Latitude and Longitude Notes

Lines of Latitude• Measure distances North and South

from the Equator (the higher the latitude, the further from the equator)

• Run East and West• The Equator is the largest line of

latitude (decrease in size as they near the poles)

• Called “parallels” because they never touch

Lines of Longitude

• Measure distances East and West from the Prime Meridian

• “prime” means starting point• “meridian” means middle because every

line of longitude divides the earth in ½ • Run North and South

Lines of Longitude (cont.)

• Touch at the North and South Poles• The Prime Meridian is also called the

Greenwich Meridian because it passes through Greenwich, England (near London)

• The International Date Line is located directly across from the Prime Meridian

Greenwich Observatory

The Prime Meridian

Important Measurements• Equator = 0°

• North Pole = 90º N

• South Pole = 90º S

• Prime Meridian = 0º

• International Date Line = 180º

Important Measurements (cont.)

• Tropic of Cancer = 23.5º N

• Tropic of Capricorn = 23.5º S

• Arctic Circle = 66.5º N

• Antarctic Circle = 66.5º S

Practice

• Name the measurements of…

• Equator

• Tropic of Cancer

• South Pole

• Prime Meridian

• International Date Line

Practice

• Lines of latitude measure how far ______ and ______ a place is from the ______.

• Lines of longitude measure how far ______ and _____ a place is from the _________.

More Practice

• Lines of _____ are all the same size.

• Lines of _____ are also called parallels.

• Lines of longitude touch at the ____ and ______.