To hijack discussion, here's another quirk of mapping: Border disputes can be uplifted into state law. Google adjusts how it renders maps into IN economy IPs because its illegal to show maps about Kashmir which imply Pakistan's claims over the territory are legitimate.
I've had to adjust slide-ware for use in the Indian subcontinent.
A different kind of "distortion" but very real.
Projections can be complicated. I value mapping tools which let you re-center a global map off 0° Longitude. I also value maps which manage to fit all of the Pac-rim island economies into some kind of view: No way is land mass or distance to scale, to usefully show this region.
If you believe maps, Hawaii is almost as big as Alaska and just offshore of the Catalina Islands. It also seems to have a very squared-off moat, maybe its a border wall...
I've had to adjust slide-ware for use in the Indian subcontinent.
A different kind of "distortion" but very real.
Projections can be complicated. I value mapping tools which let you re-center a global map off 0° Longitude. I also value maps which manage to fit all of the Pac-rim island economies into some kind of view: No way is land mass or distance to scale, to usefully show this region.
If you believe maps, Hawaii is almost as big as Alaska and just offshore of the Catalina Islands. It also seems to have a very squared-off moat, maybe its a border wall...