Theme 4 - LocationTheme 4 - Location

• Where is It?Where is It?• Why is It There?Why is It There?

Two Types of Location

•Absolute

•Relative

Absolute LocationAbsolute Location

• A specific place on the Earth’s surfaceA specific place on the Earth’s surface• Uses a grid systemUses a grid system• Latitude and longitudeLatitude and longitude• A global addressA global address

Relative LocationRelative Location

• Where a place Where a place is in relation to is in relation to another placeanother place

There are three very important lines to help us find our way around the world.

1. The Equator

2. The Prime Meridian

3. The International Date Line

They are laid out on a map or globe like a grid.

1

2

3

A B C D E

Lines of latitude are the horizontal lines on a map that mark the distance north or south of the equator. The equator is an imaginary line separating the northern and southern hemispheres.It is located at 0 degrees latitude.

Line of Latitude

Lines of Longitude

Lines of longitude are the vertical lines on a map that mark the distance east and west of the Prime Meridian.

The Prime Meridian is an imaginary line separating the western and eastern hemispheres.

Prime Meridian

The Prime Meridian is at 0 degrees longitude The International Date Line is at 180 degrees longitude

The hemispheres are divided along the equator or the Prime Meridian.

The equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres.

The Prime Meridian divides the eastern and western hemispheres.

Hemisphere

A hemisphere is one half of the planet.

                                                        

   

The equator is located at 0 degrees latitude. It is 24,901.55 miles long. It divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The main directions we use are called cardinal directions and they are north (N), south (S), east (E), and west (W).  On most maps, north is at the top.  South is at the bottom.  East is on the right.  West is on the left.

The compass rose shows us the in between directions.  They are called intermediate directions.        NE means northeast        SE means southeast        SW means southwest        NW means northwest