Breedtegraden

Breedtegraden, in geography, refer to latitude degrees that measure how far north or south a point is from the equator. They form part of the geographic coordinate system used to specify positions on the Earth's surface, together with longitude (lengtegraden). Latitude values range from 0° at the equator to ±90° at the poles (90° north for the North Pole, 90° south for the South Pole). In practice, latitudes are commonly written with a hemisphere indicator (N or S) or as negative values for the southern hemisphere.

Latitude is defined by the angle between the equatorial plane and a line from the Earth's center to a point on the surface, measured along a meridian. The distance corresponding to one degree of latitude is roughly constant, about 111.32 kilometers (60 nautical miles), though the exact length varies slightly due to the Earth’s slightly oblate shape (the ellipsoid used as a reference). Latitudinal lines are imaginary circles that run east–west around the globe and are widest at the equator, shrinking toward the poles.

Latitude is used in navigation, mapping, weather forecasting, climate studies, and geographic information systems. It helps determine climate zones, daylight variation, and solar radiation patterns. Notable latitudinal markers include the equator (0°), the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (approximately ±23.5°), and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles (approximately ±66.5°).