====== Orthodrome ======

This designates the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, and thus for navigators or aviators, the shortest route on the surface of the earth. On a conformal projection map such as Mercator’s, an orthodrome is not represented by a straight line but a curved line. In effect, this projection preserves angles but not distances. On a map using a Mercator projection, a straight line corresponding to a route that cuts all meridians at a constant angle is called a rhumb line or a [[english:glossary:loxodrome|loxodrome]].

\\ See also: [[english:glossary:conformal|Conformal (Projection)]], [[english:glossary:equivalent|Equivalent (Projection)]], [[english:glossary:projection|Projection (System of)]]
\\ [[glossaire:orthodromie|[French: Orthodromie]]]