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Activities
  1. Map It
    Study latitude and longitude on the map. Click on the forward arrow and follow the route from New Orleans to Greenwich. Does it cross more lines of latitude or longitude?
  2. Find It
    What is the latitude and longitude of New Orleans? What is the latitude and longitude of St. Petersburg?
  3. Calculate It
    Find the scale and look for the mileage markings. Transfer the mile markings to a slip of paper, creating a kind of ruler. Use the ruler to measure the distance from the equator to the first latitude line north of the Equator. How many miles does 30 degrees equal?
Learn More About It

Latitude and longitude measure distances on the earth's surface in degrees. Latitude and longitude start with two lines: the equator and the prime meridian. Latitude measures the distances north or south from the equator. Longitude measures distances east and west from the prime meridian. Every place in the world has its own latitude and longitude. It is like having an address in a very big community.
Check Your Answers
  1. It crosses more lines of latitude, which run across the map from east to west.
  2. New Orleans is at 30 degrees north latitude, 90 degrees west longitude. St. Petersburg is 60 degrees north latitude, 30 degrees east longitude.
  3. 30 degrees of latitude equals about 2,100 miles.
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