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
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.
Which way do the rungs
(steps) on the ladder run?
North & South
OR
East & West
Now lets apply the ladder to the world map
N
W
E
S
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
N
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.
When looking at a rope
hanging from a tree,
which way does the
rope hang?
North & South
OR
East & West
If you were to swing on the
rope, which direction would
you be swinging?
North & South
OR
East & West
Now lets apply the rope to the world map
N
W
E
S
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.
Latitude and Longitude Notes
LATITUDE
EQUATOR
LINES THAT RUN EAST AND WEST, BUT BUILD AND
ARE MEASURED NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE
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: