Hemispheres

A hemisphere is one half of the Earth. The word hemisphere means half of a sphere. The Earth can be divided into hemispheres in two ways. The Equator splits it into north and south. The Prime Meridian splits it into east and west.

Northern and Southern Hemispheres

The Equator divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. North America, Europe, and most of Asia are in the Northern Hemisphere. Australia and most of South America are in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are opposite in each hemisphere.

Eastern and Western Hemispheres

The Prime Meridian and the International Date Line divide the Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. North and South America are in the Western Hemisphere. Europe, Africa, and Asia are mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Fun Facts

• Most of the world's land is in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Most of the world's water is in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Every place on Earth is in at least two hemispheres at the same time.

Did You Know?

Water going down a drain does not actually spin in different directions in different hemispheres, even though many people believe this myth!