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Map Distortion

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"Debunking the Myth: Sailing Straight from USA to India"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by IFLScience

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Source: IFLScience

People are confused about how one can sail from the USA to India in a straight line due to the distortions caused by the Mercator projection, a common map representation. This cylindrical map projection distorts size and shape, especially away from the equator, making straight lines on a globe appear differently on a flat map. Despite these distortions, a straight-line course from the USA to India is possible with minimal steering adjustments.