Tropic of Capricorn - wikipedia Tropic of Capricorn This article is about the circle of latitude. For other uses, see Tropic of Capricorn ( disambiguation ). Coordinates : 23 ° 26 ′ 14 '' S 0 ° 0 ′ 0 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 23.43722 ° S - 0.00000 ° E ﻿ / - 23.43722 ; - 0.00000 ﻿ ( Prime Meridian ) World map showing the Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Capricorn in 1794 Dunn Map of the World Monument marking the Tropic of Capricorn just north of Antofagasta, Chile Longreach, Queensland, Australia Sign marking the tropic in Maringá, Brazil Sundial on the Tropic of Capricorn, Jujuy Province, Argentina The Tropic of Capricorn ( or the Southern Tropic ) is the circle of latitude that contains the subsolar point on the December ( or southern ) solstice. It is thus the southernmost latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead. Its northern equivalent is the Tropic of Cancer. The Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of Earth. As of 28 February 2018, its latitude is 23 ° 26 ′ 12.9 '' ( or 23.43693 ° ) south of the Equator, but it is very gradually moving northward, currently at the rate of 0.47 arcseconds, or 15 metres, per year. Contents 1 Geography and environment 2 Around the world 3 Places located along the Tropic of Capricorn 4 List of countries entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn 5 Name 6 Length 7 See also 8 External links 9 Notes Geography and environment The Tropic of Capricorn is the dividing line between the Southern Temperate Zone to the south and the tropics to the north. The Northern Hemisphere equivalent of the Tropic of Capricorn is the Tropic of Cancer. The position of the Tropic of Capricorn is not fixed, but rather it varies in a complex manner over time ; see under circles of latitude for information. In Australia, areas on the Tropic have some of the most variable rainfall in the world and thus even the wetter areas can not be generally farmed, since irrigation sources invariably dry up in drought years. In southern Africa, where rainfall is more reliable, farming is possible, though yields are low even with fertilisers. In South America, whilst in the continental cratons soils are almost as old as in Australia and Southern Africa, the presence of the geologically young and evolving Andes means that this region is on the western side of the subtropical anticyclones and thus receives warm and humid air from the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, areas in Brazil adjacent to the Tropic are extremely important agricultural regions, producing large quantities of crops such as sugarcane, and the natural rainforest vegetation has been almost entirely cleared, except for a few remaining patches of Atlantic Forest. Further south in Argentina, the temperate grasslands of the Pampas region is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, producing of wheat, soybeans, maize, and beef, making the country one of the largest worldwide agricultural exporters, similar to the role played by the Prairies region in Canada. West of the Andes, however, the Humboldt Current makes conditions extremely arid, creating the Atacama Desert, one of the driest in the world, so that no glaciers exist between Volcán Sajama at 18  ̊ 30 'S and Cerro Tres Cruces at 27  ̊ S. Vegetation here is almost non-existent, though on the eastern slopes of the Andes rainfall is adequate for rainfed agriculture. Further south in the region of Patagonia, shared between Argentina and Chile, climate becomes colder, with heavy snowfall in the winter months and throughout the year. On the Western portion of Patagonia, climate is more humid, and dominated by fjords, coniferous forests and lakes owing to the presence of thawing currents from the permafrost in the peaks of the Andes mountains which divide the region. This makes the region a popular destination for ski and winter sports, particularly on the Argentine city of Bariloche and surrounding area. On the Eastern portion of Patagonia climate is generally cold and dry steppe, with high mesas and strong wind conditions. The southern tip of the island of Tierra del Fuego and other islands of the South Atlantic have Sub-Antarctic climate conditions. Around the world Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the Tropic of Capricorn passes through 10 countries : Co-ordinates Country, territory or sea Notes 23 ° 26 ′ S 0 ° 0 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 0.000 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 0.000 ﻿ ( Prime Meridian ) Atlantic Ocean 23 ° 