If you are planning to study Geography, there are a number of facts and definitions you are going to want to familiarize yourself with. For example, you are definitely going to want to make it a point to learn more about this Prime Meridian. In terms of a Prime Meridian definition, there are several things that you are going to want to keep in mind.
1. Where Is It Located?
When it comes to learning about this element of Geography, the first thing you are going to want to do is familiarize yourself with the location. You can find this Prime Meridian running through Greenwich England. It is located at 0 latitude.
2. There Wasn’t Always A Prime Meridian
For a very long time, various countries would measure longitude at differing meridian points. France preferred their Paris Meridian, as did the Algerians. As the 1880s came and went, people began to appreciate the potential good of running all measures from a singular meridian.
3. The Odd Relationship To Greenwich
Some people think it’s a little strange that this Prime Meridian runs along Greenwich, England. The truth of the matter is that there is a very good reason for this. Washington D.C. played host in 1884 to a major convention. It was here a Greenwich Meridian became established as the meridian of the planet. There were numerous arguments made for giving the honor to a Greenwich Meridian. However, the most significant reason was perhaps the fact that almost two-thirds of all of the ships of the world were already utilizing charts from it.
4. France Took A Little While To Catch Up
Although a Greenwich Meridian won the voting at the conference in a landslide, a couple of nations were slow to follow along. Forty-one delegates represented twenty-five countries. The voting came down to a staggering 22:1, all of which were in favor of adopting a Greenwich Meridian as a Prime Meridian for the whole of the entire planet. However, both France and Brazil stayed away from the voting process. In fact, France refused to acknowledge that Greenwich Meridian at all! They would hold on until 1911.
5. What Countries Does It Pass Through?
In the Northern Hemisphere, this Prime Meridian passes through a number of locations. The list of countries you can include on the list are the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Algeria, Mali, Burkina, Tongo, and Ghana. In the Southern Hemisphere, the only land mass that this Prime Meridian crosses through is Antarctica.