In the normal case, a cylindrical projection is easy to recognize. The Equator, and all other parallels, and all meridians, are straight lines. This is a result of the fact that a cylindrical projection is based on a cylindrical surface in a symmetrical relationship with the globe. If the surface is tangent to the Equator, then points along one meridian must be in the same relationship to the point at which that meridian crosses the equator as points at the same latitude along any other meridian are to the point at which that other meridian crosses the Equator.