A circular surface area, when drawn on a map designed to preserve area, might appear as an oval.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is because maps, especially those designed to preserve area, use various projection methods to represent the three-dimensional surface of the Earth onto a two-dimensional map. In some projections, such as the Mercator projection, the distortion increases towards the poles, resulting in a stretching and elongation of shapes near the poles, which can cause circular shapes to appear as ovals.

A Circular Surface Area, When Drawn on a Map Designed