Latitude

Latitude measures how far north or south a point is from the equator, expressed in degrees. The equator is 0 degrees, the North Pole is 90N, and the South Pole is 90S. Latitude strongly correlates with climate: areas closer to the equator tend to be warmer and areas closer to the poles colder.

Key parallels include the Tropic of Cancer (about 23.5N), Tropic of Capricorn (about 23.5S), Arctic Circle (about 66.5N), and Antarctic Circle (about 66.5S). Between the tropics is the tropical zone; inside the polar circles are the frigid zones.

Coordinates let you determine north-south position instantly. Countries below 30S are few (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and others), making southern latitude a useful filter.