Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4-1:
Map
projection.
Earth's shape: Sphere-like, not spherical
People often say that Earth is a sphere. Not so. By definition, a
sphere
is a curved solid
whose surface is always the same distance from its center, no matter at what point of the
surface. Technically, Earth doesn't fit that definition. Instead, Earth is an
oblate spheroid,
meaning it is somewhat flattened at its poles, or, if you prefer, it bulges somewhat around
the Equator. The average distance from Earth's center to the Equator is about 26 miles
farther than the average distance from Earth's center to the poles. Compared to the size
of Earth, 26 miles isn't a great distance, but it's enough to make Earth not a real sphere.
It's better to say Earth is sphere-like, or an oblate spheroid.
