Latitude and Longitude

Most topographic (topo) maps depict sections of the earth´s surface bounded by lines of latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude lines are imaginary lines running east-west (those are the latitude lines) or north-south (those are the longitude lines). That´s confusing, because latitude lines run east-west but tell you how far north or south you are from the equator! Likewise, longitude lines run north-south but tell you how far east or west you are of the prime meridian. Here´s an old schoolkid trick - remember that on a map or globe, longitude lines are *long* (since they run north-south).