Latitude measures the distance __________.

Latitude measures the distance north or south of the Equator, which is the key characteristic that defines how latitude is expressed. The Equator itself is situated at 0 degrees latitude and serves as the reference line for calculating other latitudes, which can range from 0 degrees at the Equator to 90 degrees at the poles. This system enables us to locate positions on the Earth's surface in a north-south format, providing a clear framework for navigation and map-making.

The other options, while they refer to important concepts in geography, do not accurately describe what latitude measures. Longitude, for instance, is the measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, which is why it does not apply to latitude. The concept of measuring through the center of the Earth relates more to geographic and geodetic calculations, and map scale pertains to the representation of distance on maps, which is unrelated to the specific concept of latitude.