How the area of a country is calculated.If it is mountanious or if it is desert is it same.Like LEBANON KUWAI

Question

For example ,KUWAIT and LEBANON are mostly the same area .But LEBANON is mountanous and KUWAIT is flat desert.Do we calculate the surface of the slopes of mountains or we only calculate the outside boundaries .

Answer 1

3D surface of an area of the Earth is projected on a flat surface (2D) by mapping, and then the area is calculated.

Answer 2

Area in terms of determining the "size" of a country is a two-dimensional measurement and is based strictly on the borders of the country on a flat grid (i.e. as related to latitude and longitude, etc). You're speaking more of *surface* area, which is a different metric altogether.