UNDERSTANDING LATITUDE & LONGITUDE

IMPORTANT LINES ON A MAP There are three very important lines to help us find our way around the world. 1. The Equator The equator is measured at 0° latitude. It is an imaginary line that runs around the Earth halfway between the poles. This Line divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. 2. The Prime Meridian The prime meridian is measured at 0° longitude It is an imaginary line that passes through the Earth between the North and South Poles running through Greenwich, England. This line divides the earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. 3. The International Date Line The international date line is measured at 180° longitude. It is an imaginary line located directly opposite of the Prime Meridian where the date changes. (on flat maps usually located on the edge)

Here are the four hemispheres Prime Meridian Equator

LINES OF MEASURING ON A MAP The imaginary lines we use to find a location on a map/globe are called latitude and longitude lines. Latitude lines run east and west. They measure distances by degrees going North and South. Longitude lines run north and south. They measure distances by degrees going East and West.

UNDERSTANDING LINES OF LATITUDE When using a ladder, which way does the ladder stand? North & South OR East & West Which way do the rungs (steps) on the ladder run? North & South OR East & West

Now lets apply the ladder to the world map When you stand the ladder next to the map, the rungs/steps run East & West but when go to measure, you climb the ladder North & South. Latitude Lines on a map work this same way.

REMEMBERING LATITUDE IN ORDER TO HELP YOU REMEMBER, W E S IN ORDER TO HELP YOU REMEMBER, Latitude lines run East & West, horizontally. Latitude Lines are equal distance apart. Imagine them as the horizontal rungs/steps of a ladder. Call it (Latitude - "ladder-tude"). The rungs/steps go East & West but you climb (measure distance) on the ladder North & South . Degrees of latitude are numbered from 0° to 90° north and south. 0° degrees is the EQUATOR, the imaginary line which divides the earth into northern and southern hemispheres. 90° north is the North Pole and 90° south is the South Pole.

UNDERSTANDING LINES OF LONGITUDE When looking at a rope hanging from a tree, which way does the rope hang? If you were to swing on the rope, which direction would you be swinging? North & South OR East & West North & South OR East & West

Now lets apply the rope to the world map When you hang the rope next to the map, it hangs North & South but when you go to measure, you swing on the rope East & West. Longitude Lines on a map work this same way.

REMEMBERING LONGITUDE                              N W E S IN ORDER TO HELP YOU REMEMBER! Longitude lines run North & South, vertically. Imagine the rope hanging from a tree. It hangs North & South but you swing (measure distance) on the rope East & West. They meet at the North & South poles and are widest at the equator. 0° degrees longitude is located at Greenwich, England (0°). The degrees continue 180° east and 180° west where they meet and form the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean.

ADDITIONAL MAJOR LINES OF LATITUDE Tropic of Cancer 23° EQUATOR Tropic of Capricorn 23°

Latitude and Longitude Notes LINES THAT RUN EAST AND WEST, BUT BUILD AND ARE MEASURED NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR LONGITUDE LINES THAT RUN NORTH AND SOUTH, BUT BUILD AND ARE MEASURED EAST AND WEST OF THE PRIME MERIDIAN EQUATOR MAJOR LINE OF LATITUDE MEASURED AT 0° LATITUDE TROPIC OF CANCER MAJOR LINE OF LATITUDE MEASURED AT 23° N LATITUDE TROPIC OF CAPRICORN MAJOR LINE OF LATITUDE MEASURED AT 23° S LATITUDE ARCTIC CIRCLE MAJOR LINE OF LATITUDE MEASURED AT APPROXIMATELY 66° N LATITUDE (DAYS GET LONGER) ANTARCTIC CIRCLE MAJOR LINE OF LATITUDE MEASURED AT APPROXIMATELY 66° S LATITUDE (NIGHTS GET LONGER)

Latitude and Longitude Notes PRIME MERIDIAN MAJOR LINE OF LONGITUDE MEASURED AT 0° LONGITUDE AND RUNS THROUGH GREENWICH, ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE MAJOR LINE OF LONGITUDE MEASURED AT 180° LONGITUDE, WHERE THE DATE CHANGES. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF THE PRIME MERIDIAN ON A GLOBE (LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF MOST FLAT MAPS) PNEUMONIC DEVICE LATITUDE IS “LADDER-TUDE” SUMMARY: