Tropic of Cancer Map, 23°27′ north of the terrestrial Equator. This latitude corresponds to the Sun’s ecliptic’s northernmost declination from the celestial Equator. Around June 21, the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the Sun reaches its most incredible declination north and passes directly over the Tropic of Cancer. The Sun is in the constellation Gemini at the time, but it was in the constellation Cancer far earlier in history, earning it the name Tropic of Cancer. The Sun will reappear in the constellation Cancer in roughly 24,000 years due to a slow change in the direction of Earth’s axis of rotation.
Tropic of Cancer Map
The Equator, an imaginary line surrounding the planet’s center, is used to calculate latitude. The latitude of the Equator is 0 degrees, and there are 180 imaginary lines (known as parallels) that circle Earth from east to west, running (surprise!) parallel to the Equator. The imaginary ring that connects all the places on a shared parallel is a “circle of latitude.” So what’s the North Pole’s latitude? 90° north. The South Pole, perhaps? 90 degrees south.
While you’ve heard of the North and South Poles, you might not know about the other latitude circles. The Equator, the Tropics of Cancer, and the Arctic and Antarctic circles are the five major ones. The Tropic of Cancer Map was named after two locations in the hemisphere when the Sun can be directly overhead. These were essential demarcation lines for ancient travelers who relied on the sky.
Tropic of Cancer on Map
The Tropic of Cancer is the northern boundary of the tropics, located at roughly 23.5 degrees north latitude (i.e., 23.5 degrees north of the Equator). About a third of the world’s population lives in the tropics, including the Equator and areas of North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The world map with the tropics of Cancer is essential for students to know about the tropics. The Tropic of Cancer is also necessary for the quantity of solar insolation on the Earth and the formation of seasons. Solar insolation is the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth. It fluctuates over the Earth’s surface depending on how much direct sunlight reaches the Equator and tropics and then extends north or south.
Because of the Earth’s axial tilt, solar insolation is most excellent at the subsolar point (the point on Earth immediately beneath the Sun where the rays strike at 90 degrees to the surface). Therefore, the northern hemisphere receives the most solar insolation when the subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer during the June solstice.
Tropic of Cancer Map on World Map
It is because the amount of solar insolation is most significant at the Tropic of Cancer Map at the June solstice, places north of the tropic in the northern hemisphere receive the most solar energy, keeping it warm and creating summer. Furthermore, locations above the Arctic Circle get 24 hours of daylight and no darkness. Conversely, due to low solar insolation, less solar energy, and colder temperatures, the Antarctic Circle experiences 24 hours of night, and lower latitudes experience their winter season.
The Tropic of Cancer is an imaginary line located at approximately 23.5 degrees north of the Equator. It is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark the Earth’s position in relation to the Sun. Here is a description of the Tropic of Cancer and the countries it passes through:
- Definition and Location: The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost circle of latitude where the Sun appears directly overhead at noon on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It is defined as the parallel of latitude 23.5 degrees north of the Equator. The line runs through several countries in three continents: North America, Africa, and Asia.
- Countries along the Tropic of Cancer:
- Mexico: The Tropic of Cancer crosses the northern part of Mexico, passing through the states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, and Hidalgo.
- The Bahamas: The Tropic of Cancer runs through the island country of The Bahamas, specifically through the northern portion of the island of Great Exuma.
- Mauritania: In Africa, the Tropic of Cancer crosses the western edge of Mauritania, a country located in the northwestern part of the continent.
- Mali: The line also traverses the northern part of Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa.
- Algeria: The Tropic of Cancer passes through the southernmost tip of Algeria, a country in North Africa.
- Libya: In Libya, the Tropic of Cancer runs across the central part of the country.
- Egypt: The Tropic of Cancer crosses the northernmost region of Egypt, including the Sinai Peninsula.
- Saudi Arabia: The line passes through the northern portion of Saudi Arabia, a country located in the Arabian Peninsula.
- United Arab Emirates: The Tropic of Cancer crosses the United Arab Emirates, specifically running through the central part of the country.
- Oman: In Oman, the Tropic of Cancer runs through the northeastern part of the country.
- India: The line passes through the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram in India.
- Bangladesh: The Tropic of Cancer crosses the northeastern part of Bangladesh, a country located in South Asia.
These countries located along the Tropic of Cancer experience longer and hotter summers compared to regions located further from the equator. The line holds cultural, geographical, and climatic significance, and its position has influenced agricultural practices, climatic patterns, and cultural traditions in these regions.
The Tropic of Cancer is one of the notable circles of latitude that helps us understand the Earth’s axial tilt, seasonal variations, and the distribution of sunlight across different regions. It serves as a geographical marker and has contributed to the exploration, navigation, and study of our planet.
