Major lines of latitude

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)

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.
The equator
The equator is located at latitude 0 degrees and is used to identify which countries are in the
northern or southern hemisphere.