Globe

A globe is a three-dimensional model of Earth. Unlike a flat map, it represents the planet as a sphere, so continents and oceans keep their general positions and relative shapes with less distortion. Most globes show the equator, the North and South Poles, and a network of lines called latitude and longitude.

Latitude measures how far a place lies north or south of the equator, while longitude measures its position east or west of a reference line called the prime meridian. These lines form a geographic grid that helps locate places on Earth. A globe can also show borders, major cities, rivers, mountain ranges, and other features, depending on its purpose.

Globes are useful for understanding Earth’s shape, the arrangement of continents and oceans, and the way the planet is divided into hemispheres. When a globe is rotated around its axis, it can help illustrate Earth’s daily rotation and why day and night occur.

Some globes are physical models with raised mountains, while others are designed mainly to display political boundaries or geographic information. Because a globe has a curved surface, it cannot show a large area with the same level of detail as a map, but it gives a more realistic overall view of the planet. Globes are therefore both educational tools and practical models for learning basic geography.