THE WORLD -MAP.

Synopsis:

• Map
• Globe
• Latitudes
• Longitudes

MAP:

• The earth is actually round and shaped like an orange-a little flat at the top and bottom.
• It is slightly tilted at an angle of 23.5 Degree.
• It has an imaginary line that runs through the middle, called the axis.
• The northern and southern tips of the earth, through which the axis passes, are called the North Pole & the South Pole.

GLOBE:

A globe is a spherical model of the earth.

It has the map drawn on it and is mounted on an axle, so that it can be rotated.

• We have horizontal and vertical imaginary lines running over the surface to form a grid.
• The intersection of these lines on the grid forms co-ordinates that help in identifying the location of a place.
• The vertical lines are called longitudes.
• The horizontal lines are called latitudes.

LATITUDES:

• Latitudes are horizontal lines drawn on the surface of the earth.
• They run parallel to each other and are also known as parallel of latitudes.
• The line that runs exactly in the middle, thereby dividing the earth into two halves or hemisphere is called the Equator.
• The part of the earth above the Equator is called the northern hemisphere. The part below it is called the southern hemisphere.
• there are 90 latitudes running on either sides of the Equator, thereby bringing the total to 181 latitudes (including the Equator).
• Their length are not equal and the circles become smaller towards the poles.

Some important latitudes that divide the earth into different regions:

1. The Equator lies at 0-degree.
2. The Tropic of Cancer (23.5 Degree N)lies at 23.5 Degree north of the Equator.
3. The Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 Degree S)lies at 23.5 Degree south of the Equator.
4. The Arctic Circle (66.5 Degree N) lies at 66.5 Degree north of the Equator.
5. The Antarctic Circle (66.5 Degree S)lies at 66.5 Degree south of the Equator.
6. The North Pole (90 Degree N) lies at 90 Degree north of the Equator.
7. The South Pole (90 Degree S) lies at 90 Degree south of the Equator.

LONGITUTES:

• Longitudes are vertical lines drawn on the surface of the earth.
• They run from the North Pole to the South Pole.
• They are farthest from each other at the Equator due to the bulge of the earth.
• They are closer to each other as they get near the poles.
• The 0 Degree longitudes is called the Prime Meridian and its runs through Greenwich in England. This line divides the earth into the eastern and western hemisphere.
• Each longitudes is a semi-circle and all are of equal length.
• There are 360 meridians of longitude.
• The International Date Line lies at 180 Degree east and west, exactly opposite to the Prime Meridian.