Which map projection is known for preserving direction?

The Mercator projection is known for preserving direction, making it a valuable tool for navigation. This means that a straight line drawn between any two points on a Mercator map indicates the shortest route for sea travel, preserving angles and shapes accurately in small areas. As a result, it is particularly useful for marine charts and navigation applications where maintaining a correct bearing is essential.

The projection achieves this by distorting the size and shape of landmasses as they move away from the equator. While areas near the equator are represented proportionately, regions closer to the poles become increasingly stretched. This characteristic of the Mercator projection allows navigators to plot straight-line courses easily while understanding that the relative sizes of regions may not be accurately represented.

Other projections like the Equidistant or Robinson projections focus on preserving different properties, such as distances or overall visual aesthetics, rather than direction. The Mollweide projection, for example, prioritizes equal-area representation, which sacrifices shape and direction accuracy. Thus, the unique attribute of the Mercator projection in preserving direction is its defining feature, making it the correct answer in this context.