Latitude and longitude are geographic coordinates used to specify the location of a point on the Earth’s surface. They provide a reference system that allows for precise navigation and mapping of locations.
1.Latitude:
- Latitude measures the angular distance of a location north or south of the equator, which is the imaginary line that circles the Earth midway between the North and South Poles.
- Latitude lines run parallel to the equator and are expressed in degrees, with values ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° north at the North Pole and 90° south at the South Pole.
- Locations north of the equator are designated with positive (+) values, while locations south of the equator are designated with negative (-) values.
- Latitude is used to describe a location’s position relative to the equator and is often used in conjunction with longitude to specify a precise geographic location.
2. Longitude:
- Longitude measures the angular distance of a location east or west of the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and passes through Greenwich, England.
- Longitude lines, also known as meridians, converge at the poles and are spaced evenly around the globe. They are also expressed in degrees, with values ranging from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° east and 180° west.
- Locations east of the Prime Meridian are designated with positive (+) values, while locations west of the Prime Meridian are designated with negative (-) values.
- Longitude is used to describe a location’s position relative to the Prime Meridian and is often used in conjunction with latitude to specify a precise geographic location.
India’s Latitude and Longitude:
- India is located in South Asia and occupies a large part of the Indian subcontinent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the south, the Arabian Sea to the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast.
- The latitude of India ranges from approximately 8°4′ north at its southernmost point, in the Nicobar Islands, to about 37°6′ north at its northernmost point, in the region of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The longitude of India ranges from approximately 68°7′ east at its westernmost point, near the border with Pakistan, to about 97°25′ east at its easternmost point, near the border with Myanmar (Burma).
- The geographic center of India is often considered to be near the city of Nagpur, in the state of Maharashtra, which has a latitude of approximately 21°9′ north and a longitude of about 79°6′ east.
Understanding latitude and longitude allows us to pinpoint any location on Earth’s surface with precision, making them essential tools for navigation, mapping, and geographic information systems (GIS).
