Why does National Geographic prefer the Robinson Projection?

National Geographic's preference for the Robinson Projection stems from its balanced representation of geographic features, making it a visually appealing choice for world maps. The Robinson Projection is known for its ability to portray higher latitudes more effectively than many other projections. This projection reduces distortion in area, shape, and distance, particularly in the polar regions, providing a more realistic visual portrayal of the Earth’s surface as a whole.

While it’s true that many projections may preserve area or shape, the Robinson Projection achieves a compromise that allows it to display both landmasses and oceans in a manner that is less distorted as one moves towards the poles. This characteristic makes it particularly useful for educational and thematic maps, helping viewers understand spatial relationships better across the entire globe.