Meridiansof longitude measure distances east and west of the line called the PrimeMeridian. Geographers use latitude and longitude to pinpoint a place's absolute,or exact, location. To know the absolute location of a place is only partof the story. It is also important to know how that place is related toother places-in other words, to know that place's relative location. Relativelocation deals with the interaction that occurs between and among places.
Geographers describe placesby their physical and human characteristics.
Physical characteristics includesuch elements as animal life. Human characteristics of the landscape canbe noted in architecture, patterns of livelihood, land use and ownership,town planning, and communication and transportation networks. Languages,as well as religious and political ideologies, help shape the characterof a place. Studied together, the physical and human characteristics ofplaces provide clues to help students understand the nature of places onthe earth. The environment means different things to different people, dependingon their cultural backgrounds and technological resources.