All Topics  
Tropic of Capricorn

 
Tropic of Capricorn

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Tropic of Capricorn
 
 
  Topics Tropic of Capricorn Topic Home

The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, is one of the five major circles of latitude
Circle of latitude

A circle of latitude, on the Earth, is an imaginary east-west circle connecting all locations that share a given latitude. A location's position along a circle of latitude is given by its longitude....
 that mark maps of the Earth
Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Earth is the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in diameter, mass and density. It is also referred to as the World and Wiktionary:Terra.Note that by International Astronomical Union convention, the term "Terra" is used for naming extensive land masses, rather...
. It lies 23°
Degree (angle)

A degree , usually denoted by ? , is a measurement of plane angle, representing 1/360 of a Turn ; one degree is equivalent to p/180 radians....
 26' 22? south of the Equator
Equator

The equator is the intersection of the Earth's surface with the Plane perpendicular to the Earth's rotation and containing the Earth's center of mass....
, and marks the most southerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Tropic of Capricorn'
Start a new discussion about 'Tropic of Capricorn'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Recent Posts

How did it gets its name?
What major mountain in south america does it cross?
Latitude








Encyclopedia


World Map With Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, is one of the five major circles of latitude
Circle of latitude

A circle of latitude, on the Earth, is an imaginary east-west circle connecting all locations that share a given latitude. A location's position along a circle of latitude is given by its longitude....
 that mark maps of the Earth
Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Earth is the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in diameter, mass and density. It is also referred to as the World and Wiktionary:Terra.Note that by International Astronomical Union convention, the term "Terra" is used for naming extensive land masses, rather...
. It lies 23°
Degree (angle)

A degree , usually denoted by ? , is a measurement of plane angle, representing 1/360 of a Turn ; one degree is equivalent to p/180 radians....
 26' 22? south of the Equator
Equator

The equator is the intersection of the Earth's surface with the Plane perpendicular to the Earth's rotation and containing the Earth's center of mass....
, and marks the most southerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun to its maximum extent.

The northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere

The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of the equator?the word sphere literally means 'half sphere'. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator....
 equivalent of the Tropic of Capricorn is the Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer

The Tropic of Cancer, or Northern tropic, is one of five major degree measures or major circle of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. It is the northernmost latitude at which the Sun can appear directly overhead at noon....
. Latitudes south of the Tropic of Capricorn are in the Southern Temperate Zone
Temperate

In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally mild, rather than extreme hot or cold....
. The region north of the Tropic of Capricorn and south of the Tropic of Cancer is known as the Tropics
Tropics

The Tropics, seated in the equatorial regions of the world, are limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23?26' N latitude, and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at 23?26' S latitude....
.

The Tropic of Capricorn is so named because about 2,000 years ago the sun was entering the constellation
Constellation

A constellation is a group of stars that appear to have a physical proximity in the sky. The stars in a constellation are often vastly distant from each other, but they appear close to each other from the perspective of Earth....
 Capricornus
Capricornus

Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac; it is often called Capricorn, especially when referring to the corresponding Capricorn ....
 (capricorn is Latin
Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
 for goat horn) at the December solstice. In modern times the sun appears in the constellation Sagittarius
Sagittarius (constellation)

Sagittarius is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for the archer, and its symbol is , a stylized arrow. Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow....
 during this time. The change is due to precession of the equinoxes
Precession of the equinoxes

In astronomy, precession refers to a gravitationally-induced slow but continuous change in an astronomical body's rotational axis or orbital path....
. The word "tropic" itself comes from the Greek tropos, meaning turn, referring to the fact that the sun appears to "turn back" at the solstices.

The position of the Tropic of Capricorn is not fixed, but varies in a complex manner over time; see under circles of latitude
Circle of latitude

A circle of latitude, on the Earth, is an imaginary east-west circle connecting all locations that share a given latitude. A location's position along a circle of latitude is given by its longitude....
 for information.

Geography



Starting at the Prime Meridian
Prime Meridian

The Prime Meridian is the meridian at which longitude is defined to be 0?.The Prime Meridian and the opposite 180th meridian , which the International Date Line generally follows, form a great circle that divides the Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemispheres....
 and heading eastwards, the Tropic of Capricorn passes through:

Country, territory or sea Notes
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions; with a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres . It covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface....
 
 
 
 
Gaza
Gaza Province

Gaza is a Provinces of Mozambique of Mozambique. It has an area of 75,709 km? and a population of 1,333,106 .Xai-Xai is the capital of the province....

> Inhambane
Inhambane Province

Inhambane is a Provinces of Mozambique of Mozambique located on the coast in the southern part of the country. It has an area of 68,615 km? and a population of 1.412.349 ....
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
 Mozambique Channel
Mozambique Channel

The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean between the island of Madagascar and southeast Africa, namely Mozambique. It was a World War II clashpoint during the Battle of Madagascar....
Toliara
Toliara Province

Toliara is a provinces of Madagascar of Madagascar with an area of 161,405 km?. It has a population of 2,229,550 . Its capital is Toliara. Near Toliara is the "Madagascar spiny thickets"....

