Map Skills
The Geographer’s Grid &
Latitude/Longitude
important lines on “Geographer’s Grid”
Equator Runs East and West
divides Earth into Northern and Southern
Hemispheres

Prime Meridian
Runs North and South
Divides Earth into Eastern and Western
Hemispheres

What is a
hemisphere?

One half of the Earth.

Tropic of Cancer –
 23.5° North of Equator
 Sun’s most northern location
occurring on June 21st
The Tropics

Tropic of Capricorn –
 23.5° South of Equator
 Sun’s most southern location
occurring on December 21st
 Watch: Earth Sun
Relationships Video
The Polar Circles

Arctic Circle –
 66.5° North of the Equator
 begins the North polar region

Antarctic Circle –
◦ 66.5° South of the Equator
◦ begins South polar regions
What is “Latitude
and Longitude”?
•It is a grid for finding your
location on the Earth.
Like “X and Y” from the
grid in math class,
like a football field,
or like the game
“Battleship”
Latitude
“Flatitude”


Run East/ West
parallel to Equator
Measures North and South
◦ Furthest North = 90
degrees North latitude
◦ Furthest South = 90
degrees South latitude
Important lines of Latitude:
1. Equator
2. Tropic of Cancer
3. Tropic of Capricorn
4. Arctic Circle
5. Antarctic Circle
Longitude






Run north/ south
Measures East and
West
There are 180 degrees
of East longitude
and 180 degrees of
West longitude
Total = 360 degree
circle
All lines meet at
North Pole and South
Pole
How do you use Latitude and
Longitude to find your way?
1.
2.
3.
Find the right hemispheres (N, S, E, W).
Trace latitude and longitude till they meet.
FOLLOW THE CURVE!