Question

Why is the north-south extent of India larger than its east-west extent even though for country's latitudnal and longitudinal extent in degrees is of the same value?

Answer 1

Dear Student,
The actual distance between the ends North and South is 3214 km. and the distance between two ends east and west is 2933 km.
North-South extent longer than the East-West extent due to the following reasons:-

• The distance between latitudes remain the same throughout but the distance between the two longitudes reduces as moved towards poles.
• The distance between two latitudes is constant (111 km.) but the distance between two longitudes is 111 km at the equator and reduces to 0 at the poles.
• In other words, we can say that India’s north-south extent and distance remains unaltered, the distance between the two longitudes decreases and the east-west extends has a U shaped bending which actually reduces the actual east-west distance.

So, the lines of longitude come nearer and the East-West distance becomes less than the North-South distance.​​​​​​
Regards