The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India is 8° 4′ N to 37° 6′ N for latitude and 68° 7′ E to 97° 25′ E for longitude. India is situated entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through it, dividing the country almost into two equal parts.
What is Latitude and Longitude?
- Latitude: Imaginary horizontal lines parallel to the Equator. They measure the North-South position of a location on Earth.
- Longitude: Imaginary vertical lines perpendicular to the Equator. They measure the East-West position of a location. The reference line for longitude is the Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England.
The difference between longitudinal and latitudinal lines lies in their orientation and purpose; while latitudinal lines run horizontally and measure distance north or south of the Equator, longitudinal lines run vertically and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
India’s Longitudinal and Latitudinal Extent
- Latitudinal Extent: 8° 4′ N to 37° 6′ N
- Longitudinal Extent: 68° 7′ E to 97° 25′ E
Importance of Latitude and Longitude in India
- Time Difference:
- India’s longitudinal extent creates a 2-hour time difference between Gujarat in the west and Arunachal Pradesh in the east.
- To maintain uniformity, the Standard Meridian of India (82° 30′ E), passing through Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, is used for Indian Standard Time (IST).
- Tropic of Cancer:
- The Tropic of Cancer (23° 30′ N) passes through the middle of India, impacting its climate and dividing the country into tropical and subtropical zones.
- Geographic Features:
- The latitudinal and longitudinal extent influences the country’s biodiversity, weather, and agriculture.
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Interesting Facts:
- IST (Indian Standard Time) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
- The latitudinal extent of approximately 30° gives India significant north-south diversity in climate and vegetation.
India’s geographical positioning makes it a land of diverse climatic and cultural conditions, with its latitude and longitude playing a key role in shaping these features.
