Surface of the Earth

Geographers use differing methods for determining location on the surface of the Earth. By creating maps and names for the different regions on Earth, people are able to use this information to communicate location. There are 7 continents or large landmasses that make up the majority of all exposed land on Earth (1-7 as follows: North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia).

Aside from the exposed land on Earth, there are also 4 major oceans (1-4 as follows: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic). 

Geographers also use a grid to help determine absolute location. The Geographic Grid is what gives us our ability to accurately track location on Earth via the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS). The Equator is the ) degree Latitude line that is at the widest point perpendicular to the axis of the Earth. Or in other words, the Equator divides the Earth in two halves i.e. North and South. Once the Earth was given latitude lines, cartographers (mapmakers) needed lines to divide the Earth in the other direction to complete the grid. Thus, longitude lines were created to divide the Earth East and West. The 0 degree longitude line is the Prime Meridian that runs North to South through Greenwich, England.