Prime Meridian

Imagine a big, cozy hug that goes all around our round world. I stretch from the very snowy top, called the North Pole, all the way down to the chilly bottom, called the South Pole. You can’t see me or feel me, but I am there on every globe and every map. I am a very important line. I am like the starting line in a race, but for the whole wide world. I help everyone know where to begin counting and looking for places. Hello. My name is the Prime Meridian.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, people who sailed big ships on the big blue ocean would get mixed up. Their maps were all different. Each map had its own starting line, which was very, very confusing. So, on October 13th, 1884, lots of smart people from all over the world had a big meeting. They talked and talked, and then they all agreed. They decided to choose just one special starting line for everybody in the whole world to use. And guess what. They chose me. They gave me a special home in a place called Greenwich in London, England.

Now, I have a very important job. I help you find your way. I split the world into two big halves, like when you share a cookie. One side is the Eastern Hemisphere, and the other is the Western Hemisphere. I am also the starting point for telling time all around the world. So when you look at a globe or a map, look for the line that goes from the very top to the very bottom. That’s me, the Prime Meridian, helping everyone stay connected and find their way.