What is Latitude?

When identifying a specific point on the earth a grid system is used, with coordinates referred to as longitude and latitude. The reference point is the Earth's equator. The equator is the imaginary line that runs along the center of the earth and divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres.

Identification

In the imaginary grid, latitudinal lines run horizontally and longitudinal lines run vertically.

Significance

A point's latitude is measured according to its distance from the equator, in relation to the distance to either the north or south pole.

Features

The measurement of latitude is in degrees. All points on the equator measure 0 degrees latitude.

Types

There are north and south latitudes. The North pole is 90 degrees north. The South Pole is 90 degrees south.

Geography

Points on the Earth that share the same latitude are in an imaginary circle. This is called the parallel of latitude.

Function

Navigation relies on readings of longitude and latitude.