Meridians Geography -

: The distance between meridians is greatest at the Equator (approximately 111 km or 69 miles ) and decreases as they approach the poles, where the distance becomes zero.

| Feature | Meridians (Longitude) | Parallels (Latitude) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | North-South | East-West | | Measurement | 0° to 180° (East or West) | 0° to 90° (North or South) | | Shape | Half-circles (Great Circles) | Full circles (decreasing in size) | | Spacing | Widest at Equator, meet at Poles | Parallel and evenly spaced | | Main Reference | Prime Meridian (0°) | The Equator (0°) | | Purpose | Calculating Time & East-West location | Calculating Climate & North-South location | meridians geography

Meridians provide the "X" to latitude's "Y." By knowing your longitude (which meridian you are on) and your latitude (which parallel you are on), you can find any specific point on Earth. This coordinate system is the foundation for everything from 18th-century maritime charts to the GPS on your smartphone. 2. Keeping Time : The distance between meridians is greatest at