Latitude is the measurement of distance north or south of the Equator. It is measured with 180 imaginary lines that grade circles effectually the Earth e-west, parallel to the Equator. These lines are known as parallels. A circumvolve of latitude is an imaginary band linking all points sharing a parallel.

The Equator is the line of 0 degrees latitude. Each parallel measures ane degree north or south of the Equator, with 90 degrees northward of the Equator and 90 degrees south of the Equator. The latitude of the N Pole is 90 degrees N, and the latitude of the South Pole is 90 degrees Southward.

Similar the poles, some circles of latitude are named. The Tropic of Cancer, for instance, is 23 degrees 26 minutes 21 seconds N—23° 26' 21'' N. Its twin, the Tropic of Capricorn, is 23° 26' 21'' Due south. The torrid zone are important geographic locations that mark the northernmost and southernmost latitudes where the sun can be seen directly overhead during a solstice.

One caste of latitude, called an arcdegree, covers about 111 kilometers (69 miles). Because of the Earth's curvature, the further the circles are from the Equator, the smaller they are. At the Northward and S Poles, arcdegrees are just points.

Degrees of breadth are divided into hour. To exist even more than precise, those minutes are divided into 60 seconds. One minute of latitude covers virtually 1.8 kilometers (1.one miles) and 1 2nd of latitude covers nearly 32 meters (105 feet).

For example, the breadth for Cairo, Arab republic of egypt, in degrees and minutes would be written as 29° 52' N, considering the city is 29 degrees, 52 minutes north of the Equator. The latitude for Cape Boondocks, Southward Africa, would be 33° 56' S, because the city is 33 degrees, 56 minutes south of the Equator. Using seconds of breadth, global positioning system (GPS) devices tin can pinpoint schools, houses, even rooms in either of these towns.

Like to breadth, the corresponding measurement of distance effectually the World is called longitude. The imaginary lines of breadth and longitude intersect each other, forming a filigree that covers the Earth. The points of latitude and longitude are called coordinates, and can be used together to locate whatsoever point on Earth.

latitude

Straddling the Equator in Ecuador.

54-40 or Fight!
An surface area of the circle of latitude at 54 40' North was a hotly contested piece of existent estate in the 19th century. The U.S. and the Britain (Canada) both asserted claims to the Pacific Northwest, in what became known equally the Oregon Boundary Dispute. "54-40 or fight!" was a cry of American settlers. The boundary between the U.Due south. and Canada was eventually established at the 49th parallel.

arc

Noun

part of the outline of a circle.

coordinates

Noun

a set of numbers giving the precise location of a point, often its breadth and longitude.

curvature

Substantive

shape of a bent or curved object or form.

degree of latitude

Noun

measurement of distance from the equator. The kickoff caste of breadth is 111 kilometers (69 miles), decreasing in size to points at the N and South Poles.

Noun

imaginary line around the Earth, another planet, or star running east-w, 0 degrees latitude.

Global Positioning Arrangement (GPS)

Noun

system of satellites and receiving devices used to determine the location of something on World.

Noun

distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees.

Noun

distance e or westward of the prime tiptop, measured in degrees.

minute of latitude

Noun

measurement of about i.eight kilometers of latitude north or s of the equator.

parallel

Adjective

equal distance apart, and never meeting.

precision

Noun

exactness.

2nd of latitude

Noun

measurement of about 32 meters of breadth north or due south of the equator.

Noun

astronomical event that occurs twice a year, when the lord's day appears directly overhead to observers at the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn.

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    Editor

    Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing

    Producer

    Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

    Last Updated

    November. 6, 2012

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