what are the major lines of latitude and longitude​

The major lines of latitude and longitude are imaginary lines that help us navigate and locate places on Earth. They are part of a geographic coordinate system that divides the Earth into a grid, enabling us to pinpoint a location using coordinates, which are given in degrees.

The major lines of latitude (parallels) are:

1. The Equator: This is the most significant line of latitude and is located at 0 degrees latitude. It divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Equator is approximately 40,075 kilometers long, and it is the only line of latitude that is a great circle.

2. The Tropic of Cancer: Located at approximately 23.5 degrees North latitude, it marks the most northerly circle of latitude at which the Sun can be directly overhead (during the June Solstice).

3. The Tropic of Capricorn: This line sits at about 23.5 degrees South latitude and is the southernmost latitude at which the Sun can be directly overhead (during the December Solstice).

4. The Arctic Circle: At approximately 66.5 degrees North, this line of latitude marks the region within which, for at least one day each year, there is a 24-hour period of continuous daylight or continuous darkness.

5. The Antarctic Circle: Found at roughly 66.5 degrees South, it is the southern counterpart to the Arctic Circle, marking the area that experiences at least one day of 24-hour daylight or 24-hour darkness.

The major lines of longitude (meridians) are:

1. The Prime Meridian: The most important meridian, at 0 degrees longitude, passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. It divides the Earth into the Western and Eastern Hemispheres.

2. The International Date Line: Though not a straight line (to accommodate political and geographical considerations), this line is roughly based on the 180-degree line of longitude, located on the opposite side of the Earth from the Prime Meridian. It is where the date changes by one day when crossed.