Map Projections

     Map projections are significant because each area is unique to its projection. Since the earth is almost an oval shape, the map user relies on the mathematical projections to represent the world into a map. However, with map projections some areas are subject to distortions.  Depending what the map user wants, the area can be conformal, equidistant, or equal area. The reason for so many map projections it gives the map user choices on whether they want to focus on for specific maps. With so many map projections the user can tailored their map to thier needs and wants.
     The potential of map projections it gives an idea of different areas projection. Some areas may get distorted severely, while other locations it remains the same. Depending on what the map user wants to display, each projections can be tailored to specific locations. For example, Mercator and Eckert1 both are conformal maps and they make Antartica look abnormally larger than what it is normally. While in Sinusoidal and Bonne, these maps can good area overview of the planet earth in general. Now in Azimuthal Equidistant and Equidistant Conic makes the equator of the earth appear wider and the continents appear smaller.
     Some of the perils, are the distance being projected. In the first map, after measuring distance between Kabul and Washington DC using Geodestic, Loxodrome, and Great Elliptic, each had different distance numbers. For example, in the Geodestic segment it read 6,934.478105 miles while in Loxodrome it read 8,112.06673 miles. In addition, with Loxodrome the length kept changing while Geodestic and Great Elliptic the length remained the same. Depending on what the map user is using, distance can be off depending on what the map user uses.
      Although different map projections gives a map user the choice on what to use, it can create different distortion or different widths. No map projections are perfect, thats why there are different map projections to choose from. The map user must know that with different styles of map projections comes with different outlooks. When it comes to map projections, it really falls on what the user wants.