Antipode

Antipode

Definition

An antipode is the point on Earth that lies directly opposite another point, connected by an imaginary straight line passing through the planet’s centre.

If it were possible to travel straight down through the Earth from one location, you would emerge at its antipode on the other side of the world.

Antipode in Geography

In geography, antipodes describe pairs of locations that sit on exact opposite sides of the globe. Every point on Earth has an antipode, although most antipodal locations fall in the ocean rather than on land.

This happens because more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, making land-to-land antipodes relatively rare — a concept explained further in Why Most Antipodes Are in the Ocean.

How Antipodes Are Calculated

Antipodes are calculated using geographic coordinates:

• The latitude is inverted (north becomes south, south becomes north)

• The longitude is shifted by exactly 180 degrees

For example:

• A location at 40° North, 75° West has an antipode at 40° South, 105° East

You can calculate any antipode instantly using the interactive Antipode Map.

For a step-by-step explanation, see How Antipodes Are Calculated.

Example of an Antipode

One of the best-known near land-to-land antipodal relationships is Madrid, Spain and Wellington, New Zealand.

Most major cities, however, have antipodes located in the open ocean. For example:

• The Antipode of London lies in the southern Pacific Ocean

• The Antipode of New York City falls in the Indian Ocean

• The Antipode of Sydney lies in the North Atlantic Ocean

You can explore many more real-world examples via Explore Antipodes by City.

Why Antipodes Matter

Antipodes are more than a geographic curiosity. They help explain:

• Earth’s spherical shape

• global distance and symmetry

• time zone and seasonal opposites

• how land and oceans are distributed across the planet

These ideas sit at the core of the Antipode Dictionary, which explores how opposite places shape our understanding of the world.

Related Terms

• Antipodes – the plural form of antipode

• Antipodal Point – the exact opposite point on a sphere

• Antipodal – describing opposite positions

• Antipodean – relating to places in the Southern Hemisphere

Explore Further

• Find your antipode using the interactive map

• Browse the full Antipode Dictionary

• Discover notable examples in Famous Antipodes