What are the circular lines in each map called?  And do you know what the lines radiating out of the two poles are called?

The circular lines on a map are called parallels of latitude. They run east-west and measure distances north or south of the Equator (0° latitude).

The lines radiating out from the poles are called meridians of longitude. They run from the North Pole to the South Pole and measure distances east or west of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude).

Additional facts

1. The Equator is the longest line of latitude – It measures about 40,075 km (24,901 miles) around the Earth.
2. All lines of latitude are parallel – But lines of longitude meet at the poles!
3. Greenwich, England, marks 0° longitude – This is called the Prime Meridian, set in 1884.
4. The International Date Line is at 180° longitude – Crossing it changes the calendar date!
5. Your GPS uses latitude and longitude – Every place on Earth has a unique set of coordinates.
6. The North and South Poles are special – They are at 90° latitude and have no longitude because all meridians meet there.
7. The Tropics mark special zones – The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S) define where the Sun shines directly overhead.
8. Longitude affects time zones – Every 15° of longitude equals a one-hour difference in time.
9. The Arctic and Antarctic Circles (66.5° latitude) – These mark the regions where the Sun stays up all day in summer and never rises in winter.
10. The first accurate way to measure longitude was discovered in the 1700s – A clockmaker named John Harrison invented a special clock (marine chronometer) that helped sailors navigate!

Latitude and longitude help us explore and understand the world!

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