There are five major circles of latitude, listed below from north to south.
· Arctic Circle (66.5° N)
· Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)
· Equator (0° latitude)
· Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S)
· Antarctic Circle (66.5° S)
These circles of latitude, excluding the Equator, mark the divisions between the five principal geographical zones.
Tropics
Also referred to as the torrid zone or tropical zone, all the water and land of the earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The tropics experience at least one day per year in which the sun passes directly overhead.
Tropic of Cancer
A line of latitude located at 23.5° north of the equator. The Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (June 20 or 21). It marks the northernmost point of the tropics, which falls between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Tropic of Capricorn
A line of latitude located at 23.5° south. The Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn on the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere (Dec. 20 or 21). It marks the southernmost point of the tropics.
Arctic Circle
A line of latitude located at 66.5° north, delineating the Northern Frigid Zone of the Earth.
Antarctic Circle
A line of latitude located at 66.5° south, delineating the Southern Frigid Zone of the Earth.
