3. Geographic coordinates

Talking book

The geographic coordinates system is network of imaginary horizontal and vertical lines that are drawn on globes or maps. These lines are called parallels (lines of latitude) and meridians (lines of longitude).

Parallels and meridians form an imaginary geographical network, in the form of a grid, which allows us to locate the exact position of any place in the world.

3.1. Parallels

Talking book

The Equator is an imaginary circle around the widest part of the Earth. It is 40075 km long. It divides our planet into two equal halves or hemispheres, a Greek word meaning half a sphere. The top half is the Northern Hemisphere and the bottom half is the Southern Hemisphere.

Parallels are imaginary lines that circle the Earth parallel to the Equator.

The Equator is 0° latitude. After that, there are 90 parallels to the north and another 90 to the south.

Some of these parallels are very important. In the Northern Hemisphere, there is the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle.

The area between the Equator and the tropics (the Intertropical Convergence Zone) has low latitudes; the area between the tropics and the polar circles are medium latitudes and the area between the polar circles and the Poles has high latitudes.

3.2. Meridians

Talking book

The prime meridian or Greenwich meridian is 0° longitude. It is named after the British observatory at Greenwich because the prime meridian runs through the observatory. This is the point of reference for all other meridians.

There are 180 main meridians to the east and another 180 to the west.

Meridians are imaginary semi-circles that go from pole to pole.

⁵intersect

⁶range

Talking book

Video 4: Forma, medida y representación de la Tierra

Worklink 3: Find your longitude

Worklink 4: Where in the world?

Responde a las siguientes preguntas: (500 palabras máximo cada pregunta)

Look at the map and answer the questions. a) Are all the meridians the same size?

Are the parallels all the same size? Where is the largest?

Where are the smallest?

In which hemisphere is there more surface area covered by water?

What is its longitude?

World map

Look at the physical map of Spain. What latitude is the nothernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula? And the southernmost point of Spain? (hint: not just the peninsula!)

and .

Physical map of Spain

Responde a las siguientes preguntas: (500 palabras máximo cada pregunta)

Look at a world political map which you can find here or in the map appendix. Which parallel 'goes through' Spain?

Which meridian 'goes through' Spain?

World political map

Responde a las siguientes preguntas: (500 palabras máximo cada pregunta)

Look at a world political map which you can find here or in the map appendix. Write the hemisphere for the place - Northern Hemispshere or Southern Hemisphere? Barcelona

Pretoria

Tasmania

Marrakech

World political map

Drag the coordinates onto the map where you think they should go.

Where in the world...?

Responde a las siguientes preguntas: (500 palabras máximo cada pregunta)

Using an atlas, name the city or country that lie on the coordinates of activity 16. 20ºN;15ºW

60ºN; 0ºE

20ºS; 140ºE

40ºN;0ºE

,
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3. Geographic coordinates

3.1. Parallels

3.2. Meridians

Activity 13

Activity 14

Activity 14

Activity 15

Activity 16

Actividad 17