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Correct Answer: meridians
another term used for lines of longitude is "meridians." these are the imaginary lines that run from the north pole to the south pole on the globe, intersecting at the poles and perpendicular to the lines of latitude. unlike lines of latitude, which are parallel to the equator, meridians converge at the poles, making the distance between them vary at different latitudes.
each meridian is paired with its antimeridian to form a circle that is 360 degrees. the primary or "prime" meridian, established as 0 degrees longitude, passes through the royal observatory in greenwich, england. this prime meridian is the reference point from which longitudes are measured both east and west up to 180 degrees.
historically, the selection of the greenwich meridian as the prime meridian was decided during the international meridian conference in 1884. this choice was strategic to aid in navigation and standardize timekeeping around the world.
the system of using meridians is crucial in cartography, navigation, and global timing systems like gps. by understanding the positioning of different meridians, one can precisely determine the geographic location of any point on earth, which is essential for global communication, travel, and numerous scientific studies.
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