What are longitudes and latitudes?

Longitudes and latitudes are imaginary lines we draw on maps and globes to help us find any place on Earth, like a giant grid wrapped around the planet.

Latitude (sounds like "lat-ih-tood")

• Latitude lines run east–west (left to right) around the Earth. Think of them as flat rings.
• The most important latitude line is the Equator. It is 0° latitude and sits around the middle of the Earth.
• Latitude tells us how far north or south a place is from the Equator. It goes from 0° up to 90° North (at the North Pole) or 90° South (at the South Pole).

Longitude (sounds like "lon-jih-tood")

• Longitude lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole — like slices of an orange.
• The main longitude line is the Prime Meridian. It is 0° longitude and passes through Greenwich, England.
• Longitude tells us how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian. It goes from 0° to 180° East or West.

How we write a place's location

We give two numbers: latitude first, then longitude. For example:

• New York City ≈ 40° N, 74° W (that means 40 degrees north of the Equator, 74 degrees west of the Prime Meridian)
• Sydney ≈ 34° S, 151° E (34 degrees south, 151 degrees east)

Simple picture (ASCII) to imagine it

      North Pole
         |
         |
    W ---+--- E   <-- Prime Meridian (0° longitude)
         |
         |
  ----------------  <-- Equator (0° latitude) around the middle
         |
         |
      South Pole

Quick steps to find coordinates on a map or phone

1. Open a map app or look at a globe.
2. Find the place you want to know.
3. The app usually shows two numbers: the first is latitude (north/south), the second is longitude (east/west).

Fun activities for you

• Ask an adult to show you where your home is on Google Maps and read its latitude and longitude.
• Find three cities (like your town, a famous city, and a place you want to visit) and compare their latitudes: which is farther north or south?
• Draw a globe on paper, add an Equator line across the middle and a Prime Meridian up and down, then try placing stickers where different cities go.

Mini quiz

• Q: What latitude is the Equator? A: 0°.
• Q: Does latitude tell north/south or east/west? A: North or south.
• Q: Does longitude tell north/south or east/west? A: East or west.

That's it — longitudes and latitudes are just an invisible grid that helps us say exactly where something is on Earth. Want to try finding the coordinates of your school or favorite park? I can walk you through it!