The longitude and latitude are the geographic coordinates which are usually used for the cartography as well as for global navigation. As it divides the whole world into the lines that originate from the north and move towards the south as well as from the east towards the west, an individual can easily point out exactly where they are with the help of understanding these two terms.

Though there are some really significant differences about these two different geographic coordinates. The understanding both of these terms is very important is very much important and these can help you a lot in knowing about the position where you currently are on the map of the world. The longitude and latitude should be understood separately for this purpose.

Longitude is the measurement in the east west direction. This means that the lines of this measurement would move from the north towards the south direction. This is one common misconception about these two terms.

It has been believed by people that because they are used for measuring the east west directions, the lines should also go in the east west direction. This is not correct. The zero degrees longitude is also called the prime meridian and can be easily found by passing the Royal Observatory which is present in Greenwich England.

Latitude is the north south measurement with the lines which are running from the east direction towards the west. There is also a misconception about the latitude too that the lines would also be coming from the north towards the south. The zero degrees latitude is called the equator.