Latitude

What is Latitude?

Latitude is a special way to find places on the Earth. It tells us how far north or south a place is from a line called the Equator. Think of the Equator like an imaginary belt around the middle of the Earth. Places on the Equator have a latitude of 0°.

How We Measure It

We measure latitude using numbers called degrees. If you go north from the Equator, the numbers go up. If you go south, the numbers go down. The farthest north you can go is the North Pole, which has a latitude of 90° North. The farthest south is the South Pole, with a latitude of 90° South.

Why It Matters

Latitude helps us understand many things about our planet. It tells us about the weather and climate. Places that are far apart in latitude often have very different weather. For example, places near the Equator are usually warm, while places near the poles are cold.

Fun Facts

Latitude lines are called parallels because they all run in the same direction—east to west. They are like circles around the Earth. The Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle are special latitude lines that mark where we can see the midnight sun or the polar night.

Here are some important latitude lines:

• Arctic Circle: 66° 34′ North
• Tropic of Cancer: 23° 26′ North
• Tropic of Capricorn: 23° 26′ South
• Antarctic Circle: 66° 34′ South