Hemisphere facts for kids

A hemisphere is like cutting a ball, like the Earth, exactly in half! The word "hemi" means half, and "sphere" means a round shape. So, a hemisphere is simply half of our planet. We often talk about different hemispheres to help us understand and describe different parts of the Earth.

Understanding Earth's Hemispheres

Our planet Earth is a big sphere, and we use imaginary lines to divide it into different halves, or hemispheres. These divisions help us locate places and understand climates and cultures around the world.

Northern and Southern Halves

The most common way to divide the Earth is horizontally, using the Equator. The Equator is an imaginary line that circles the middle of the Earth, exactly halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole.

The Northern Hemisphere

Everything north of the Equator is called the Northern Hemisphere. This half of the Earth includes all of North America and Central America. It also has the northern part of South America. Most of Europe and Asia are in this hemisphere, along with northern Africa and the Middle East.

The Southern Hemisphere

Everything south of the Equator is known as the Southern Hemisphere. This half contains most of South America and a large part of Africa. It also includes the entire continent of Australia and the icy continent of Antarctica.

Eastern and Western Halves

Another way to divide the Earth is vertically, from pole to pole. This division uses the Prime Meridian and the Antimeridian. The Prime Meridian is an imaginary line that runs through Greenwich, England.

The Western Hemisphere

The Western Hemisphere includes all of North America and South America. On its western side, it borders the vast Pacific Ocean. To its east, it meets the Atlantic Ocean.

The Eastern Hemisphere

The Eastern Hemisphere contains the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Atlantic Ocean forms its western border. To its east, it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean.

Land and Water Hemispheres

Sometimes, people also talk about the land hemisphere and the water hemisphere. These are divided based on where most of the Earth's land or water is located.

The Land Hemisphere

The land hemisphere is centered near western Europe. It contains most of the world's landmasses. This includes Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

The Water Hemisphere

The water hemisphere is centered in the Pacific Ocean. It contains most of the world's oceans. This hemisphere has very little land, mostly just Australia and Antarctica.