Longitude and latitude lines are imaginary lines drawn on Earth to help us locate any place on our planet. These lines form a coordinate system that divides Earth into a grid, making it possible to pinpoint exact locations anywhere in the world.
Latitude lines run horizontally around the Earth, parallel to the equator. They measure distances north and south from the equator. The equator itself is at zero degrees latitude. Moving north, we reach 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and finally 90 degrees at the North Pole. The same pattern applies going south to the South Pole.
Longitude lines run vertically from the North Pole to the South Pole, dividing Earth into segments like orange slices. They measure distances east and west from the Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England at zero degrees. Moving east, we have 30, 60, 90 degrees and so on. Moving west, we have the same pattern. At 180 degrees longitude, we find the International Date Line.
By combining latitude and longitude coordinates, we can pinpoint any location on Earth precisely. For example, New York City is located at 40.7 degrees North latitude and 74.0 degrees West longitude. London, England is at 51.5 degrees North and 0.1 degrees West. These coordinate pairs give us exact positions on our planet's grid system.