Latitude and longitude — Geography, 11–13 years
Two kinds of lines make a global address: latitude tells how far north or south, and longitude tells how far east or west.
A global address
Latitude and longitude are invisible lines wrapped around Earth. Latitude runs east to west and measures north or south of the Equator. Longitude runs from pole to pole and measures east or west of the Prime Meridian, giving a place a precise position.
Why coordinates were needed
Saying a ship is somewhere in the Atlantic is not enough to find it. Sailors, map-makers and rescue teams needed a shared system for naming any spot on a round Earth. Coordinates solve this problem by turning location into two measurements.
Finding a place
Suppose a town is at 40° N, 3° W. First, 40° N places it north of the Equator. Next, 3° W places it west of the Prime Meridian. On a globe, find the 40° north line and the 3° west line; their crossing gives the town’s position.
The coordinate trap
People often swap the two numbers because both are measured in degrees. That is understandable: the lines cross and look like a grid. Remember the order as latitude first, longitude second, or use the clue: latitude is like a ladder laid across the map.
Coordinates today
Your phone can use coordinates from satellites to locate you on a map. They help guide aircraft and ships, describe the position of a rainforest study site, and tell emergency services exactly where help is needed. The same idea works on a paper atlas.
Keep exploring
Other languages
Loading MyLeoNes™…