Maailmakaart

Maailmakaart is an Estonian term that translates to "world map." It refers to a cartographic representation of the Earth's surface, displaying its continents, oceans, countries, and sometimes major geographical features. World maps are fundamental tools for understanding geography, political boundaries, and the spatial relationships between different parts of the globe.

These maps can vary greatly in their projection methods, which inevitably introduce distortions to the spherical Earth's representation on a flat surface. Common projections include the Mercator projection, known for its use in navigation but which exaggerates areas near the poles, and the Gall-Peters projection, which aims for equal-area representation but distorts shapes. The choice of projection significantly influences the visual perception of landmass sizes and their relative positions.

Maailmakaart can be found in various forms, including educational atlases, navigational charts, digital mapping applications, and wall hangings. They serve numerous purposes, from academic study and travel planning to geopolitical analysis and everyday reference. The evolution of cartography, aided by satellite imagery and advanced computing, has led to increasingly accurate and detailed world maps.