What are the two major lines of longitude?

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Major lines of longitude are the Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England. This is identified as 0 degrees longitude. It's opposite through the Pacific Ocean is 180 degrees longitude, which generally doubles as the international date line.



Also, what are the two main lines of longitude?

The Equator, Tropics, and Prime Meridian Running in the opposite direction, north-south, the Prime Meridian is one of the most important lines of longitude on Earth.

Subsequently, question is, what is another name for the line of longitude? Meridian

Furthermore, what is the most famous line of longitude?

prime meridian

How many longitudes are there?

360 longitudes

26 Related Question Answers Found

What are the major longitudes?

The five major parallels of latitudes from north to south are called: Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle.

How is longitude calculated?

It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek letter lambda (λ). The longitude of other places is measured as the angle east or west from the Prime Meridian, ranging from 0° at the Prime Meridian to +180° eastward and −180° westward.

What are the lines of longitude called?

Imaginary lines, also called meridians, running vertically around the globe. Unlike latitude lines, longitude lines are not parallel. Meridians meet at the poles and are widest apart at the equator. Zero degrees longitude (0°) is called the prime meridian.

Which way is longitude?

Lines of longitude, called meridians, run in a north-south direction from pole to pole. Longitude is the angular measurement of a place east or west of the prime meridian.

What is an example of longitude?


Longitude is the angular distance of a place east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England. For example, New York and Miami have almost exactly the same longitudes: around 80 degrees west. Berlin on the other hand has a longitude of 13 degrees east. Beijing, China, has a longitude of 116 degrees east.

Are latitude lines parallel?

Lines of latitude measure north-south position between the poles. The equator is defined as 0 degrees, the North Pole is 90 degrees north, and the South Pole is 90 degrees south. Lines of latitude are all parallel to each other, thus they are often referred to as parallels.

What is a longitude easy definition?

English Language Learners Definition of longitude
: distance measured in degrees east or west from an imaginary line (called the prime meridian) that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole and that passes through Greenwich, England. : an imaginary line that circles the Earth at a particular longitude.

What are the 7 major lines of latitude?

Terms in this set (7)
  • North Pole. 90 degrees north.
  • Arctic Circle. 66.5 degrees north.
  • Tropic of Cancer. 23.5 degrees north.
  • Equator. 0 degrees.
  • Tropic of Capricorn. 23.5 degrees south.
  • antarctic circle. 66.5 degrees south.
  • south pole. 90 degrees south.

How far is a degree of longitude?


Each degree of latitude is approximately 69 miles (111 kilometers) apart. The range varies (due to the earth's slightly ellipsoid shape) from 68.703 miles (110.567 km) at the equator to 69.407 (111.699 km) at the poles. This is convenient because each minute (1/60th of a degree) is approximately one [nautical] mile.

What are the lines of longitude and latitude?

The lines from pole to pole are lines of constant longitude, or meridians. The circles parallel to the equator are lines of constant latitude, or parallels. The graticule shows the latitude and longitude of points on the surface. In this example meridians are spaced at 6° intervals and parallels at 4° intervals.

Why do we have 360 longitudes and only 180 latitudes?

The South Pole and the North Pole have separated by 180° apart, The longitude lines cross from the North Pole to the South Pole. While persisting on the North Pole, you can ideally recognize the whole circle of the globe. This is why it begins at zero and finishes at 360 longitudes.

What are the importance of lines of longitude?

The lines of longitude run north and south. They are used to define the East-West position of a location on the planet. They run perpendicular to the Equator and latitude lines. Half of a longitudinal circle is called a Meridian, which is where the term comes from in the name Greenwich Meridian or Prime Meridian.

What is the main line of longitude called?


Longitude is measured by imaginary lines that run around the Earth vertically (up and down) and meet at the North and South Poles. These lines are known as meridians. The meridian that runs through Greenwich, England, is internationally accepted as the line of 0 degrees longitude, or prime meridian.

What is 0 degrees longitude called?

Zero degrees latitude is the line designating the Equator and divides the Earth into two equal hemispheres (north and south). Zero degrees longitude is an imaginary line known as the Prime Meridian.

What is another name for 0 longitude?

Zero degrees (0°) latitude is the equator Zero degrees longitude (0°) is called the prime meridian.