Defining the Western Hemisphere To answer the question directly, the Western Hemisphere is the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and east of the 180° meridian. The designation is purely geographical and is used extensively in fields like cartography, meteorology, and astronomy to define longitudinal coordinates and celestial observations.
North America South America Hemisphere Map Overview
South America's Hemisphere Location Similarly, South America is predominantly a Western Hemisphere continent, though it sits much farther south and is slightly more centralized in terms of longitude compared to North America. It means they share similar celestial views, such as the constellations visible in the night sky, which are distinct from those observed in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Both North America and South America are primarily located within the Western Hemisphere, a designation based on the longitudinal coordinates west of the Prime Meridian. The continent spans a vast longitudinal range, from the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean in the north to the tropical climates of Central America.
North America South America Hemisphere Map Overview
Furthermore, this shared longitudinal space facilitated the historical connections between the continents during events like the Columbian Exchange, shaping the biological and cultural landscape of the world. Both continents are primarily positioned in the Northern Hemisphere (the half of the Earth north of the Equator) or straddle it.
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