parallels are the lines that run from top to bottom are meridians. Parallels represent latitude and meridians represent longitude. The two sets form a grid that sections off maps into the four directions: north, south, east and west. the equator divides the Earth into northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere
Equator. The equator is the circle that is equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole. It divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
