Latitude and Longitude Lines

Latitude and Longitude

• The world is divided into blocks using lines of latitude and longitude.

Lines of Latitude

• The equator divides the world into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
• The equator is a line of latitude drawn horizontally from west to east.
• Moving north of the equator places you in the Northern Hemisphere; moving south places you in the Southern Hemisphere.
• There are 180 lines of latitude in total: 90 above the equator and 90 below.

Lines of Longitude

• The Greenwich Meridian divides the world into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
• The Greenwich Meridian is a line of longitude drawn vertically from north to south.
• Moving west of the Greenwich Meridian places you in the Western Hemisphere; moving east places you in the Eastern Hemisphere.
• There are 360 lines of longitude in total: 180 to the left and 180 to the right of the Greenwich Meridian.

Determining Location

• First, determine if you are north or south of the Equator (latitude).
• Second, determine if you are west or east of the Greenwich Meridian (longitude).