Name:______________________________________________________________ Period:_____
Latitude and Longitude Packet
Latitude line run around the earth. For example the equator is a major latitude line. It runs around the
earth. Eventhough it runs around the earth it measures the distance in degrees north and south of the
equator. Kind of like the rungs on a ladder.
There are 90 degrees of latitude from the equator to each of the north and south poles. Latitude lines
are pictured on the globe below. Latitude lines are parallel, that is they are the same distance apart, in
fact, they are sometimes called parallels. That means they do not touch.
The Equator divides the earth into two halfs, northern and southern hemespheres and
is measured as 0° N (zero degrees) or 0°S.
Other major latitude lines are the tropic of Cancer located at 23.5°N and the tropic of
Capricorn located at 23.5°S.
Latitude lines above the equator are called “north” and are in the northern hemisphere.
Latitude lines below the equator are called “south” and are in the southern hemisphere. Complete the
following:
a. Lines of latitude are ___________________________ to the equator. That means they do not
_____________.
b. There are _________ degrees of latitude north and south of the equator.
c. The equator is located at _____ degrees_________/___________.
d. Another name for latitude lines is _________________ .
e. The equator divides the earth into __________ equal parts.
f. latitude lines above the equator are called________________.
Write your own definition of latitude:_______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Identify the following lines on the map below and label them: Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, Tropic of
Cancer, include their degrees of latitude.
This globe shows only latitude lines. Place your finger on the
equator (0°N) on the east side (right side) of the map. Climb the
ladder with your finger and put an X in the middle of the 40°N
latitude line. Then put your finger on the equator (0°S) on the
West side of the map (the left side), climb the ladder down and
put an X on the middle of the 60°S latitude line.
What is Longitude?
Longitude is defined as measurement of distance in degrees east
or west of the prime meridian. The prime meridian divides the
earth in half too. Just like the equator, but it divides the earth into
Eastern and Western hemispheres. It is also 0°, but this time its
0° East/West. The prime meridian, as do all other lines of longitude, pass through the north and South
Pole. They overlap there. This is shown in the diagrams below. Longitude lines are not parallel. They
make the earth look like a peeled orange. There are 180 lines of longitude on the each side of the prime
meridian. But on the opposite side, the prime meridian is not zero degrees but 180°. Here, it is called the
International Date line. Longitude lines to the left of the prime meridian are located to the west, in the
western hemisphere. Longitude lines to the right of the prime meridian are located to the east, in the
eastern hemisphere.
Complete the following:
a. Longitude lines connect the ____________ pole with the ___________ pole.
b.
OR it means longitude line run_____________ &______________
c.
The line of 0° longitude is called the ____________________________ .
d. Longitude lines show locations _____________ and ____________ of the prime meridian.
e. Longitude lines are not ________________ like latitude lines.
Write a definition of longitude in your own words. _________________________________________
This map projection just shows the longitude lines in the
western hemisphere, of the western ½ of the world. Follow the
directions below.
1. Take your finger and start at the North Pole, follow the
line down and put an X on 150° W.
2. Take your finger and start at the North Pole, follow the
line down and put an X on 30° W
This map projection shows the major longitude lines throughout the world. The longitudes lines start
and stop at the north and south poles. Another way to say that is they run north and south. Imagine if
you were running along the lines on this map. You would be running up to the North Pole or down to
the South Pole (if you followed the lines). Put your finger at the top of the map and then by running
your finger along the lines put an X in the middle of the following lines.
1. 60°E
2. 120°W
3. 150°E
4. 0°E/W
5. 180°W
Do you see all 180° longitude lines on each side of the globe?_______________________
Why do you think that is?________________________________________________________________
Is it the same for latitude? Do you see all 90 lines?____________________
So could you plot a point in the middle of the lines, like on 45°W longitude?_________________


Draw in where you think the 45°W line would be on the map above. Label the line.
Now draw where you think the line 100°E longitude line would be located on the map.
Now let’s plot some easy points on the Map below!
150° 120° 90° 60° 30°
90°
0°
30° 60°
90° 120° 150°
90°
60°
60°
30°
30°
0°
0°
30°
30°
60°
60°
90°
90°
150° 120° 90° 60° 30°
0°
30°
60° 90° 120° 150°
Now let’s plot some easy points!
Don’t forget the process!!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find the part of the map (is it NW, NE, SE, or SW)
Put your finger on the equator (At the sides) and move
up for North or
Down for south.
Then put OTHER finger on the prime meridian move your finger
Left for west or
Right for East
Make your fingers meet (FOLLOW THE LINES!!!)
Plot the following points on the map above. Place a dot where you plotted the point and the letter.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
30°N, 30°E
60°S, 60°W
45°N, 90°W
15°S, 140°E
70°N, 90°E
0°N, 60°W
45°S, 70°W
90°S, 120°E