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Map Layer Info


What this map layer shows:

The latitude/longitude grid.
opens the U.S. Geological Survey home page
Background Information
Sample map Sample Map
Latitude and longitude lines form a grid that covers the entire Earth and that allows the description of any location on the Earth as a unique set of angular coordinates. Latitude lines run east-west around the Earth, are equally spaced, and indicate degrees north or south of the Equator. The Equator is 0 degrees latitude, the North Pole is at a latitude of 90 degrees north, and the South Pole is at a latitude of 90 degrees south. Longitude lines, also known as meridians, run north-south on the Earth. They converge at the poles and are farthest apart where they cross the Equator. The prime meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England, is the line of 0 degrees longitude. Other longitude values indicate degrees east or west of the prime meridian. Each degree of latitude and longitude is further divided into 60 minutes, and each minute of latitude or longitude is divided into 60 seconds, allowing for precise descriptions of locations.

The Latitude/Longitude map layer shows the latitude/longitude grid. This map layer was produced by the U.S. Geological Survey.