Latitude and Longitude Begin
The Earth is divided in two halves, the top half is called the northern hemisphere, and the bottom half is called the southern hemisphere. The dividing line between the two hemispheres is called the equator, and is measured as 0 latitude.
equator (0 latitude)
Northern Hemisphere equator (0 latitude)
equator (0 latitude) Southern Hemisphere
Latitude is a measurement of how far north or south of the equator you are. Latitudes range from the equator (0 ) to 90 north and from the equator (0 ) to 90 south. Latitude lines are horizontal like the rungs of a ladder. Think of them as flat ( flat-itude ).
Notice how lines of latitude are parallel to one another. They are often called parallels for this reason.
Some important latitudes to know: Equator 0 Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Arctic Circle Antarctic Circle North Pole South Pole Mamaroneck, NY 23.5 N 23.5 S 66.5 N 66.5 S 90 N 90 S 41 N
Highlight the equator in red. Label it. 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Arctic Circle 60 N 40 N 20 N Tropic of Cancer Equator Equator (0º) 20 S Tropic of Capricorn N 40 S W E 60 S Antarctic Circle S km 0 mi 0 80 S
Highlight the tropics in red. Label them. 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Arctic Circle 60 N 40 N Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) 20 N Equator Equator (0º) 20 S Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS) N 40 S W E 60 S Antarctic Circle S km 0 mi 0 80 S
Highlight the polar circles in red. Label them. Arctic Circle 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Antarctic Circle (66.5ºN) 60 N 40 N Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) 20 N Equator Equator (0º) 20 S Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS) N 40 S W E S km 0 60 S Antarctic Circle Antarctic Circle (66.5ºS) mi 0 80 S
Label the Poles in red. Arctic Circle 80 N North Pole (90ºN) 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Antarctic Circle (66.5ºN) 60 N 40 N Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) 20 N Equator Equator (0º) 20 S Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS) N 40 S W E S km 0 60 S Antarctic Circle Antarctic Circle (66.5ºS) mi 0 80 S South Pole (90ºS)
Highlight Mamaroneck s latitude in green. Arctic Circle 80 N North Pole (90ºN) 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Antarctic Circle (66.5ºN) 60 N 20 N 40 N Tropic of Cancer Mamaroneck (41ºN) Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) Equator Equator (0º) 20 S Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS) N 40 S W E S km 0 60 S Antarctic Circle Antarctic Circle (66.5ºS) mi 0 80 S South Pole (90ºS)
Record the latitudes of points A through F. 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Arctic Circle 40 N 60 N A F 20 N Tropic of Cancer E Equator B 20 S Tropic of Capricorn N C 40 S W E 60 S Antarctic Circle D S km 0 mi 0 80 S
The Earth can also be divided into left and right, or east and west halves. These halves are separated by a line called the Prime Meridian, which is measured as 0 longitude. Everything to the west of this line is known as the western hemisphere while everything to the east is known as the eastern hemisphere.
Prime Meridian (0 longitude)
Prime Meridian (0 longitude) Western Hemisphere
Prime Meridian (0 longitude) Eastern Hemisphere
Longitude is a measurement of how far west or east of the Prime Meridian you are. Longitudes range from the Prime Meridian (0 ) to 180 and from the Prime Meridian (0 ) to 180. 180º longitude does not have a direction. It is known as the International Dateline.
Notice how lines of longitude are not parallel to one another. They are often called meridians. Longitude lines are meet up at the north and south Poles.
Some important longitudes to know: Prime Meridian 0 International Date Line 180 Mamaroneck, NY 74 W
Highlight the Prime Meridian in red. Label it. 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Arctic Circle 60 N 40 N Tropic of Cancer 20 N Equator 20 S Tropic of Capricorn 40 S 60 S Antarctic Circle 80 S N W E S Prime Meridian (0º) km 0 mi 0
Highlight the International Dateline in blue. 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Arctic Circle 60 N 40 N Tropic of Cancer 20 N Equator 20 S Tropic of Capricorn International Dateline (180º) 40 S 60 S Antarctic Circle 80 S N W E S Prime Meridian (0º) km 0 mi 0 International Dateline (180º)
Highlight Mamaroneck s longitude in green. 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Arctic Circle 60 N 40 N Tropic of Cancer 20 N Equator 20 S Tropic of Capricorn International Dateline (180º) 40 S 60 S Antarctic Circle 80 S Mamaroneck (74ºW) N W E S Prime Meridian (0º) km 0 mi 0 International Dateline (180º)
Record the longitudes of points G through L. Arctic Circle 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E H 40 N 60 N K J 20 N Tropic of Cancer G Equator L 20 S Tropic of Capricorn 40 S I N W E 60 S Antarctic Circle S km 0 mi 0 80 S
North Pole If latitude lines on this globe are X increasing in 10 intervals and Prime meridian longitude lines in Equator 15 intervals, what are the coordinates of point X?
North Pole The coordinates should be written as: X 50 N, 45 W Prime meridian Notice how the Equator latitude is listed first, and the compass directions are labeled.
Record the coordinates of points M through R. 80 N 160 W 140 W 120 W 100 W 80 W 60 W 40 W 20 W 0 20 E 40 E 60 E 80 E 100 E 120 E 140 E 160 E Arctic Circle 60 N 40 N M 20 N Tropic of Cancer O Equator R P 20 S Tropic of Capricorn N 40 S 60 S Antarctic Circle Q W E S N km 0 mi 0 80 S