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Location
Prior to any in-depth study of a country it is
important to develop an understanding of its geographic location. Every
place has an absolute and a relative location. To know the absolute location of
a place is only part of the story. It is also important to know how that place
interacts with other places, in other words to know that place’s relative
location.
Absolute Location
Every
point on the Earth’s surface has an absolute location that is determined
by an imaginary grid of lines called Parallels of Latitude and Meridians
of Longitude. Most maps or globes have these imaginary horizontal and vertical lines drawn on. Upon inspection
these lines form a grid over the Earth's surface to which units of
measurement, called a degree, have been assigned. When providing a
place’s absolute location, latitude is always listed first with longitude listed second. Geographers use latitude and longitude to
pinpoint a place’s absolute, or exact, location.
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The horizontal lines
on the grid are called Parallels of Latitude. Latitude, starting at
the equator, is measured in degree north and south until it reaches
the poles at the top or bottom of world. The Equator is found at 0°
latitude, and 90° has been assigned to each of the poles. The N or S
following a latitude measurement indicate whether the degrees are
measured north or south of the Equator.
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The vertical lines on
the grid are known as Meridians of Longitude. Longitude, starting at
the Prime Meridian, is measured in degrees east and west until they
meet again on the opposite side of the world at the International Date
Line. The Prime Meridian is found at 0° longitude, and there are 180°
going both east and west from the Prime Meridian to the International
Date Line. The E or W following a longitude measurement indicate
whether the degrees are measured east or west of the Prime Meridian.
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When pinpoint
accuracy is needed minutes and seconds follow the latitude and
longitude measurements. Each degree can be divided into sixty minutes,
usually indicated by a single quotation mark or by numbers following a
period in the latitude or longitude measurement. For example, 90°15'N
could also be written as 90.15N. Each minute can be further divided
into sixty seconds, indicated by a double quotation mark.
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The Equator and Prime
Meridian can also be used to divide the earth into
hemispheres. The Equator divides the earth into the Northern
Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, while the Prime Meridian divides
the earth into the Western Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere.
Relative Location
Relative Location is more general in
its description of a place’s location in the world. Not only does
relative location help identify the location of a place, it can also be
used develop connections to other places in the world by similar language,
religion, natural resources, form of government, or trade.
Activity Page
Click here to go to
Location Activity Page.
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