Location

Map Skills

Hemispheres

There are imaginary lines used by people to divide the earth into different sections, called hemispheres. Hemi- means "half" and sphere means "globe." Just like with compass directions, these sections help to describe where you are on the earth.

Hemispheres

The equator is located at 0 degrees latitude. It divides the earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Hemispheres

Hemispheres

The Prime meridian is located at 0 degrees longitude. It divided the earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres.

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Hemispheres

World Map

Label the seven continents Label the four oceans Label the Equator Draw and label the Prime Meridian (use a

straightedge).

Latitude and Longitude

The most common way to locate points on the surface of the Earth is by geographic coordinates called latitude and longitude.

Latitude

Latitude gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the equator. Lines of Latitude are the horizontal lines shown running east-to-west on maps.

Latitude

These lines are numbered and these numbers, of degrees, tell how far north or south of the equator a place is.

Longitude

Longitude gives the location of a place on Earth east or west of the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian runs through Greenwich, England. Lines of Longitude are vertical lines shown running north-to-south on maps.

Longitude

The longitude lines are numbered, in degrees, and tell how far east or west of the Prime Meridian a place is.

Location

Atlas Work

Find the cities closest to these coordinates:

54 N, 10 E 56 N, 37 E 32 S 19 E 39 N, 118 E 40 N 75 W 52 N, 1 W 11 S, 76 W

Answers:

Hamburg, German Moscow, Russia Cape Town, S. Africa Beijing, China Philadelphia, PA London, Eng Lima, Peru