The tropic of Cancer one of the five parallel principal is indicated on the terrestrial charts. It is about the parallel of 23° 26 ' 22" of northern Latitude, the most septentrional latitude on which it is possible to see the Sun directly with the zenith, at the time of the Solstice of June.

Denomination

The tropic of Cancer bears this name because, approximately 2.000 years ago, the Sun entered the constellation of the Cancer at the time of the solstice of June.

Because of the Precession of the equinoxes, the Sun is located from now on in the constellation of the Taureau at the time of this solstice.

Crossed countries

The tropic of Cancer cuts mainly oceans. The countries which it cross-piece are, on the basis of 0° of Longitude and while moving towards the East, the following:

• Algeria
• Niger
• Libya
• Chad: the most septentrional point of the country is defined precisely by the tropic of Cancer
• Libya again
• Egypt
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman
• India
• Bangladesh
• India again
• Burma
• China
• Taiwan (asserted by China)
• the tropic passes to the south islands Japan eases of the Ryūkyū, Ogasawara and Minami Torishima
• Hawaii (the United States, no crossed ground: the tropic passes between Nihoa and the island Necker)
• Mexico (southern of the Péninsule of Low-California, then remains country after having crossed the Golfe of California)
• the tropic passes to the north of the island of Cuba
• the Bahamas
• the Western Sahara (asserted by the Morocco)
• Mauritania
• Mali
• Algérie, until 0° of longitude

Archipelagoes of the Antilles

See too

• Parallel (geography)
• Tropic
• Tropic of Capricorn

Simple: Tropic off Cancer

Random links:

Jean Othats | Connors mark | Displacement (geometry) | Province of Cercado (Cochabamba) | The Community of communes of the Carrougien Scrap-metal