The Albers Equal-Area Conic is a type of map projection used for representing regions of the Earth. It is designed to maintain area proportions, meaning that areas on the map are in true proportion to their corresponding areas on the globe. This makes it particularly useful for statistical and thematic mapping where accurate area representation is essential. This projection is defined by two standard parallels, which are lines of latitude where the scale is true. The Albers Equal-Area Conic is commonly used for mapping large areas, such as continents or countries, and is favored in cartography for its balance between shape and area accuracy.