Introduction to
Longitude & Latitude
Learning about Absolute
Location
Relative Location

Where you are in
relationship to other
things!
– For example:





Direction (North, South,
East, or West)
Physical (streets or
structures)
Distance (feet, yards, or
miles)
You have a flat tire and no
spare tire. You need help.
Please tell the tow truck
driver how to find you!
Relative Location: Compass &
Cardinal Directions
N
N
NW
E
W
NE
E
W
SE
SW
S
S
N
Relative Location
NW
NE
E
W
SW
SE
S
You are
here!
Absolute Location



Your boat has ran out
of fuel in the middle
of the ocean. You
need help
Tell the coast guard
how to find you.
What do you do if
there is nothing
available to establish
a relationship with.
Absolute Location

It is an imaginary grid system
of lines covering the entire
world.
The main two divide the earth
into hemispheres (halves)
– Equator and Prime
Meridian

There are two sets

Prime Meridian
Equator
of
lines. Lines of
Longitude and
Latitude
This is earth!
Lines of Latitude

Lines of Latitude
– Starting Point:
Equator
 0 degrees
– There are 360 lines
(360 degrees in a
circle)
– Run from Left to
Right
– However, they
measure North and
South
Lines of Longitude

Lines of Longitude
– Starting point: Prime
Meridian
 0 degrees
– There are 360 lines (360
degrees in a sphere)
– Run from up and down
– However, they measure
East to West
– The starting point is the
Prime Meridian, @ 0
degrees
Finding Places
Using Longitude
and Latitude
TLW locate places
using Longitude and
Latitude
Recall: Grid
Finding Places
109°W 108°W 107°W 106°W 105°W 104°W 103°W 102°W
Find 40 ° N Latitude
What city is located at
this latitude?
41°N
Boulder
40°N
What line of Longitude
is closest to this city?
Denver
Grand Junction
Mt. Elbert
39°N
Delta
Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs
Pueblo
38°N
Durango
Latitude is always
written first:
37°N
How would you write the
coordinates correctly for
the city of Boulder?
N
Practicing Map Skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
Which line of
Latitude runs
near Pikes Peak?
Which line of
Longitude runs
near Pikes Peak?
Write the correct
location for Pikes
Peak using
Longitude and
Latitude
What city is near
39°N Latitude,
108°W
Longitude?
109°W 108°W 107°W 106°W 105°W 104°W 103°W 102°W
41°N
Boulder
40°N
Grand Junction Mt. Elbert
Denver
39°N
Delta
Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs
Pueblo
38°N
Durango
37°N
Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
39°N
105°W
39° N Latitude, 41°N
105° W
40°N
Longitude
Delta
39°N
109°W 108°W 107°W 106°W 105°W 104°W 103°W 102°W
Boulder
Grand Junction Mt. Elbert
Delta
What is the coordinates
of the City of Durango?
108° W Longitude
Colorado Springs
Pueblo
38°N
Durango
37½° N Latitude,
Pikes Peak
Denver
37°N