Bhargav

· 13 Nov 2021

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Tropic of Cancer

Significance of the Tropic of Cancer

"It was because cancer, to me, represents the illness of civilization, the end of a misguided path, the necessity of fundamentally altering course and starting over from scratch." This is how author Henry Miller justified the title of his divisive 1934 novel, "Tropic of Cancer." Miller's existence as a struggling writer is the novel's focus, set in late 1920s and early 1930s France.

And, while his inspiration for the title is entirely appropriate, some readers are surprised to discover that the subject matter is entirely unrelated to the other Tropic of Cancer, also known as Earth's most northerly circle of latitude, where the sun is directly overhead at noon on the summer solstice.

Let us begin with the fundamentals: A latitude is a unit of measurement that indicates the distance north or south of the equator, the imaginary line surrounding the planet's center. The equator's latitude is 0 degrees, and there are 180 imaginary lines (referred to as parallels) that circle Earth from east to west and run parallel to the equator (surprise!).

The term "circle of latitude" refers to the fictitious ring that connects all points on a common parallel. That latitude at which the North Pole is located? Located at a latitude of 90 degrees north. What about the South Pole? South ninety degrees.

While you are certainly aware of the North and South poles, you may be unfamiliar with the other latitude circles. And, while not all of them have proper names, there are five important ones that you should be familiar with: the equator, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Arctic and Antarctic circles.

Capricorn and Cancer Tropics were defined because they are both locations inside the hemisphere where the sun can be directly overhead. These were critical demarcation lines for ancient travelers who relied on the sky to guide them.

The Tropic of Cancer is a line of latitude located approximately 23.5 degrees north of the equator (i.e., 23.5 degrees north of the equator). It is the northern boundary of the area known as the tropics. The tropics cover around 36% of Earth's surface and are home to over a third of the world's population. This region encompasses the equator and portions of North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

The summer solstice (about June 21) sees the sun completely overhead the Tropic of Cancer, making it the farthest north point on Earth with the sun directly overhead at noon. Around 2,000 years ago, when the Tropic of Cancer was first called, the sun was directed toward the constellation of Cancer on the June solstice. The name stuck, despite the sun's location having migrated to Taurus during that time of year.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tropic of Cancer?
The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost latitude on Earth when the sun rises directly overhead at noon (on the summer or June solstice). The Tropic of Cancer marks the northernmost point of the tropics.

Where is the Tropic of Cancer?
The Tropic of Cancer is found at approximately 23.5 degrees north latitude (i.e., 23.5 degrees north of the equator).

What is the number of countries through which the Tropic of Cancer passes?
The Tropic of Cancer traverses sixteen countries, six bodies of water, and three continents. It is invisible because it is an imaginary line. Libya, Niger, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, the Bahamas, and China are the nations through which the Tropic of Cancer travels.

Why was "Tropic of Cancer" prohibited?
Henry Miller's 1934 novel "Tropic of Cancer" was prohibited in the United States due to its sexual themes. It was eventually released in 1961 in that country.

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