The other method uses section, township and range. Longitude and Latitude Lines of longitude are imaginary lines on the earth that run from pole to pole. They are measured in degrees east or west from the Prime Meridian found in England. Degrees can be broken down into minutes and seconds. There are 60 seconds in one minute and 60 minutes in one degree.
Lines of latitude are imaginary lines that circle the earth parallel to the equator.
They are measured in degrees north or south from the equator. To locate a place using longitude and latitude, one must determine where the two lines cross. As streams increase in flow and join with other streams, a branching network is established. From above, a stream network appears much like the branches of a tree. This network from headwaters to the river mouth is called a stream system.