What Are the 10 Countries Through the Tropic of Capricorn?
The Tropic of Capricorn is the southern-most latitude that encircles the Earth where the sun still crosses directly overhead. It lies entirely within the southern hemisphere at approximately 23 degrees south of the equator. The Tropic of Capricorn received its name almost 2,000 years ago because the sun entered the Capricorn constellation during the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. The Tropic of Capricorn lies mostly over the South Pacific, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans and crosses three continents.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Circles of Latitude
-
The equator is the imaginary line perpendicular to the Earth's rotational axis and receives 12 hours of daylight each day of the year. The northernmost latitude at which the sun appears overhead is the Tropic of Cancer, which lies in the northern hemisphere. Its counterpart in the southern hemisphere is the Tropic of Capricorn. The other two major lines of latitude are the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle. These two lines mark the northern- and southernmost points where the sun can be seen continuously above or below the horizon.
Path of the Tropic of Capricorn
-
The Tropic of Capricorn is an imaginary line that encircles the Earth. This line lies mostly over the South Pacific Ocean. Following it westward around the globe, it next crosses South America. After passing over the South Atlantic Ocean, it stretches across the southern part of Africa before crossing the Indian Ocean and then Australia.
-
Countries the Tropic of Cancer Passes Over
-
Many countries lie within the path of the Tropic of Capricorn. As of December 2010, the tropic line crosses over the South American continent and the countries of Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. In Africa, it passes over South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana and Madagascar. It also crosses Australia.
The Earths Shift on its Axis
-
The Earth has tilted on its axis since the Tropic of Capricorn was named. The Tropic of Capricorn shifts to the north naturally at a rate of 15 meters of latitude per year over an approximately 40,000-year cycle. This shifting to the north has caused the solstice to be observed at a different time of day each year. Currently the summer solstice is on December 22 in the southern hemisphere.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
