Latitude

£9.99

By knowing the shape of our Earth we can create maps, survive the oceans, follow rivers, navigate the skies, and travel across the globe. This is the story of our world, of how we discovered what no one thought possible – the shape of the earth. This is a thrilling account of the first major expedition by data gatherers and qualified observers to interior Peru, to discover the shape and magnitude of the Earth.

Backorder Notice MessageJan 01, 1970

Description

Told for the very first time, this is the true story of the adventure that shaped the world . . .

‘A thrilling story of courage, survival and science. It’s an extraordinary, visceral and vivid read’ Geographical Magazine
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Three hundred years ago no one knew the true shape of the world.

It wasn’t a sphere – but did it bulge at the equator or was it pointed at the poles? Until we found out no map could ever be truly accurate. So a team of scientists was sent to South America – to measure one full degree of latitude.

But South America was a land of erupting volcanoes, sodden rainforests, earthquakes, deadly diseases, tropical storms and violent unrest. And the misfit scientists had an unfortunate tendency to squander funds, fight duels, stumble into mutinies or die horribly.

The tale of their ten-year odyssey of exploration, discovery, flirtations with failure and ultimate triumph becomes in Nicholas Crane’s hands the greatest scientific adventure story ever told.
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‘Pace, rigour and attention to enticing detail . . . Crane has a rare knack for showing people things without them having to get out of their chair’ Joe Smith, director of The Royal Geographic society

Additional information

Weight 217 g
Dimensions 198 × 129 × 17 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

256 , 16 unnumbered of plates

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

526.310985 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K