Tropic of Cancer

The Tropic of Cancer

The Tropic of Cancer is a special line around Earth. It marks the northernmost place where the Sun can shine directly above us. This happens once a year, on the June solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted closest to the Sun.

The Tropic of Cancer is located about 23°26′ north of the Equator. It is one of two important lines called tropics. The other is the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere. These lines help us understand how Earth moves and shapes.

Long ago, people named this line after the constellation Cancer, which looks like a crab. At that time, during the June solstice, the Sun appeared near this constellation in the sky. Today, the Sun is in a different constellation called Taurus during that time. The word “tropic” comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “turn,” because the Sun seems to turn back at this special time of year.

The Tropic of Cancer passes through many interesting places. It goes through 17 countries and 8 water bodies. Some of the countries it touches are Algeria, Niger, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, and Mexico. It also crosses the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Philippine Sea, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and the Bahamas.

Usually, places along the Tropic of Cancer have hot and dry weather. Some spots, like high mountains in China, coastal areas, and islands such as Hawaii, can be cooler or get a lot of rain. Most areas here have two clear seasons: a very hot summer and a warm winter.