Cartography Quiz

Understanding the Shape of the Earth

• The best representation of the shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning it is roughly spherical in shape but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.

Maps vs. Globes

• A map is a two-dimensional representation of the Earth's surface, whereas a globe is a three-dimensional model.
• Maps are flat and cannot accurately represent the Earth's curved surface, resulting in distortions, whereas globes can maintain the proportions and shapes of the Earth's features.

What Maps Represent

• Maps represent the Earth's surface, including geographical features such as countries, oceans, rivers, and mountains.
• Maps can also display additional information such as climate zones, population density, and cultural or historical data.

Test your knowledge of cartography with this quiz on maps and globes. Explore the fundamentals of map representation, understanding the geoid shape of the earth, and the process of creating a two-dimensional representation of our planet.