Latitude and Longitude

Geography SSS1 First Term

Week 4

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude
Latitude is the angular distance of a point on the earth’s surface, measured in degree from the centre of the earth. Latitude (00), called the equator, divides the earth into two equals- the Northern and Southern hemisphere. All other latitudes are parallel to the equator and to each other; hence, the latitudes are also called parallels of latitude.

Importance of latitude lines include:
(i) The equator (0,0)
(ii) Tropic of Cancer (lat 231/2oN), tropic of Capricorn (lat 231/2oN), arctic circle (661/2oN), Antarctic Circle (661/2oS), North pole (90oN) and South pole (90oS)

Uses of Lines of Latitude
(i) The lines of latitude in conjunction with that of longitude are used…