Earth: Latitudes and Longitudes

Latitudes

• What is it?: The Parallel of Latitudes extends from the Equator to 90 degrees North Pole and 90 degrees South Pole.
• They are mainly the east-west circles that connect all the locations of the Earth.
• The distance between two parallel latitudes is 111km.
• All the latitudes are parallel to the Equator.
• Major Parallels of Latitudes
  1. Equator
     • The Equator is the imaginary line that divides the earth into two hemispheres – north and south.
     • It is the longest line of latitude.
  2. Arctic Circle
     • Arctic Circle is the Northernmost circle which is at 66 and 1/2 degrees north of the Equator.
     • The position of the Arctic is not always fixed.
  3. Antarctic Circle
     • Antarctic Circle is the Southernmost circle which is at 66 and a 1/2 degrees south of the Equator.
     • The Antarctic Circle is also shifting southward.
  4. Tropic of Cancer
     • The Sun is directly overhead at this position in June.
     • The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23 and 1/2 degrees in the Northern Hemisphere.
  5. Tropic of Capricorn
     • It is currently at 23 and a 1/2 degree south.
     • The sun is overhead once a year in December and therefore experiences the maximum heat then.

Longitudes

• Longitude is the east-west measurement of the prime meridian.