The Prime Meridian is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and divides the earth into two hemispheres, the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. It is also known as the zero-degree longitude line, as all longitudes are measured in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian.
The Prime Meridian was first established by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England in 1851 and was internationally recognized by the International Meridian Conference in 1884. This conference also established that the Prime Meridian would be used as the reference for calculating longitudes throughout the world.
The Prime Meridian is significant as it provides a basis for determining the time around the world. It is used by navigators, cartographers, geographers, and other professionals as a reference point for determining longitudes and latitudes. The Prime Meridian also serves as the origin for measuring distances between locations on the earth's surface.
The Prime Meridian is an essential reference line for determining geographical positions and distances on the earth's surface. It serves as the basis for determining longitudes and latitudes and the time around the world.