Antipodes: What Is on the Opposite Side of the Earth?
The antipode of a place is the point exactly opposite it on the other side of the globe. If you could dig a tunnel straight through the centre of the Earth from your front door, you would come out at your antipode.
How to find an antipode
It is simple arithmetic with latitude and longitude:
- Flip the sign of the latitude, so 40 degrees north becomes 40 degrees south.
- Add or subtract 180 degrees from the longitude, so that it stays between minus 180 and plus 180.
Madrid is at about 40 degrees north and 4 degrees west. Its antipode is about 40 degrees south and 176 degrees east, which is in New Zealand.
Why it is so hard to hit land
About 71 percent of the Earth is ocean, and land is concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere. Only about 4 percent of the world's land has land on the opposite side. That is why the game only uses cities whose opposite point is well inside a country.
Pairs to learn
- Spain and New Zealand sit almost opposite each other.
- Parts of Chile and Argentina are opposite China and Mongolia.
- Singapore and Indonesia are opposite parts of Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil.
- Most of the Pacific Ocean is opposite Africa and Europe.
Playing the levels
Easy gives four countries to choose from. On Medium you tap the country on the map yourself. On Hard the country shading is hidden and only faint outlines remain.
A useful mental trick
Picture a globe. The point opposite East Asia is South America. The point opposite Europe is the Pacific near New Zealand. The point opposite the United States is the Indian Ocean. Start from those and refine.
Frequently asked questions
Is it exactly opposite?
Yes, the game calculates the exact opposite point and then finds which country contains it.
Why are the answers often in South America or Asia?
Those are the places where land really does meet land on the opposite side of the world.
Keep learning
Related guides: Pinpoint, Outline, Capital Hunt. Or browse all game guides, the geography games and the country pages.