Latitude and Longitude: Lines on the Earth

Latitude

o    imaginary lines that measure the distance north or south of the Equator (0°)

o    lines are parallel to the Equator at regular intervals (approximately 113 kilometres apart)

What is Latitude?

• Its reference point is the equator.  The equator’s latitude is O degrees.
• Even though the lines run horizontally, latitude measures north and south.

Longitude

o    imaginary lines that measure the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian (0°)

o    all lines begin and end at the poles and therefore are not at a fixed distance apart

o    the Prime Meridian (0°) was arbitrarily chosen at a point that runs through Greenwich, England

o    the International Date Line (180°) is the point where one day begins and one day ends

The Prime Meridian

• The Prime Meridian

Why are Latitude & Longitude Important?

o    They help us locate areas on the Earth through the use of coordinates and directions.

The International Date Line

• 180 degrees away from the Prime Meridian, on the opposite side of the world, we can find the highest longitude measurement, known as the International Date Line