Latitude and Longitude Lesson

Taken from: http://life.csu.edu.au/geo/coord.html

Degrees/Minutes/Seconds

The most popular coordinate system is the one that shows standard Degrees/Minutes/Seconds coordinates. Remember that there are 360 degrees, but you can only go up to 90 degrees north or south latitude, or just short of 180 degrees east or west longitude. At the equator a degree of longitude is over 69 miles wide (111 km), so smaller divisions are required for depicting points accurately. The system in use is best remembered like what is used on a clock. Think of a degree as an hour. Each degree is broken up into 60 minutes, each minute is broken up into 60 seconds. A minute is still over a mile wide (1.6 km) at the equator. A second, at .0192 miles, is getting more manageable, but that is still over 100 feet (30 meters). Longitude lines get closer together until they reach the poles, but latitude lines stay the same distance apart all the way to the pole. The distances between latitude lines are easier, always those same figures given above for the equator longitude data. For more accuracy, a degree = 69.1722 miles (111.2981 km), a minute = 1.1528 miles (1.8549 km), a second = 101.45 feet (30.9 meters).
An example of a DMS coordinate is:
N61° 11' 05.5" W130° 30' 10.0"
This Web site will usually present it like this:
7. RAPIDS N61 11' 05.5" W130 30' 10.0" Start of first portage
The first number (7) is the waypoint number. A waypoint is "GPSese" for a point indicated by coordinates in the GPS receiver unit. The word RAPIDS is the waypoint name. The long string of numbers after it is the actual coordinate set. Last is a description or comment of some kind.
The N61 is the number of degrees of North Latitude (N = north). Remember that the degree numbering starts at zero, the Earth's equator. In this case the N61° line runs through the southern Yukon and Northwest Territories, just above the other northern provincial borders. The 11' is the number of minutes (' = minute) north of that. A minute is 1/60th of a degree. The 05.5" is the number of seconds (" = second) north of 11 minutes. A second, like on a clock, is 1/60th of a minute. The same system works for the rest of the coordinate, west longitude part. Remember from the basics above that we're working from a meridian baseline running through Greenwich, England. The east-west latitude lines are parallel and don't cross each other, but the longitude lines all cross at both geographic poles, not the magnetic ones your compass points towards. Also remember that the degree, minutes, and seconds lines get closer together the closer to the poles on any map you are working with.

New 7 Wonders

The Great Wall of China is one of the 21 nominations for the New 7 Wonders of the World. Of the Seven Ancient Wonders, only the Pyramids of Giza are still standing, so now it's time to choose the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Anyone can vote, however, there are only about 40 more voting days left. The winners will be announced 7-07-07 in Portugal. Click on the link to the right to find out more.

The list of nominations includes the Statue of Liberty, Angor Wat, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower and many other monuments, religious places and ancient cities around the globe. It's fun to learn about the places on the website and see the different projects that have been done by students around the world. Today I noticed that they now have a 'New Wonders' song and a shopping site for memorabilia. Of course, I had to buy. I bought a pin for each of 8 places that I personally have been to or will be visiting before the end of '07, including my December trip to Cancun and, of course, my China travels. 7 Ancient Wonders

So, here's my location question for this post. Who can name the 8 wonders that I personally have seen (or will see within the next 6 months)?
AND: Of those, which two will I see this year (haven't actually been there yet)?

Here are the coordinates:

1. N 40° 40' 20" ; W 74° 2'42.4"
2. N 51° 4' ; W 1° 48'
3. N 48° 51' 32" ; E 002° 17' 45"
4. N 37° 7' ; E 107° 5'
5. N 20° 40' ; W 88° 32'
6. N 47° 44' 00" ; E 10° 19' 02"
7. N 41° 53' 24" ; E 12° 29' 31"
8. S 33° 51' 35" ; E 151° 12' 50"

Pioneer

Definition of: Pioneer
(courtesy of http://www.thefreedictionary.com/)

pi·o·neer (p-nîr)

n.

1. One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.

2. One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or development: a pioneer in aviation.

3. A soldier who performs construction and demolition work in the field to facilitate troop movements.

4. Ecology An animal or plant species that establishes itself in a previously barren environment.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of early settlers: the pioneer spirit.

2. Leading the way; trailblazing: a pioneer treatment for cancer.

v. pi·o·neered, pi·o·neer·ing, pi·o·neers

v.tr.

1.

a. To open up (an area) or prepare (a way): rockets that pioneered outer space.

b. To settle (a region).

2. To initiate or participate in the development of: surgeons who pioneered organ transplants.

v.intr.

To act as a pioneer: pioneered in development of the laser.

---

[French pionnier, from Old French peonier, foot soldier, from peon, from Medieval Latin ped, pedn-, from Late Latin, one who has broad feet, from Latin ps, ped-, foot; see ped- in Indo-European roots.]

So my journey actually begins as a Pioneer. Why would I choose that? Because for me it is a pioneering journey? Yes, I've never been to China or any country in Asia, so it is a new territory for me. Because my family were early settlers to the Valley where I was raised? Yes, they were farming pioneers from the mid-western states. Because I am a peon with broad feet? Yes, that I am, thanks to my Native American background (the broad feet part).
All of those and perhaps even another reason (mentioned in the previous post) as to why I would choose "Pioneer in China" as the Blog name. Here's some co-ordinates to use:
46 18'57.28"N; 119 59'32.88"W. Two more clues: I'm not in China yet & 'Lincoln'.

What do you think? Post your ideas and comments.

The Trip

Well, I'm set! I've sent in my passport for Visa stamps, taken care of government paperwork, booked my rooms and flights. Now, I focus on packing and thinking about my project.

Since this is an educator seminar (Fulbright-Hays) I am required to design a project for the enlightenment of my students and the community where I live and work. I am doing a 'Where in China' project. Using a GPS I will post co-ordinates of different places that I visit with a clue about the place or city. You (and my students) can use the information to figure out where it is. On the following post I will give more information and pictures of that place.

So, how did I get involved in this? I'll post more on this later...