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The Daily Insight

What line of latitude runs through the middle part of South America?

Author

Matthew Underwood

Updated on April 29, 2026

The equator is 0 degrees latitude, and the prime meridian is 0 degrees longitude. The equator is the halfway point between the North Pole and the South Pole. It runs from side to side across the middle of the Earth through parts of South America, Africa, and Asia.

Also question is, which latitude passes through the middle of South America?

The Tropic of Capricorn lies at 23.5 degrees south of the equator and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil (Brazil is the only country that passes through both the equator and a tropic), and northern South Africa.

Similarly, what longitude lines cross South America? The meridian 60° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, South America, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole.

Thereof, what labeled line of longitude runs through South America?

The equator is 0 degree latitude. This imaginary line, which runs through parts of South America, Africa, and Asia, is officially the halfway point between the North Pole and the South Pole. The prime meridian is 0 degrees longitude.

What is latitude of South America?

8.7832° S, 55.4915° W

Related Question Answers

What is the southernmost tip of South America called?

Cape Horn, Spanish Cabo de Hornos, steep rocky headland on Hornos Island, Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, southern Chile. Located off the southern tip of mainland South America, it was named Hoorn for the birthplace of the Dutch navigator Willem Corneliszoon Schouten, who rounded it in 1616.

Which countries lie on the Tropic of Capricorn?

The Tropic of Capricorn passes through a number of countries including Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, and Paraguay.

Why is it called Tropic of Capricorn?

Likewise, the Tropic of Capricorn was named because the sun was in the constellation Capricorn during the December solstice. The naming took place about 2000 years ago, and the sun is no longer in those constellations at that time of year.

What is the degree of Tropic of Capricorn?

The Tropic of Capricorn lies at 23d 26' 22" (23.4394 degrees) south of the Equator and marks the most southerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun to its maximum extent.

Which country is closest to the equator?

13 Countries That Lie on the Equator
  • São Tomé and Principe.
  • Gabon.
  • Republic of the Congo.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Uganda.
  • Kenya.
  • Somalia.
  • Maldives.

Are there any volcanoes in South America?

The volcanoes of South America are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Most of them are along the backbone of the Andes. The Andes, together with the volcanoes, has been produced by the movement of the Americas towards the west. In turn, this produced the mountain ranges (orogeny) and the volcanic activity.

What is the most important line of longitude?

the prime meridian

Why there are 180 latitudes and 360 longitudes?

Longitude lines runs from North to south pole means a complete circles and hence covers 360 degrees and that is why there are 360 longitudes. Each section from equator to pole is 90 degrees and two poles have 2 quarters of circle/globe hence 90X2 180 lattitudes. adding the Equator it becomes 181 latitudes.

What are the 5 major lines of longitude?

The five major parallels of latitudes from north to south are called: Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle.

What are the two major lines of longitude?

Meridians (lines running from pole to pole) connect points with the same longitude. The prime meridian, which passes near the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, England, is defined as 0° longitude by convention. Positive longitudes are east of the prime meridian, and negative ones are west.

Is South America longitude or latitude?

8.7832° S, 55.4915° W

Are lines of latitude?

Latitude is the measurement of distance north or south of the Equator. It is measured with 180 imaginary lines that form circles around the Earth east-west, parallel to the Equator. These lines are known as parallels. The Equator is the line of 0 degrees latitude.

Which country has more longitude and latitude degrees in South America?

South America's latitude and longitude lies between 14.6048° S, 59.0625° W. It is the world's fourth largest continent on Earth, and the fifth most populous.

More South America Maps.

Argentina Lat Long Map Bolivia Lat Long Map Brazil Lat Long Map
French Guiana Lat Long Map Peru Lat Long Map Suriname Lat Long Map

How many countries are in South America?

South America includes 12 countries and two non-sovereign entities: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (United Kingdom), French Guiana (France), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Between which two lines of latitude does most of the United States lie?