26 ′ S 14 ° 27 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 14.450 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 14.450 ﻿ ( Namibia ) Namibia Erongo, Khomas, Hardap, Khomas ( again ), and Omaheke regions 23 ° 26 ′ S 20 ° 0 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 20.000 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 20.000 ﻿ ( Botswana ) Botswana Kgalagadi, Kweneng and Central districts 23 ° 26 ′ S 27 ° 18 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 27.300 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 27.300 ﻿ ( South Africa ) South Africa Limpopo Province 23 ° 26 ′ S 31 ° 33 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 31.550 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 31.550 ﻿ ( Mozambique ) Mozambique Gaza and Inhambane provinces 23 ° 26 ′ S 35 ° 26 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 35.433 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 35.433 ﻿ ( Indian Ocean ) Indian Ocean Mozambique Channel 23 ° 26 ′ S 43 ° 45 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 43.750 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 43.750 ﻿ ( Madagascar ) Madagascar Toliara and Fianarantsoa provinces 23 ° 26 ′ S 47 ° 39 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 47.650 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 47.650 ﻿ ( Indian Ocean ) Indian Ocean 23 ° 26 ′ S 113 ° 47 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 113.783 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 113.783 ﻿ ( Australia ) Australia Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland 23 ° 26 ′ S 151 ° 3 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 151.050 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 151.050 ﻿ ( Coral Sea ) Coral Sea Passing just south of Cato Reef in Australia 's Coral Sea Islands Territory 23 ° 26 ′ S 166 ° 46 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 166.767 ° E ﻿ / - 23.433 ; 166.767 ﻿ ( Pacific Ocean ) Pacific Ocean Passing just north of the Minerva Reefs ( Tonga ), and just south of Tubuai ( French Polynesia ) 23 ° 26 ′ S 70 ° 36 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 70.600 ° W ﻿ / - 23.433 ; - 70.600 ﻿ ( Chile ) Chile Antofagasta Region 23 ° 26 ′ S 67 ° 07 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 67.117 ° W ﻿ / - 23.433 ; - 67.117 ﻿ ( Argentina ) Argentina Jujuy, Salta, Jujuy ( again ), Salta ( again ) and Formosa provinces 23 ° 26 ′ S 61 ° 23 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 61.383 ° W ﻿ / - 23.433 ; - 61.383 ﻿ ( Paraguay ) Paraguay Boquerón, Presidente Hayes, Concepción, San Pedro and Amambay departments 23 ° 26 ′ S 55 ° 38 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 55.633 ° W ﻿ / - 23.433 ; - 55.633 ﻿ ( Brazil ) Brazil Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, and São Paulo states 23 ° 26 ′ S 45 ° 2 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 23.433 ° S 45.033 ° W ﻿ / - 23.433 ; - 45.033 ﻿ ( Atlantic Ocean ) Atlantic Ocean Map all coordinates using : OpenStreetMap Google Maps Download coordinates as : KML GPX Places located along the Tropic of Capricorn The following cities and landmarks are either located near the Tropic of Capricorn, or the tropic passes through them. This list is incomplete ; you can help by expanding it. Argentina Andes Mountains The Chaco San Salvador de Jujuy Australia Paraburdoo, Western Australia Newman, Western Australia Lake Disappointment, Western Australia Gibson Desert, Western Australia Ikuntji ( Haast 's Bluff ), Northern Territory Alice Springs, Northern Territory Longreach, Queensland Great Dividing Range, Queensland Emerald, Queensland Gracemere, Queensland Rockhampton, Queensland Cape Capricorn, Queensland Botswana Kalahari Desert Khutse Game Reserve Kule Mahalapye Brazil Itaquaquecetuba Mogi das Cruzes Maringá Santana de Parnaíba São Paulo - Guarulhos International Airport São Paulo Sorocaba Taguaí Ubatuba Chile Atacama Desert Andes Mountains Antofagasta Madagascar Toliara Mozambique Inhambane city Morrumbene Massinga Namibia Walvis Bay Swakopmund Namib Desert Paraguay Concepción South Africa Kruger National Park Polokwane Capricorn District Municipality Atsimo - Andrefana Region, Madagascar The Tropic of Capricorn marked in Jujuy Province in northern Argentina Monument marking the Tropic of Capricorn as it passes through Botswana A sign marking the Tropic of Capricorn as it passes through Namibia Roadway plaque marking the Tropic of Capricorn in the city of Santana do Parnaíba, Brazil, at the correct latitude for year 1917. Marker for the tropic