How is the Earth’s surface like an orange peel

Reading and Using Maps Read more from
Chapter Maps

All attempts to represent a sphere, like the Earth, in a flat representation result in distortions. The Earth’s surface is like an orange peel. If one were able to peel an orange in one piece and then try to flatten the peel, cracks and tears would appear. Attempting to “peel” the Earth and then lay that information on a flat surface in a map creates these same open areas. Map makers attempt to create maps that represent the spherical Earth with as little distortion as possible. The various strategies for this are called projections.