antipodális

Antipodális refers to a point or area that is diametrically opposite another point on the surface of a sphere, typically the Earth. Imagine drawing a straight line through the center of the Earth from one point on its surface; the point where that line emerges on the opposite side is its antipode. For example, the antipode of a point in the Northern Hemisphere is a point in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. Similarly, a location in the Eastern Hemisphere has its antipode in the Western Hemisphere.

The concept of antipodes is relevant in geography and cartography. Most landmasses do not have antipodal landmasses; instead, the antipodes of most land locations are found in the oceans. Conversely, the vast majority of the ocean floor has its antipodal points located on land. For instance, the antipodal point of Spain is largely in New Zealand, while the antipodal point of much of New Zealand is in Spain. This phenomenon means that true antipodal cities, where both points are significant urban areas, are relatively rare. Understanding antipodal points is important for certain scientific applications, such as seismic wave propagation and the study of Earth's internal structure.