Map Evidence Lab
Maps
Historical maps, projections, geographic evidence, scriptural cosmology, and institutional symbolism — with sources, uncertainty, and clear separation between artifact facts and interpretation.
Projection Lab
Same coastline dataset, eight projections
Every projection below renders the identical Natural Earth 1:110m land polygon dataset. Only the projection math changes. What you see is the projection's distortion signature — not different data.
Dataset · Natural Earth 1:110m coastline / countries (via world-atlas TopoJSON) · Public domain (Natural Earth)
Equirectangular (Plate Carrée)
Marinus of Tyre (attributed) · c. 100 CE
Intended for · Simple raster display; digital elevation grids.
Preserves · Meridian spacing along the equator; latitude spacing.
Distorts · Shape and area, worsening toward the poles.
Mercator
Gerardus Mercator · 1569
Intended for · Marine navigation via rhumb lines.
Preserves · Local shape (conformal); rhumb-line bearings.
Distorts · Area, strongly toward the poles.
Equal Earth
Šavrič, Patterson & Jenny · 2018
Intended for · General-purpose thematic mapping with honest area.
Preserves · Area globally (equal-area).
Distorts · Shape, especially near the edges.
Robinson
Arthur H. Robinson · 1963 (adopted by NGS 1988)
Intended for · General-purpose world map; visually balanced compromise.
Preserves · Nothing exactly (compromise).
Distorts · Area and shape moderately everywhere.
Orthographic (globe view)
Hipparchus (attributed) · c. 200 BCE
Intended for · Depict Earth as seen from infinite distance; hemispheric reference.
Preserves · Shape near the viewpoint; visually a sphere.
Distorts · Far side is not visible; edges foreshorten.
Azimuthal Equidistant · North Pole
Postel (attributed) · 1581
Intended for · Radio/aeronautical range; UN emblem projection.
Preserves · Distance and azimuth from the center point (North Pole).
Distorts · Southern hemisphere becomes a large outer ring.
Azimuthal Equidistant · South Pole
Postel (attributed) · 1581
Intended for · Southern-hemisphere reference; Antarctic charts.
Preserves · Distance and azimuth from the center (South Pole).
Distorts · Northern hemisphere becomes an outer ring.
Gleason layout — analytical approximation
d3 azimuthal equidistant, N-pole centered (analytical stand-in) · n/a
Intended for · A documented mathematical approximation of the Gleason 1892 layout for structural comparison only. NOT the authentic archival scan.
Preserves · Same as N-pole azimuthal equidistant.
Distorts · Same as N-pole azimuthal equidistant.