Fianarantsoa
Fianarantsoa Province

Fianarantsoa is a provinces of Madagascar of Madagascar.*Area: 103,272 km?.*Population of 3,366,291 .*Capital: Fianarantsoa.*President: Fidy Mpanjato Rakotonarivo ....
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
 
Western Australia
Western Australia

Western Australia is a States and territories of Australia occupying the entire western third of the Australia . The nation's largest state and the second largest subnational entity in the world, it has 2.1 million inhabitants , 85% of whom live in the south-west corner of the state....

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal states and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions....

Queensland
Queensland

Queensland is a States and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south....
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan....
 Coral Sea
Coral Sea

The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the north-east coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands....
, passing just south of Cato Reef in 's Coral Sea Islands Territory
Coral Sea Islands

The Coral Sea Islands Territory includes a group of small and mostly uninhabited tropical islands and reefs in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland, Australia....
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan....
 Passing just north of the Minerva Reefs
Minerva Reefs

The Minerva Reefs are a group of reefs located in the Pacific Ocean south of Fiji and Tonga. The reefs were named after the whaleship Minerva, wrecked on South Minerva after setting out from Sydney in 1829....
 , and just south of Tubuai
Tubuai (Austral Islands)

Tubuai is the name of a group of islands and also the name of its main island, being part of the Austral Islands, French Polynesia, in the Pacific Ocean....
 
Antofagasta
Antofagasta Region

The II Antofagasta Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is the port city of Antofagasta. It comprises three provinces, Antofagasta Province, El Loa and Tocopilla, It is bordered to the north by Tarapac? Region and by Atacama Region to the south....
Jujuy
Jujuy Province

Jujuy is a Provinces of Argentina of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The only neighboring Argentine province is Salta Province to the east and south....

Salta
Salta Province

Salta is a Provinces of Argentina of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the east clockwise Formosa Province, Chaco Province, Santiago del Estero Province, Tucum?n Province and Catamarca Province....

Jujuy
Jujuy Province

Jujuy is a Provinces of Argentina of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The only neighboring Argentine province is Salta Province to the east and south....

Formosa
Formosa Province

Formosa Provinces of Argentina is in northeastern Argentina, part of the Gran Chaco Region. Its northeast end touches Asunci?n, Paraguay, and borders the provinces of Chaco Province and Salta Province to its south and west, respectively....
Boquerón
Boquerón Department

Boquer?n is a Departments of Paraguay in the western region of Paraguay. It is the country's largest department, with an area of , but its population is only 45,617 ....

Presidente Hayes
Presidente Hayes Department

Presidente Hayes is a Department in Paraguay. The capital is the city of Villa Hayes. The department was named after U.S. President Rutherford B....

Concepción
Concepción Department (Paraguay)

Concepci?n is a Department of Paraguay. The capital is the city of Concepci?n, Paraguay....

San Pedro
Amambay
Mato Grosso do Sul
Mato Grosso do Sul

Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the States of Brazil of Brazil.Neighbouring states are Mato Grosso, Goi?s, Minas Gerais, S?o Paulo and Paran? ....

Paraná
Paraná (state)

Paran? is one of the States of Brazil of Brazil, located in the Southern Region, Brazil of the country, bordering Paraguay and Argentina. Cut by the Tropic of Capricorn, Paran? has what is left of the araucarias forest, one of the most important subtropical forests of the world....

São Paulo
São Paulo (state)

is a States of Brazil in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. It is named after Paul of Tarsus. S?o Paulo has the largest population, the biggest industrial park and the biggest economic production of the country....
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions; with a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres . It covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface....
 


Places located along the Tropic of Capricorn

The following cities and landmarks are either located near the Tropic of Capricorn, or pass through it.

Argentina
  • Andes Mountains


Australia
  • Alice Springs
    Alice Springs, Northern Territory

    Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice",Alice Springs is situated in geographic centre of Australia....
    , Northern Territory
    Northern Territory

    The Northern Territory is a federal states and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions....
  • Emerald
    Emerald, Queensland

    Emerald is a town located in the Central Highlands district of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census in Australia, Emerald had a population of 10,999....
    , Queensland
    Queensland

    Queensland is a States and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south....
  • Gibson Desert
    Gibson Desert

    The Gibson Desert covers a large area in the state of Western Australia and is still largely in an almost "pristine" state. It is about 155,000 square kilometres in size, making it the 5th largest desert in Australia, after the Great Sandy, Great Victoria, Tanami and Simpson deserts....
    , Western Australia
    Western Australia

