1. Learning About Latitude and Longitude
Miss Lynch
6th Grade Social Studies

2. Facts About Latitude Latitude lines run from east to west.
Latitude measures distance north or south from the equator.
Lines of latitude are also called parallels.
Latitude is measured in degrees.
Latitude is measured from 0° to 90° north or south from the equator.

3. Facts About Latitude The equator marks 0° latitude.
The North Pole is 90°N latitude.
The South Pole is 90°S latitude.

4. Great Circles and Latitude
A Great Circle is a circle on the surface of the earth that divides the earth into 2 equal halves.
The equator is the only line of latitude that is a Great Circle.
ALL lines of longitude are Great Circles

5. Facts About Longitude All lines of longitude are Great Circles.
ALL lines of longitude meet at the North and South Poles.
Lines of longitude ARE NOT parallel because they meet at the poles.

6. Facts About Longitude
Lines of longitude measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian.
The International Date Line 180° longitude; it is neither east nor west.

7. More on Longitude…
The length of a degree of longitude is approximately 69 miles near the equator.
The length of a degree of longitude gradually decreases as it nears the poles. At 60°N latitude, a degree of longitude is approximately 35 miles. At the poles, the value of a degree of longitude is 0.

8. Great Circles and Longitude
The distance from the Prime Meridian west to the International Date Line is 180°.
The distance from the Prime Meridian east to the International Date Line in 180°.

9. Hints on finding a location’s latitude and/or longitude
Latitude is the first number, followed by a N or S. (i.e. 45°N, 120°W)
Longitude is the second number, followed by a E or W. (i.e. 65°S, 95°E)
Latitude is found by climbing up from the equator to your given point/location.
Longitude is found by walking across till you run into your point.

10. Videoes
-and-Longitude.htm