Location tells us where a place is found on the Earth or on a map. Geographers describe location in two main ways: relative location and absolute location.
Relative location
Relative location describes where a place is compared with other places, using direction and distance. For example, "the school is about 2 km North-East of the market" tells us a location relative to the market. It is easy to understand but changes depending on which landmark you choose.
Example
Kuala Lumpur is roughly in the centre-west of Peninsular Malaysia; Johor Bahru lies to the far South, near Singapore.
Absolute location
Absolute location gives an exact position that never changes. On a topographic map we use grid references from the vertical easting and horizontal northing lines. On a globe we use lines of latitude and longitude measured in degrees.
Key idea
When reading a grid reference, always read the easting first (the number along the bottom), then the northing (the number up the side). Remember: "along the corridor, then up the stairs".
Grid references
A four-figure grid reference names one square on the map, which is useful when a feature covers a whole square. A six-figure grid reference divides each square into ten smaller parts along both directions to pinpoint a place more exactly. Grid references are important because they let two different people find the very same spot on a map without any confusion, even if they have never met.
Remember
- Eastings run up-down and are read left to right.
- Northings run left-right and are read bottom to top.
- Easting before northing, always.