in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, July 2012 Roadside monument marking Tropic of Capricorn in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 28 January 2005 Monument marking Tropic of Capricorn in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 1970 Road sign marking Tropic of Capricorn in Western Australia, Australia, 26 August 2008 Monument marking the Tropic of Capricorn just north of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia Relationship between Earth 's axial tilt ( ε ) to the tropical and polar circles List of countries entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn As the major portion of earth 's land is located in the Northern Hemisphere there are only four countries entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn ( there are 74 countries entirely north of the Tropic of Cancer ) : Lesotho New Zealand Swaziland Uruguay Name The Tropic of Capricorn is so named because, when it was named about 2,000 years ago, the sun was also in the direction of the constellation Capricornus ( capricorn is Latin for goat horn ) at the December solstice. In modern times the sun appears in the constellation Sagittarius during this time. The change is due to precession of the equinoxes. The word `` tropic '' itself comes from the Greek trope ( τροπή ), meaning turn, change in direction or circumstances, referring to the fact that the sun appears to `` turn back '' at the solstices. Length Length of the Tropic on 11 June 2015, at 23 ° 26 ′ 14 '' S is 36,788 kilometres ( 22,859 mi ). See also 23rd parallel south 24th parallel south Tropic of Cancer Arctic Circle Antarctic Circle Axial tilt Equator Milankovitch cycles Capricornus External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tropic of Capricorn. Look up tropic of capricorn in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Temporal Epoch Calculations Useful constants '' See : Obliquity of the ecliptic Montana State University : Milankovitch Cycles & Glaciation Notes Jump up ^ obliquity of the ecliptic ( Eps Mean ) Jump up ^ Geographical Patterning of Interannual Rainfall Variability in the Tropics and Near Tropics Jump up ^ Exposure dating of Late Glacial and pre-LGM moraines in the Cordon de Doña Rosa, Northern / Central Chile ( ~ 31 ° S ) Jump up ^ The Cook islands, Tokelau and Niue, which are part of the Realm of New Zealand lie above the Tropic of Capricorn. Jump up ^ RhumbSolve online rhumb line calculator. Circles of latitude / meridians Equator Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Arctic Circle Antarctic Circle Equator Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Arctic Circle Antarctic Circle Equator Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Arctic Circle Antarctic Circle W 0 ° E 30 ° 60 ° 90 ° 120 ° 150 ° 180 ° 30 ° 60 ° 90 ° 120 ° 150 ° 180 ° 5 ° 15 ° 25 ° 35 ° 45 ° 55 ° 65 ° 75 ° 85 ° 95 ° 105 ° 115 ° 125 ° 135 ° 145 ° 155 ° 165 ° 175 ° 5 ° 15 ° 25 ° 35 ° 45 ° 55 ° 65 ° 75 ° 85 ° 95 ° 105 ° 115 ° 125 ° 135 ° 145 ° 155 ° 165 ° 175 ° 10 ° 20 ° 40 ° 50 ° 70 ° 80 ° 100 ° 110 ° 130 ° 140 ° 160 ° 170 ° 10 ° 20 ° 40 ° 50 ° 70 ° 80 ° 100 ° 110 ° 130 ° 140 ° 160 ° 170 ° 0 ° 10 ° 20 ° 30 ° 40 ° 50 ° 60 ° 70 ° 80 ° 90 ° 10 ° 20 ° 30 ° 40 ° 50 ° 60 ° 70 ° 80 ° 90 ° 5 ° N 15 ° 25 ° 35 ° 45 ° 55 ° 65 ° 75 ° 85 ° 5 ° S 15 ° 25 ° 35 ° 45 ° 55 ° 65 ° 75 ° 85 ° 45x90 45x90 45x90 45x90 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tropic_of_Capricorn&oldid=822892802 '' Categories : Lines of latitude Tropics Hidden categories : Coordinates on Wikidata Lists of coordinates Geographic coordinate lists Articles with Geo Incomplete lists from February 2011 Use dmy dates from March 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Asturianu বাংলা Беларуская भोजपुरी Български བོད ་ ཡིག Brezhoneg Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Emiliàn e rumagnòl Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî 한국어 हिन्दी Hrvatski Ilokano Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Kurdî Latina Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar Македонски മലയാളം मराठी Bahasa Melayu Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Occitan Polski Português Română Русский Scots සිංහල Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog తెలుగు ไทย Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Walon Winaray 吴语 粵語 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 29 January 2018, at 02 : 59. 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Question: four sovereign states whose land area sits entirely below the tropic of capricorn
Answer: Lesotho