Final answer:
The true statement regarding map projections is that different map projections have specific distortions based on their design and purpose. Mercator projections are designed with navigation in mind but distort the size of landmasses at higher latitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question about map projections according to Eckert is C) Different map projections have specific distortions based on their design and purpose. This means that each map projection is created with certain goals in mind, which can affect the representation of area, shape, distance, and direction. For example, Mercator projections are designed to represent navigation routes as straight lines, which is useful for maritime navigation but results in significant distortion of landmasses as you move away from the equator, making them appear larger than they actually are relative to those near the equator.
Mercator projections, which are a type of cylindrical map projection, maintain consistent latitude lines. This feature makes them invaluable for navigation but leads to exaggerated sizes of continents and distances in higher latitudes. An interesting example of this distortion is the apparent size comparison between the United States and Africa. On a Mercator map, the United States may seem to be very close in size to Africa, although it's actually much smaller. In reality, the United States, China, and India could all fit within the African continent with room to spare.
Understanding map projections and their inherent distortions is crucial for interpreting geographic information accurately and for recognizing the perspectives and limitations embedded in different types of maps.