We talked about latitutde and longitude in the section on globes. If you have not read about latitude and longitude in the globe section, you should do that before starting this lesson.

The two drawings above are very good models of latitude and longitude. They also show the Equator and Prime Meridian very clearly. Notice the distance between latitude lines is 15° (degrees). The distance between longitude lines is also 15°.

On the latitude model, red lines show south latitude and blue lines show north latitude. On the longitude model, the red lines show west longitude and the blue lines show east longitude.

 
It's time that we start locating some places on grids and maps. Remember a globe is a type of map.
 
Here is another picture of latitude lines. The red line is the Equator.
 

Here is another picture of longitude lines. An arrow shows you where the Prime Meridian is located.
 

You usually give the latitude of a place first, and the longitude second. For example, you would say "45 degrees north, 83 degrees west". You don't need to say the words latitude and longitude. Make sure that you give a direction with the number. If you say "45 degrees latitude", you don't know if it's north or south latitude.

To find a latitude line, you must follow three steps:

  1. Find the point where the Equator and Prime Meridian intersect (cross)
  2. Look and see which direction is north and which is south
  3. Move the number of degrees in the correct direction.
 

To find a longitude line, you must follow three steps:

  1. You are already on the Prime Meridian line
  2. Look and see which direction is west and which is east
  3. Move the number of degrees in the correct direction.
 

When you find the latitude and longitude, you will find the exact point on the map or globe that you're searching for. Before we find locations on maps, let's practice on a grid.
 
 

This grid is almost the same as a map. We don't have any land or water on our map, but that doesn't matter right now. The red line going east and west is the Equator and is 0° latitude. The red line going north and south is the Prime Meridian and is 0° longitude. Notice the numbers above the Equator are red or north. Notice the numbers below the equator are blue or south. Notice the numbers left of the Prime Meridian are green or west. Notice the numbers right of the Prime Meridian are black or east. Professor Nibble is trying to make this as easy as possible. If you click on the or the grid you will get a pop-up version that you can move around. You won't have to scroll up and down and you can see the grid and directions at the same time.

1. Find 15° N 90° W (Get your directions on screen with your pop-up grid next to them.)
  Let's find our latitude location. Remember to follow the 3 steps above. Start where the two red lines intersect (cross). Put your mouse pointer there. This is where the Equator and Prime Meridian cross. Which direction is north? We need to move the mouse pointer north 15°. Start from this point to find longitude.

Let's find the longitude location. Again, follow the 3 steps above. Which way is west? We need to move the mouse pointer west 90°. Your pointer should be on a dot. What color is it? If you are on the white dot you did a super job. If not, try again.

  
 

2. Find 75° S 105° E
Answer

3. Find 30° S 120° W
Answer

4. Find 45° N 30° E
Answer

5. Find 0° 60° E
Answer

6. Find 75° S 15° W
Answer

7. Find 60° N 45° W
Answer

8. Find 30° N 90° E
Answer

 
  Well, I hope you did OK. Be sure you understand how to find a point on a grid. You will be tested on this skill later. When you find a point on a grid, it is called finding a grid coordinate. A coordinate is when you put two directions together to find an exact location. Now we will practice finding a map coordinate.
 
 

Take a look at this map. Locate the Equator and Prime Meridian. Notice that there are 30 degrees between the latitude and longitude lines. See if you can answer some questions using what you've learned.

  1. What city is at 30° N 90° W ? Answer
  2. What city is at 51° N 0° ? Answer
  3. What are the coordinates of
St. Petersburg?		 Answer
  4. What are the coordinates of Hangzhou? Answer
  5. What are the coordinates of Durban? Answer
  6. What continent is at 30° S 150° E ? Answer
  7. What continent is at 15° N 15° E ? Answer
  8. What is at 30° S 90° W ? Answer
 
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