Here's why:

* Angular Distance: Latitude is measured as an angle, not a linear distance.

* North or South: Latitude lines run parallel to the equator, with values increasing as you move away from the equator, either north or south.

* Equator: The equator is the starting point for measuring latitude. It is assigned a latitude of 0 degrees.

* Degrees: Latitude is measured in degrees, with 0 degrees at the equator and 90 degrees at the North Pole and South Pole.

So, latitude tells you how far a location is from the equator, measured in degrees north or south.