What is Mercartur projection?

The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569. It is designed for maritime navigation, as it preserves angles and shapes, making it easier for sailors to plot straight-line courses. However, this projection significantly distorts the size of landmasses, particularly near the poles, making regions like Greenland appear much larger than they are relative to equatorial areas. Despite its distortions, the Mercator projection remains widely used for maps and navigation due to its practical benefits.