What is the Difference Between Parallels and Meridians?

The key difference between parallels and meridians lies in their orientation and how they intersect each other. Parallels and meridians are both imaginary lines used in cartography and geographic coordinate systems to determine the exact dimension and direction of a location. Here are the main differences between them:

• Parallels: These are imaginary circles that run from east to west, connecting all locations on a map parallel to the Equator. They never intersect with each other. Latitude lines are an example of parallels, and they help determine the degree of north or south a location is compared to the Equator. There are five major circles of latitude, including the Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and Antarctic Circle.
• Meridians: Meridians, also known as longitudes, are imaginary semi-circles that run from north to south, connecting all locations on a map from the North Pole to the South Pole. Unlike parallels, meridians intersect at the North and South Poles. Longitude lines are an example of meridians, and they help determine the degree of east or west a location is compared to the Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England.

In summary, parallels run from east to west and never intersect, while meridians run from north to south and intersect at the North and South Poles.

Comparative Table: Parallels vs Meridians

Here is a table comparing the differences between parallels and meridians:

Parallels, also known as latitudes, run from east to west and never intersect with each other. They are circular in shape, and the size of each parallel varies. The distance between two parallels is the same everywhere on the Earth's surface. There are 180 lines of latitude, and the length of the lines varies.

Meridians, also known as longitudes, run from north to south and intersect at the north and south poles. They are semi-circular in shape, and each meridian has the same length. The distance between two meridians is larger on the equator and decreases towards the poles.