What advantages do flat maps have over globe maps?

Question

Flat maps are convenient carry and can be made larger, so details can be seen more accurately.

When rolled into tubes flat maps can be made to seem like globes.

Flat maps can be made large enough that land masses appear the correct size.

Flat maps are better if we want to get a sense of the correct proportions of all land masses and their relative sizes

Answer 1

Flat maps offer several advantages over globes:

1. Convenience and Portability: Flat maps are easier to carry, store, and transport compared to globes. They can be folded or rolled, making them more practical for everyday use, travel, or teaching.

2. Detail and Scale: Flat maps can be produced in larger formats, allowing for more detailed representations of geographical features. This enables users to see smaller features and elements that would be less visible on a globe.

3. Surface Area: Flat maps can display extensive areas of the Earth at once, which can help users visualize and understand larger contexts, such as continents or countries in relation to each other.

4. Customization: Flat maps can be created for specific purposes or themes, such as political maps, topographic maps, or thematic maps. This versatility allows for tailored presentations of geographical information.

5. Proportions and Relationships: Some types of flat maps, especially certain projection types (like equal-area projections), can maintain accurate proportions of land masses and their relative sizes, helping to avoid the distortions that can arise from globe representations.

6. Legibility and Annotation: Flat maps are generally easier to annotate with labels, notes, and additional information, making them useful for educational purposes or presentations.

While globes provide a three-dimensional representation of the Earth and can depict certain spatial relationships more accurately, flat maps excel in practicality, detail, and the ability to showcase specific information.