GEOGRAPHY HANDBOOK
How Do I Study Geography?
Geography Handbook
Introduction to
Latitude & Longitude
Using Maps and Globes
Hemispheres
The Equator - imaginary line that divides the earth
into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Using Maps and Globes
Using Maps and Globes
Hemispheres
The Prime Meridian along with the
International Date Line divide the earth into
Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Using Maps and Globes
Using Maps and Globes
Using Maps and Globes
Directions to the local bank?
Latitude Lines
Parallels circle the earth and show latitude, the distance in
degrees north or south of the equator. (0 degrees latitude).
The North Pole is 90 degrees North latitude.
The South Pole is 90 degrees South latitude.
Latitude represents north-south location, and it is shown on a map or globe by a series of east-west running lines that parallel the equator, which marks the
midpoint between the two poles all around the earth's circumference -- these lines of latitude are called "parallels."
Figure 2 -- parallels of latitude
Using Maps and Globes
Using Maps and Globes
Latitude
Other important latitude lines are:
Tropic of Cancer (23 1/2 degrees N. lat.)
Tropic of Capricorn (23 1/2 degrees S. lat.)
Arctic Circle (66 1/2 degrees N. lat.)
Antarctic Circle (66 1/2 degrees S. lat.).
Using Maps and Globes
Using Maps and Globes
Longitude
Meridians run north to south from pole to pole.
They tell longitude, the distance in degrees
east or west of the Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude).
Opposite the Prime Meridian is
the International Date Line (180 degrees long.).
Longitude represents east-west location, and it is shown on a map or globe by a
series of north-south running lines that all come together at the North Pole and at
the South Pole and are the widest apart at the equator -- these lines of longitude
are called "meridians."
Figure 1 -- meridians of longitude
Be aware of the potential for confusing yourself: a. Longitude = E/W location, but it is shown by a series of N/S running lines called meridians. b. Latitude = N/S
location, but it is shown by a series of E/W running lines called parallels.
Using Maps and Globes
Using Maps and Globes
Absolute Location
Using the earth's grid system, latitude and
longitude, gives you the absolute location of
a place.
Using Maps and Globes
Using Maps and Globes
In mathematics, how do you determine the
shortest distance between two places?
Great Circle Route
The shortest distance between two places on the earth.
A great circle divides the earth into equal halves.
Using Maps and Globes
Great Circle Route
Traveling along a great circle is called a great circle
route.
Globes show them accurately.
Maps can distort distances so the great circle route
may appear longer than a straight line on a flat map.
Never Trust A Map!
Relative Location
Continent – 7 –