Latitude and Longitude

Latitude and longitude – imaginary lines that we use, like a grid, to locate places on the map – used to provide an absolute location

Latitude – imaginary lines that run east to west around the globe, used to measure distances north and south of the equator Also called parallels 0 – 90 degrees N 0 – 90 degrees S

equator – -zero degrees latitude -divides the earth into northern and southern hemispheres hemisphere – half the earth

Longitude – imaginary lines that run from one pole to the other (north to south), used to measure distances east and west of the Prime Meridian Prime Meridian – zero degrees longitude divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres Greenwich, England

Coordinates: N,S coordinate first Degrees, minutes, seconds 10 36’23N, 15E

tropics – area closest to the equator that gets the most sunlight – between the tropic of cancer and tropic of capricorn