The Mollweide projection is a type of map projection used to represent the entire surface of the Earth. It is an equal-area projection, meaning that it preserves the relative sizes of landmasses, making it useful for comparing areas. The map appears oval-shaped, with the horizontal axis representing the equator and the vertical axis stretching from pole to pole. This projection was developed by the German mathematician Karl Mollweide in the early 19th century. While it effectively shows area relationships, it distorts shapes, especially near the edges. The Mollweide projection is often used in thematic maps, such as those displaying population density or climate data.