What is Latitude?

When identifying a specific point on the earth a grid system is used, with coordinates referred to as longitude and latitude. The reference point is the Earth's equator. The equator is the imaginary line that runs along the center of the earth and divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres.
  1. Identification

    • In the imaginary grid, latitudinal lines run horizontally and longitudinal lines run vertically.

    Significance

    • A point's latitude is measured according to its distance from the equator, in relation to the distance to either the north or south pole.

    Features

    • The measurement of latitude is in degrees. All points on the equator measure 0 degrees latitude.

    Types

    • There are north and south latitudes. The North pole is 90 degrees north. The South Pole is 90 degrees south.

    Geography

    • Points on the Earth that share the same latitude are in an imaginary circle. This is called the parallel of latitude.

    Function

    • Navigation relies on readings of longitude and latitude.

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