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Parallels and meridians
In order to find any place on Earth, a system of imaginary lines is used. These lines are called parallels and meridians.
Parallels
Parallels are imaginary lines that circle the Earth. These lines are parallel to the equator. The equator is the principal parallel. Parallels are numbered from the equator to the poles in degrees from 0º to 90º. Parallels measure latitude. Latitude is the distance between any point on the Earth and the equator. Any place north of the equator is in the northern hemisphere. Any place south of the equator is in the southern hemisphere.
Meridians
Meridians are imaginary lines that run from pole to pole. The Greenwich meridian is meridian zero or the principal meridian, sometimes called the Prime meridian. Meridians are numbered in degrees from 0º to 180º, east and west of the Greenwich meridian. Meridians enable us to measure longitude. Longitude is the distance between any point on the Earth and the Greenwich meridian. Points west of the Greenwich meridian are in the eastern hemisphere.
The equator
● The equator the imaginary line, that is perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation between the poles. It divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Other planets and astronomical bodies have equators similarly defined. The Equator is about 40,075 kilometres. The 78.7% of the Equator across water, and 21.3% is over land.
● Equator means line of equality. This is because the Sun and the stars take the same time to beabove the horizon that below him.
● The equator goes throght a country called Equator. This country, is situated in the South of America.
The meridian of Greenwich
● It is called the meridian of Greenwich, because it goes trought a village called Greenwich. This village, is situated in England, in the United Kingdom (UK).
● It is called too the prime meridian, or the meridian zero.
The co-ordinates
● When we put the longitude and latitude of a place together, we have the coordinates of the location.
● The point where coincide the Ecuador and the meridian of Greenwich, has the coordinates of 0º (Zero degrees). It is next to Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean.
The co-ordinates
● When we put the longitude and latitude of a place together, we have the coordinates of the location.
● The point where coincide the Ecuador and the meridian of Greenwich, has the coordinates of 0º (Zero degrees). It is next to Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean.
