Geography: Latitude Placard

Latitude is defined as a measurement of distance in degrees north or south of the equator.  The word latitude is derived from the Latin, “latus”, meaning “wide.”

There are ninety degrees of latitude from the equator to each of the poles.  Latitude lines are pictured on the globe to the right.  Latitude lines are parallel, that is they are the same distance apart.  In fact, they are sometimes called parallels.

The equator is 0 degrees.  It divides the earth in half.  It is called the equator all the way around the earth.  You can image that the equator is like a belt on a skirt or a pair of jeans.

Positions on latitude lines above the equator are called “north” and are in the northern hemisphere.  They are abbreviated N. St. John’s Newfoundland, for example, is near 49 degrees north.  Positions on latitude lines below the equator are called “south” and is abbreviated S.  They indicate the position is in the southern hemisphere.