Graticule (cartography)
A graticule is a special type of grid that cartographers use to help them make maps. Think of a map like a picture of the world or a specific area, and a grid like the lines on graph paper. A graticule is a grid made up of lines of longitude and latitude that run across the map.
The lines of latitude run horizontally across the map like the rungs of a ladder. They measure how far north or south a place is from the equator, which is an imaginary line that circles the earth at its widest point. The equator is at 0° latitude, and the lines of latitude get bigger the farther north or south you go. The North Pole is at 90°N, and the South Pole is at 90°S.
The lines of longitude run vertically from the top of the map to the bottom like the spokes of a wheel. They measure how far east or west a place is from a special line called the Prime Meridian, which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through Greenwich, England. The Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude, and the lines of longitude get bigger the farther east or west you go. The International Date Line is the line of longitude that's exactly opposite the Prime Meridian and marks where one day ends and another begins.
Cartographers use the graticule to show the exact location of things on a map. By using the lines of longitude and latitude, they can create a system that tells you exactly where something is located on the map. This helps people navigate and find their way around, especially when they're traveling to new places.
The lines of latitude run horizontally across the map like the rungs of a ladder. They measure how far north or south a place is from the equator, which is an imaginary line that circles the earth at its widest point. The equator is at 0° latitude, and the lines of latitude get bigger the farther north or south you go. The North Pole is at 90°N, and the South Pole is at 90°S.
The lines of longitude run vertically from the top of the map to the bottom like the spokes of a wheel. They measure how far east or west a place is from a special line called the Prime Meridian, which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through Greenwich, England. The Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude, and the lines of longitude get bigger the farther east or west you go. The International Date Line is the line of longitude that's exactly opposite the Prime Meridian and marks where one day ends and another begins.
Cartographers use the graticule to show the exact location of things on a map. By using the lines of longitude and latitude, they can create a system that tells you exactly where something is located on the map. This helps people navigate and find their way around, especially when they're traveling to new places.
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