pituusasteiksi

Pituusasteiksi is a Finnish term that translates to "degrees of longitude." It refers to the angular distance, measured in degrees, east or west of the Prime Meridian. These imaginary lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole and are used in conjunction with latitude to pinpoint any location on Earth's surface. The Earth is divided into 360 degrees of longitude. The Prime Meridian, designated as 0 degrees longitude, passes through Greenwich, London. Longitude lines increase eastward towards 180 degrees East and westward towards 180 degrees West. The 180th meridian generally coincides with the International Date Line. Measuring longitude accurately was historically a significant challenge, particularly at sea, and its precise determination was crucial for navigation and cartography. The concept of pituusasteiksi is fundamental to understanding geographical coordinates and mapping.