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elevation of the world's continents, including Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe,
North America, and South America, according to the World Atlas.
The Antarctic Circle lies three-quarters of the way between the equator
and the South Pole.
Three-quarters of the way between the equator and the North Pole lies
the Arctic Circle. Above this line is the Arctic region, where nights last
for 24 hours in the middle of winter. It is known as the Land of the
Midnight Sun because in summer the sun never sets.
DEW Line
The Equator
This imaginary circle goes around the middle of the earth for 24,902
miles. It divides the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern
Hemisphere and is exactly half way between the North and South
Poles.
The International Date Line
An imaginary line where the date changes one day when passed. It is
one day earlier east of the line than it is on the west.
Meridians
Imaginary lines that run north and south on a map from pole to pole.
Meridians express degrees of longitude, or how far a place is away
from the prime meridian. The prime meridian runs through
Greenwich, England. Longitude is used together with latitude to form a
grid on which it is possible to locate any place on the earth.
Parallels
Imaginary lines that run east and west on a map. Parallels represent
degrees of latitude, or how far a place is away from the equator. The
equator's latitude is 0° and the poles are 90° south and north. One
degree of latitude equals about 69 miles.
A parallel line of latitude that is a quarter of the way from the equator to
the North Pole. During the summer solstice, the sun is directly
overhead.
This line of latitude is a quarter of the way from the equator to the South
Pole. During the winter solstice, the sun is directly overhead.
The Hemispheres
The equator divides the earth into two halves, or hemispheres. The
Northern Hemisphere is the half of the earth between the North Pole
and the equator. The Southern Hemisphere is the half of the earth
between the South Pole and the equator.
The earth can also be broken up another way: into the Eastern
Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere
includes North and South America, their islands, and the surrounding
waters. The Eastern Hemisphere includes Asia, Africa, Australia, and
Europe.