Here's a breakdown:
* The Mercator Projection: This projection was crucial for navigation because it preserves angles and shapes, making it possible to plot straight lines representing constant compass bearings. However, it distorts the size of landmasses, particularly at higher latitudes, making them appear larger than they are in reality.
* Other Contributions: Mercator was also a skilled cartographer, globe maker, and instrument maker. He produced a number of important maps and atlases, including a world map that was highly influential for its time.
So, while the Mercator projection is his most famous contribution, Gerardus Mercator was a multifaceted scholar who made significant contributions to the fields of cartography and navigation.