    Western Australia is a States and territories of Australia occupying the entire western third of the Australia . The nation's largest state and the second largest subnational entity in the world, it has 2.1 million inhabitants , 85% of whom live in the south-west corner of the state....
  • Great Dividing Range
    Great Dividing Range

    The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the 4th longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan_Island,_Queensland off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through New South Wales, then into Victoria...
    , Queensland
    Queensland

    Queensland is a States and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south....
  • Lake Disappointment
    Lake Disappointment

    Lake Disappointment is an ephemeral salt lake in a remote area of Western Australia.Lake Disappointment was named by the explorer Frank Hann in 1897....
    , Western Australia
    Western Australia

    Western Australia is a States and territories of Australia occupying the entire western third of the Australia . The nation's largest state and the second largest subnational entity in the world, it has 2.1 million inhabitants , 85% of whom live in the south-west corner of the state....
  • Rockhampton
    Rockhampton, Queensland

    Rockhampton is a regional city and Local Government Areas of Australia located in Queensland, Australia. Rockhampton is the largest urban centre in Central Queensland with the 2006 census recording the Rockhampton Statistical Subdivision population to be 74,530 people....
    , Queensland
    Queensland

    Queensland is a States and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south....


Botswana
  • Kalahari Desert
    Kalahari Desert

    The Kalahari Desert is a large, arid desert area in southwestern Sub-Saharan Africa extending 900,000 km? , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa....


Brazil
  • Itaquaquecetuba
    Itaquaquecetuba

    Itaquaquecetuba is a municipality in the state of S?o Paulo in Brazil. The estimated population in 2006 is 352,755, the density is 4,313.46/km? and the area is 82 km?....
  • Mogi das Cruzes
    Mogi das Cruzes

    Mogi das Cruzes, also known as Moji das Cruzes, is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of S?o Paulo .It is part of Greater S?o Paulo area....
  • Maringá
    Maringá

    Maring? is a city in southern Brazil that was founded on May 10, 1947. Maring? is the third largest city in the state of Paran? . The city has a population of 329,800 , 570,094 ....
  • São Paulo
    São Paulo

    S?o Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, and along with Tokyo, Seoul and Mexico City is among the four largest metropolitan regions of the world....
  • Ubatuba
    Ubatuba

    Ubatuba is a Brazilian city, located on the southeast coast, in the state of S?o Paulo . The population in 2003 was 76,847, its density was 107.93 hab/km? and the area is 712 km?....


Chile
  • Atacama Desert
    Atacama Desert

    The Atacama Desert is a virtually rainless plateau in South America, covering a 966 km strip of land on the Pacific Ocean coast of South America, west of the Andes mountains....
  • Andes Mountains
  • Antofagasta
    Antofagasta

    is a port city in northern Chile, about north of Santiago, Chile. It is the capital of both Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the city has an urban population of 281,155 and a municipal population of 296,905....


Madagascar
  • Toliara
    Toliara

    Toliara is a city in Madagascar.It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region and the Toliara province.The current spelling of the name was adopted in the 1970s, and reflects the orthography of the Malagasy language....


Namibia
  • Kalahari Desert
    Kalahari Desert

    The Kalahari Desert is a large, arid desert area in southwestern Sub-Saharan Africa extending 900,000 km? , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa....
  • Namib Desert
    Namib Desert

    The Namib Desert is a desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The name "Namib" is of Nama language origin....


Paraguay
  • Concepción
    Concepción, Paraguay

    Concepci?n is a city in northern Paraguay and capital of the Concepci?n Department. It lies on the Paraguay River.Founded by a Spanish Governor, named Agust?n Fernado de Pinedo, the town prospered in the early years of the 20th century, as a centre for the north of the country, exploiting the new wealth of the Gran Chaco, and a river port....


South Africa
  • Kruger National Park
    Kruger National Park

    Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa. It covers 18,989 square km and extends 350 km from north to south and 60 km from east to west....


Cultural significance

In India, the day of sun entering the zodiacal belt Capricorn is celebrated as Makara Sankranti festival. Tropic of Capricorn is called Makara Vrutta in Indian languages.

See also

  • Arctic Circle
    Arctic Circle

    The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circle of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. It is the parallel of latitude that runs 66degree 33'39? north of the Equator....
  • Antarctic Circle
    Antarctic Circle

    The Antarctic Circle is one of the five major circle of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. As of 2000, it lies at latitude 66degree 33' 39? south of the equator....
  • Equator
    Equator

    The equator is the intersection of the Earth's surface with the Plane perpendicular to the Earth's rotation and containing the Earth's center of mass....
  • Tropic of Cancer
    Tropic of Cancer

    The Tropic of Cancer, or Northern tropic, is one of five major degree measures or major circle of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. It is the northernmost latitude at which the Sun can appear directly overhead at noon....