What are meridians?

Meridians are defined as lines of longitude that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. They serve as essential references for geographical navigation and coordinate systems. These lines indicate the angular distance of a location east or west of the Prime Meridian, which is established at 0 degrees longitude.

Understanding meridians is vital in various applications, including navigation, mapping, and determining time zones. They play a crucial role in the global grid system used to pinpoint specific locations on Earth. Each meridian is equally spaced from its neighbors at the equator but converges at the poles.

The other options, while related to geographic concepts, do not accurately describe meridians. Lines of latitude refer to parallels that run east and west, not north and south, and are used to measure distances from the equator. Designations of land use pertain to how land is utilized, which is distinct from the geographical measurement of meridians. Borders between countries define political boundaries and are not related to the coordinate system established by lines of longitude and latitude.