Latitude

Latitude is the angular distance of a point earth's surface, measured in degrees from the centre of the earth. It is parallel to a line, the equator, which lies midway between the poles. These lines are therefore called parallels of latitude, and on a globe are actually circles, becoming smaller towards poles. The equator represents 0 degree and the North and South poles are 90 degree N and 90 degree S. Between these points lines of latitude are drawn at intervals of 1 degree. For precise location on a map, each degree is sub-divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. The most important lines of latitudes are the equator, the Tropic of Cancer , the Tropic of Capricorn, the Arctic circle and the Antarctic circle. As the earth is slightly flattened at the poles, the linear distance of a degree of latitude at the pole is a little longer than that at the equator.