Terms in this set (10)

In which ocean do the equator and prime meridian meet? Which continent is divided in half by the prime meridian? How many continents lie partially or completely south of the equator? Most of the contiguous United States falls between 25°N, 50°N latitude.

Is Mexico in South America?

Mexico shares a large land border with the United States, but is isolated from South America – a region that struggles to integrate into the global system and is essentially a giant island in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, from a strictly geographic point of view, Mexico lies firmly in North America.

Which is the smallest country in South America?

French Guiana is a French overseas department and the smallest country in mainland South America. Officially Co-operative Republic of Guyana, republic (2005 est. pop. 765,000), 83,000 sq mi (214,969 sq km), NE South America.

Which countries does the Prime Meridian pass through?

As of 2020 the Greenwich meridian passes through:
  • United Kingdom.
  • France.
  • Spain.
  • Algeria.
  • Mali.
  • Burkina Faso.
  • Togo.
  • Ghana.

Is South America part of USA?

The term America (or the Americas) refers to all the lands in the Western Hemisphere, comprising the continents of North America and South America. (Central America is actually part of the North American continent.) The United States of America, or U.S.A., is a country in North America.

Where does the equator cross South America?

The equator passes through three countries in South America. They are Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil.

Do I live in North or South America?

We live on the continent called North America. The country that we live in is called the United States of America. Texas is the state we live in.

Which city lies closest to 20 degrees south of the equator?

B. Washington, D.C. Which city lies closest to 20 degrees south of the equator? What is the nearest parallel to Beijing, China?

What cities sit on the equator?

Equatorial Cities
  • Bogota. Bogota is the largest city and the capital of Colombia, with a population of approximately 8.1 million inhabitants.
  • Singapore. With a population of 5.6 million people, Singapore is the second-largest equatorial city and one of the economic centers in Southeast Asia.
  • Nairobi.
  • Guayaquil.
  • Fortaleza.

What line of latitude is South Africa?

34th parallel south

Why South America is called the land of extreme?

In geographic terms, it has some of the hottest, driest deserts in the world (the Atacama and Sonoran deserts) while having the largest rain-forest in the world (the Amazon). This too applies to several other physical features.

Why is it called South America?

Those portions of the New World landmass that widen out north of the narrow land bridge of the Isthmus of Panama became known as North America, and those that broaden to the south became known as South America. They call the region between those two points Central America.

Which country has the longest river in South America?

Rivers in South America by Length
Rank River Country/Countries
1 Amazon-Ucayali-Tambo-Ene-Apurimac Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana
2 Parana-Rio de la Plata Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay
3 Tocantins-Araguaia Brazil
4 Madeira-Mamore-Grande-Caine-Rocha Brazil, Bolivia, Peru

Which country has the southernmost point in the world?

Chile

What is unique about South America?

South America is a continent of extremes. It is home to the world's largest river (the Amazon) as well as the world's driest place (the Atacama Desert). With an unparalleled number of plant and animal species, South America's rich biodiversity is unique among the world's continents.

When did humans reach South America?

The "Clovis first theory" refers to the 1950s hypothesis that the Clovis culture represents the earliest human presence in the Americas, beginning about 13,000 years ago. However, evidence of pre-Clovis cultures has accumulated since 2000, pushing back the possible date of the first peopling of the Americas.

Is South America and Latin America the same?

Latin America is a linguistic or cultural division of the continent. On the other hand, South America is the geographical division of the continent. Latin America constitutes the whole of South America, Mexico in Northern America, the Island of the Caribbean sea, and Central America.

What is South America known for?

These fun facts about South America will give you a glimpse into a continent steeped in natural beauty and culture
  • #1 The world's second-largest swimming pool.
  • #2 No doorbells in Paraguay.
  • #3 The world's longest mountain range.
  • #4 The world's largest salt flat.
  • #5 12 countries but hundreds of languages.