The Prime Meridian passes through how many continents? 

The correct answer is Three.

Key Points

• The Prime Meridian, also known as the Greenwich Meridian, passes through three continents: Europe, Africa, and Antarctica.
• In Europe, it passes through the United Kingdom, France, and Spain.
• In Africa, it crosses Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo.
• In Antarctica, it is part of the global grid system used for navigation and mapping but does not pass through any specific country.
• The Prime Meridian is the line of 0 degrees longitude and serves as the starting point for measuring longitude globally.

Additional Information

• Prime Meridian:
  • The Prime Meridian was established at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, in 1884 during the International Meridian Conference.
  • It is used as the reference line from which longitude is measured east and west.
• Longitude:
  • Longitude lines are imaginary vertical lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole.
  • They are used to measure distances east or west of the Prime Meridian.
• Time Zones:
  • The Prime Meridian is the basis for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is used to define global time zones.
  • Time zones are measured in increments of 15 degrees longitude east or west of the Prime Meridian.
• International Date Line:
  • The International Date Line, located at approximately 180 degrees longitude, is the opposite side of the Earth from the Prime Meridian.
  • It serves as the marker for the change of calendar days.