Conformal projections are a type of map projection that preserves angles, making them useful for navigation and meteorology. This means that shapes of small areas are maintained, allowing for accurate representation of local features. However, while angles are preserved, the overall size and area of larger regions may be distorted. One of the most well-known examples of a conformal projection is the Mercator projection. It is particularly effective for marine navigation because it allows sailors to plot straight-line courses. Despite its usefulness, the Mercator projection significantly enlarges areas near the poles, leading to misconceptions about the true size of countries and continents.