* Distance: The actual distances between locations on a flat map are rarely accurate, especially at larger scales.
* Shape: Shapes of landmasses and other geographical features can be distorted, often becoming stretched or compressed.
* Size: The relative sizes of continents and countries can be misrepresented, with some appearing larger or smaller than they actually are.
* Direction: Compass directions, especially at higher latitudes, can be inaccurate on a flat map. This means that a line drawn straight on the map might not represent a true compass bearing.
In summary: Flat maps always involve some kind of distortion, as it is impossible to represent a curved surface (the Earth) accurately on a flat surface without sacrificing some of these properties.
