Look at a globe or a map of the world, Have you ever wondered why they have so many lines? There are no lines on the earth, so why are there lines on globes and maps?
The lines help people find places. The lines are something like city streets. When two friends meet at a corner, they are meeting where two streets cross. On a globe or map, the east-west lines cross the north-south lines. Every place can be found on a map by looking near where two of the lines cross.
The east-west lines measure how far north or how far south a place is from the equator. This measurement is called latitude. Because the lines are parallel-always the same distance apart they are called parallels of latitude. Latitude is measured in units called degrees. The symbol ° after each number is a degree sign. Latitude is always given as so many degrees north or south of the equator. The equator is 0° latitude.
The north-south lines measure distance east and west, or longitude. These lines are called meridians. A line called the prime meridian is 0° longitude. All other meridians are measured as so many degrees east or west of this line.
Picture Credit : Google
