3.1.8

Latitude

Test yourself

Latitude

Longitude and latitude are imaginary lines that we use to locate places on planet Earth. They help you to explain exactly where a place is. Lines of latitude run horizontally ‘across’ the earth.

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What is latitude?

  • Lines of latitude run from east to west on a map.
  • The latitude of a place determines its climate.
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Climate

  • If a place has a low latitude, it is nearer the equator.
    • This will make it a hot place.
  • If a place has a high latitude, it is further from the equator.
    • This will make it a cold place.
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The equator

  • Lines of latitude are parallel and evenly spaced.
  • The equator is the line at 0 degrees latitude.
  • The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are also important lines of latitude.
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The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn

  • The Tropic of Cancer is at 23.5 degrees north.
  • The Tropic of Capricorn is at 23.5 degrees south.
  • In the northern hemisphere, the Arctic circle is found at 66.5 degrees north.
  • In the southern hemisphere, the Antarctic circle is found at 66.5 degrees south.

Jump to other topics

1Geography Skills

2Geology of the UK

3Geography of the World

4Development

5Weather & Climate

6The World of Work

7Natural Resources

8Rivers

9Coasts

10Glaciers

11Tectonics

12Climate Change

13Global Population & Inequality

14Urbanisation

15Ecosystems

16Life in an Emerging Country

17Analysis of Africa

18Analysis of India

19Analysis of the Middle East

20Analysis of Bangladesh

21Analysis of Russia

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