Which direction do latitude lines run?

Latitude lines run horizontally around the Earth. They measure the distance north or south of the Equator, which is at 0 degrees latitude. As the degree of latitude increases, the lines move north towards the North Pole or south towards the South Pole. This horizontal arrangement is essential for navigation and mapping, allowing us to determine specific locations based on their latitude coordinates.

In contrast, vertical lines represent longitude, which measure the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. Diagonal lines and circular lines do not accurately describe the pattern of latitude lines, which consistently run parallel to the Equator. Understanding the horizontal nature of latitude is fundamental for grasping concepts of Earth's coordinate system.