How does the Transverse Mercator projection help map places that extend north to south?

The Transverse Mercator projection is a variation of the standard cylindrical projection that is specifically optimized for mapping regions that are long in the north–south direction.1

While the standard Mercator projection is tangent to the Earth along the Equator, the Transverse Mercator projection rotates this orientation so that the cylinder is tangent to the Earth along a chosen meridian instead. By aligning the cylinder with a specific meridian rather than the Equator, the projection minimizes distortion along that north–south line, making it highly effective for representing areas that extend primarily in that direction.1

This method allows cartographers to maintain greater accuracy for regions that do not follow the east–west orientation of the standard Mercator map.1