Equidistant Cylindrical projection

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The Equidistant Cylindrical projection is probably the simplest of all map projections to construct and perhaps one of the oldest. The Equidistant Cylindrical projection probably originated with Eratosthenes (275?-195? B.C), the scientist and geographer noted for his fairly accurate measure of the size of the Earth, or Marinus of Tyre (100A.D.).

The meridians and parallels are all equidistant straight parallel lines, the two sets crossing at right angles. It is neither equal-area nor conformal, and is used primarily for world or regional maps.
Equidistant Cylindrical world map projection

The USGS uses the Equidistant Cylindrical projection for index maps of the conterminous U.S., with insets of Alaska, Hawaii, and various islands on the same projection.[1]

References

  1. "Map Projections - A Working Manual" by John P. Snyder - USGS Professional Paper 1395

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