What are lines of latitude?

If you see a globe or picture of the Earth, you might have noticed it often has lots of lines that criss-cross over each other. There are lines that go up and down and lines that go from side to side.


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These lines are called meridian lines and they’re completely imaginary! People invented these lines to help locate places on the planet. The lines that go from side to side are called latitude lines. The lines that go from top to bottom are called longitude lines.

 

What is the Tropic of Cancer?

The Tropic of Cancer, also called the Northern Tropic, is the latitude line that is 23 degrees above the equator (the line that runs through the middle of the Earth). The weather at the Tropic of Cancer is generally hot and dry.


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What is the Tropic of Capricorn?

The Tropic of Capricorn, also called the Southern Tropic, is the latitude line that is 23 degrees below the equator.