Physical Geography Concepts
Directions and Location
Directions:
In order to study the Earth, we need to be able to locate specific points.
Cardinal Directions
North, East, West, South
Intermediate Directions
Lie between the cardinal directions and help to indicate direction more accurately.
Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast
The Earth is an almost perfect sphere. Geographers have drawn imaginary lines
around the spherical earth as a means of determining the location of specific points
upon its surface.
Latitude:
Imaginary lines that run east-west around the globe. It is
the distance north to south of the equator.
1.
The Equator is 0 degrees latitude.
2.
Degrees are units of measure. There are 180 degrees of
latitude.
3. Minutes are smaller units of the measure of degrees. There are 60 minutes in each degree.
4. Seconds are smaller units of the measure of minutes. There are 60 seconds in each minute.
5. Lines of latitude are also called parallels. They never cross.
Hemispheres:
a hemisphere is half of the globe. The equator divides the earth in two equal
hemispheres.
1.
Northern Hemisphere: the hemisphere that lies north of the equator.
2. Southern Hemisphere: the hemisphere that lies to the south of the equator.
Longitude:
Imaginary lines that run north-south between the north and south poles. Longitude
allows the determination of distance east and west from the Prime Meridian.
1.
All lines of longitude converge at the north and south poles.
2. Prime Meridian: this is 0 degrees longitude.
a.
3.
There are 360 degrees of longitude on the earth. 180 degrees lie to the east of the Prime
Meridian, and 180 degrees lie to the west.
Lines of Longitude are also called Meridians.
4. Hemispheres
a.
Eastern Hemisphere: the hemisphere that lies to the east of the Prime Meridian.
b. Western Hemisphere: the hemisphere that lies to the west of the Prime Meridian.
Determining Location
Absolute Location
The intersection of lines of latitude and longitude describe a specific location.

You must specify whether it is North (N) or South (S) Latitude.

You must also specify whether it is East (E) or West (W) Longitude.
Relative Location
Relative location is a general description of how a location is related to another location. This
allows for people to explain direction without determining absolute location.
Do You Know Your Latitude and Longitude?
Put the following statements onto the blanks below:
1. Another name for them is meridians
2. They measure east to west
3. They run north to south
4. They run east to west
5. They measure up to 180 degrees
6. Another name for them is parallels
7. They are known as vines
8. They measure up to 90 degrees
9. They measure north to south
10. You use them first
11. You use them second
12. It’s like climbing a ladder
13. The middle line is the equator
14. These lines never meet
15. The middle line is the Prime Meridian
16. The lines meet at the Poles.
Latitude
Longitude
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World Travelers
Use the map on the next page to answer the following questions.
Several local students have won free air tickets to travel around the world! Use lines of
latitude and longitude on the world map to locate the country that each student visits.
1.
Carlos takes a boat ride down the Amazon River at 0 degrees, 60 degrees W. He is in
______________________________.
2. Rosa goes on the ultimate ice adventure at 80 degrees S, 80 degrees E. She is in
______________________________.
3. Jonathan takes surfing lessons at 20 degrees S, 120 degrees E. He is hanging out in
______________________________.
4. Amy flies to 20 degrees N, 160 degrees W for a swim with the dolphins. She is in the state of
______________________________.
5. Eddie takes a family vacation to 80 degrees N, 20 degrees E and buys a gnome in
______________________________.
6. Angeline goes to 20 degrees S, 45 degrees E. She is watching lemurs in
_____________________________.
7. Christian spends his time at 20 degrees N, 80 degrees E. That means he is in
_____________________________.
8. Jozlynn flies to 40 degrees N, 140 degrees E to learn to make sushi. She is in
____________________________.
9. Timoteo is somewhere on the 40th parallel in the Southern hemisphere. What are three countries
that he could be in?
10. Jessica is at 40 degrees N and 60 degrees E. What two hemispheres is she in?