Here I am several months ago exactly at the Tropic of Capricorn. I am sure that out of the many thousands of visitors to this blog, at least one or two know not of what I speak.The Tropic of Capricorn is an imaginary line running in an east west direction, exactly 23.5 degrees south of the equator, and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil and northern south Africa (would that be similar to southern north Africa???). In the above photo me (on the extreme right) and my photo colleagues are in Namibia which is in northern South Africa. The significance of this imaginary line is what you may ask. The areas between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north of the equator) and the Tropic of Capricorn is known generally as "the tropics". This area does not experience seasons because the sun is always "high" in the sky. Areas to the north of the Tropic of Cancer, and south of the Tropic of Capricorn experience significant seasonal variations in climate.
More simply perhaps, the tropics are the two lines where the sun is directly overhead on the two solstices near June and December 21st and depending on whether you live in the north or south, the longest or shortest day of the year.
And now you know all about the "Tropics"
Live long and prosper,
Dennis
My dear teacher, now I know all about the Tropic of Cancer, The Tropic of Capricorn, and The Equator. Thank you for sharing this interesting knowledge with me! When I saw the picture the other day, I just thoght it is someplace in Namibia anyway. Now I know that place is an "absolutely hot" place on the earth!
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me Henry Valentine Miller,an American writer.I read his novels: "Tropic of Cancer", "Tropic of Capricorn", and "Black Spring", which were originally banned as pornographic. What now I like is that he was a painter too. But painting watercolors was his way to relax, he didn’t consider himself an ‘artist’ but loved to paint. He painted for pleasure and gift for his friends. He also made some very special abstract water color paintings. Although he was not a professional painter, his paintings are very expensive now.
By the way, I like your cute smile in this picture! I love you!
Rosie