How are a northern hemisphere observer's latitude and the altitude of Polaris related?

The altitude of Polaris, also known as the North Star, is directly related to the observer's latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. Specifically, the altitude of Polaris above the horizon is approximately equal to the observer's latitude. For example, if an observer is at 40 degrees north latitude, Polaris will be about 40 degrees above the horizon. This relationship allows navigators to determine their latitude by measuring the angle of Polaris.