diff --git a/src/main/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/Geometries.java b/src/main/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/Geometries.java
index f44d5fe5..4856a8db 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/Geometries.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/Geometries.java
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ public static Rectangle rectangleGeographic(float lon1, float lat1, float lon2,
         if (x2 < x1) {
             x2 += 360;
         }
-        return rectangle(x1, lat1, x2, lat2);
+        float y1 = Math.min(lat1, lat2);
+        float y2 = Math.max(lat1, lat2);
+        return rectangle(x1, y1, x2, y2);
     }
 
     private static Rectangle rectangleDouble(double x1, double y1, double x2, double y2) {
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/GeometriesTest.java b/src/test/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/GeometriesTest.java
index 7acd73a0..802aa140 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/GeometriesTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/github/davidmoten/rtree/geometry/GeometriesTest.java
@@ -96,6 +96,26 @@ public void testRectangleLatLong2() {
         assertEquals(10, r.x2(), PRECISION);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testRectangleLatLongCrossingEquatorNorthToSouth() {
+        // entry point is north of the equator, exit point is south of it so
+        // latitude decreases from lat1 to lat2 (see issue 173)
+        Rectangle r = Geometries.rectangleGeographic(10, 5, 20, -5);
+        assertEquals(10, r.x1(), PRECISION);
+        assertEquals(20, r.x2(), PRECISION);
+        assertEquals(-5, r.y1(), PRECISION);
+        assertEquals(5, r.y2(), PRECISION);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testRectangleLatLongCrossingEquatorSouthToNorth() {
+        Rectangle r = Geometries.rectangleGeographic(10, -5, 20, 5);
+        assertEquals(10, r.x1(), PRECISION);
+        assertEquals(20, r.x2(), PRECISION);
+        assertEquals(-5, r.y1(), PRECISION);
+        assertEquals(5, r.y2(), PRECISION);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testPointLatLong() {
         Point point = Geometries.pointGeographic(181, 25);