?

Distortions occur in maps primarily because maps are flat representations of the Earth's spherical shape. When projecting the three-dimensional surface of the Earth onto a two-dimensional plane, certain characteristics—such as area, shape, distance, and direction—will inevitably be altered. This phenomenon is known as map projection distortion. Different projection methods aim to minimize these distortions in various ways, but none can eliminate them entirely.

For instance, a Mercator projection preserves angles and shapes for navigational purposes but significantly distorts the size of landmasses near the poles. Alternatively, an equal-area projection maintains the proportional sizes of different regions, but it may alter shapes and angles. Thus, understanding that the Earth is round and recognizing the challenges inherent in flattening it into a map helps explain why distortions occur.