Latitude and longitude lines form an imaginary grid around the Earth. Latitude lines run east to west and measure distance north or south of the Equator, while longitude lines run from pole to pole and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
They are reference lines used to describe locations anywhere on Earth.
Latitude lines circle the Earth horizontally and are parallel to the Equator.
Longitude lines run vertically from the North Pole to the South Pole.
Latitude and longitude cross each other to create a global coordinate grid.
Latitude lines stay parallel to one another and never meet. They measure angular distance north or south of the Equator.
Longitude lines meet at the poles. They measure angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
The Equator is the main reference line for latitude.
The Equator divides Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.
Latitude increases from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the North and South Poles.
The Prime Meridian is the main reference line used to measure longitude.
Locations east of the Prime Meridian use eastern longitude, while locations west of it use western longitude.
Longitude values increase from 0° toward 180° east or west.
Latitude and longitude lines also have traditional geographic names.
Latitude lines are called parallels because they remain parallel to the Equator and to one another.
Longitude lines are called meridians. Unlike parallels, they converge and meet at the North and South Poles.
A geographic location is identified where a latitude value and longitude value intersect.
Our interactive world map displays latitude and longitude grid lines, the Equator and Prime Meridian. Click anywhere to see the coordinates of that point.
Several latitude lines are commonly used as geographic reference points.
Explore related concepts about geographic coordinates and how they are represented.
Explore the coordinate grid interactively or convert coordinate formats.