Why is the prime meridian located where it is?
Quick Answer
The prime meridian is internationally recognized as the longitude of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich near London, England, because of the influence of the United Kingdom in the 1800s. This location was selected at an international conference in 1884 by a vote of 22 out of 25 countries.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
The prime meridian is the global longitude line at zero degrees in the same way that the equator is the global latitude line at zero degrees. Before 1884, many countries had their own local prime meridians that they used to establish internal coordinate systems for mapping and navigation. However, since the United Kingdom was a major navigational power with colonies around the world, its maps were spread to many countries that eventually adopted the Greenwich meridian as their standard.
Learn more about Earth ScienceRelated Questions
-
Q:
Where did Henry VIII live?
A: Henry Tudor was born at the royal residence of Greenwich Palace, in Greenwich, London, England. Henry spent time at several royal homes in London including... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How do I convert state plane coordinates to latitude and longitude?
A: Online applications to convert state plane coordinates to latitude and longitude are available on a number of websites. The Montana State Library Natural R... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Which city is closest to the prime meridian?
A: The city closest to the prime meridian is London. The prime meridian runs through the Royal Observatory in the town of Greenwich, which is in southeast Lon... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How do you convert Central time to GMT?
A: Greenwich Mountain Time, or GMT, is based out of Greenwich, England. It is viewed as the median, or starting point, for all time zones. Central Standard Ti... Full Answer >Filed Under:
You May Also Like
-
Q:
What happens when air masses collide?
-
Q:
What would likely happen to a boulder in the path of a glacier?
-
Q:
What are some examples of natural structures?
-
Q:
What is the standard meridian of India?
-
Q:
In 2014, where did fire in northern California destroy the most property?
-
Q:
How do glaciers change the land they cross?
