Geography: Latitude and Longitude

Grade 6 · Social Studies · Study Guide

Learn how to use the grid system of latitude and longitude to locate any place on Earth.

Geographers use a grid system of imaginary lines called latitude and longitude to identify the exact location of any place on Earth. Together, these two sets of lines make up the geographic coordinate system.

Lines of latitude, also called parallels, run east-west around the globe. They measure distance north or south of the Equator, which sits at 0° latitude. The North Pole is at 90°N and the South Pole is at 90°S. Important lines of latitude include the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N), the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S), the Arctic Circle (66.5°N), and the Antarctic Circle (66.5°S). Latitude lines tell us about climate zones: areas near the equator are generally warmer, and areas near the poles are colder.

Lines of longitude, also called meridians, run north-south from pole to pole. They measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, which is located at 0° longitude and passes through Greenwich, England. Longitude goes from 0° to 180° east and 0° to 180° west. The 180° line is known as the International Date Line, where the calendar day changes.

To find any location on Earth, geographers write coordinates as latitude first, then longitude (for example: 40°N, 74°W is New York City). This system allows precise global navigation.

Key terms

Latitude
Imaginary horizontal lines (parallels) that measure distance north or south of the Equator, from 0° to 90°.
Longitude
Imaginary vertical lines (meridians) that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, from 0° to 180°.
Equator
The imaginary line at 0° latitude that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Prime Meridian
The imaginary line at 0° longitude that runs through Greenwich, England, dividing Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Tropic of Cancer
Line of latitude at 23.5°N marking the northernmost point where the sun can be directly overhead.
International Date Line
The 180° line of longitude where the calendar day changes when crossing from one side to the other.

Flashcards

Latitude
Lines running east-west that measure north-south distance from the Equator (0° to 90°).
Longitude
Lines running north-south that measure east-west distance from the Prime Meridian (0° to 180°).
Equator
0° latitude line dividing Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Prime Meridian
0° longitude line through Greenwich, England, dividing Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Parallels
Another name for lines of latitude; they are parallel to the Equator.
Meridians
Another name for lines of longitude; they converge at the poles.
Tropic of Cancer
23.5°N latitude — northernmost point where the sun is directly overhead (June solstice).
Tropic of Capricorn
23.5°S latitude — southernmost point where the sun is directly overhead (December solstice).

Questions

  1. What does latitude measure?

    1. Distance east or west of the Prime Meridian
    2. Distance north or south of the Equator
    3. Distance from the center of Earth
    4. Distance from the North Pole only
    Show answer

    Answer: Distance north or south of the Equator

    Latitude measures the distance north or south of the Equator (0°), ranging from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the poles.

  2. The Prime Meridian is located at 0° longitude and passes through Greenwich, England.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    The Prime Meridian is set at 0° longitude and runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.

  3. The imaginary line at 0° latitude that divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres is called the ________.

    Show answer

    Answer: equator

    The Equator is the imaginary horizontal circle at 0° latitude that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

  4. When writing geographic coordinates, which comes first?

    1. Longitude, then latitude
    2. Latitude, then longitude
    3. The hemisphere, then the degrees
    4. East-west direction, then north-south
    Show answer

    Answer: Latitude, then longitude

    Geographic coordinates are always written as latitude first, then longitude — for example, 40°N, 74°W.

  5. Lines of longitude run east to west parallel to the Equator.

    Show answer

    Answer: False

    Lines of longitude (meridians) run north-south from pole to pole. Lines of latitude (parallels) run east-west parallel to the Equator.

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