*We have discussed absolute and relative geography.  There are many ways to determine both, but the most commonly used way is through latitude and longitude.

*Latitude and longitude are imaginary lines drawn around the earth. 

*Latitude lines run parallel to the equator, so latitude measures how far north or south something is.  Some people like to remember that latitude lines are the ones that run side-to-side, because on a map they look they run flat, so you can remember that ‘flat’ rhymes with ‘lat-itude.’

*Longitude lines run parallel to the Prime Meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England, so longitude measures how far east or west something is.

*Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees North or South, East of West.  Using these co-ordinates, you can locate anything in the world.  This makes them useful for absolute location.  However, because latitude and longitude are based on the equator and prime meridian, they are, in a way, also relative measurements.