This convergence is why polar maps are often displayed using different projections (like the Azimuthal projection) rather than the standard Mercator projection, which grotesquely exaggerates the size of polar regions.
Directly opposite the Prime Meridian lies the at 180° longitude. This line is unique because it serves as the basis for the International Date Line (IDL). While the IDL zigzags to avoid cutting through countries, the 180° meridian is its geometric spine. Cross this line eastward, and you subtract a day; cross it westward, and you add a day. meridian longitude
This convergence is why maps like the Mercator projection drastically distort the size of Greenland and Antarctica. The meridians are forced apart at the top of the map, stretching landmasses. This convergence is why polar maps are often
Meridian longitude has numerous applications in various fields: While the IDL zigzags to avoid cutting through
In 1884, the International Meridian Conference met in Washington, D.C., and established the (passing through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London) as the world's official Prime Meridian. It is designated as 0° longitude . How Longitude is Measured Longitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds: