Question

Why do two-dimensional maps of Earth have distortions?

Answer 1

Because the only way to properly represent places on a sphere is on another sphere.... a flat map cannot properly depict the distances between more than three different places. ... Earth is three-dimensional, but maps are two-dimensional. ... Unfortunately two-dimensional maps usually show ...

Answer 2

Because the only way to properly represent places on a sphere is on another sphere.... a flat map cannot properly depict the distances between more than three different places.

Imagine three points on the surface of a ball, all out of 'sight' of each other because of the curvature of the ball. If you draw a straight ling between each of them you would get a 'triangle' whose lines curve around the surface of the ball.