Parallels and meridians are imaginary lines used to locate places on Earth. Parallels circle the Earth parallel to the equator and measure latitude, while meridians run from pole to pole, with the Greenwich meridian at 0 degrees measuring longitude. Together, the lines of latitude and longitude provide coordinates that uniquely identify locations worldwide.

1. Parallels and meridians
In order to find any place on Earth, a system of
imaginary lines is used. These lines are called
parallels and meridians.

2. Parallels
Parallels are imaginary lines that
circle the Earth. These lines are
parallel to the equator. The
equator is the principal parallel.
Parallels are numbered from the
equator to the poles in degrees
from 0º to 90º. Parallels
measure latitude. Latitude is the
distance between any point on
the Earth and the equator. Any
place north of the equator is in
the northern hemisphere. Any
place south of the equator is in
the southern hemisphere.

3. Meridians
Meridians are imaginary lines that
run from pole to pole. The
Greenwich meridian is meridian
zero or the principal meridian,
sometimes called the Prime
meridian. Meridians are
numbered in degrees from 0º to
180º, east and west of the
Greenwich meridian. Meridians
enable us to measure longitude.
Longitude is the distance between
any point on the Earth and the
Greenwich meridian. Points west
of the Greenwich meridian are in
the eastern hemisphere.

4. The equator
● The equator the imaginary line, that is perpendicular to the
sphere's axis of rotation between the poles. It divides the
Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern
Hemisphere. Other planets and astronomical bodies have
equators similarly defined. The Equator is about 40,075
kilometres. The 78.7% of the Equator across water, and
21.3% is over land.
● Equator means line of equality. This is because the Sun and the
stars take the same time to beabove the horizon that below
him.
● The equator goes throght a country called Equator. This
country, is situated in the South of America.

5. The meridian of Greenwich
● It is called the meridian of
Greenwich, because it
goes trought a village
called Greenwich. This
village, is situated in
England, in the United
Kingdom (UK).
● It is called too the prime
meridian, or the
meridian zero.

6. The co-ordinates
● When we put the longitude and latitude of a place
together, we have the co­ordinates of the location.
● The point where coincide the Ecuador and the
meridian of Greenwich, has the coordinates of 0º
(Zero degrees). It is next to Africa, in the Atlantic
Ocean.

7. The co-ordinates
● When we put the longitude and latitude of a place
together, we have the co­ordinates of the location.
● The point where coincide the Ecuador and the
meridian of Greenwich, has the coordinates of 0º
(Zero degrees). It is next to Africa, in the Atlantic
Ocean.