kääntöpiirin

Kääntöpiiri refers to the Tropic of Cancer in Finnish. It is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. The Tropic of Cancer is located at approximately 23.5 degrees north of the Equator. It is the northernmost latitude at which the sun can be directly overhead. This occurs at the June solstice, which is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

The name "Tropic of Cancer" comes from the fact that when the sun is directly overhead at this latitude, it is in the constellation of Cancer. This was true about 2,000 years ago. Today, due to the precession of the equinoxes, the sun is in the constellation of Taurus at the June solstice. The parallel of latitude 23.5 degrees north is also known as the Northern Tropic.

The Tropic of Cancer passes through several countries in North America, Africa, and Asia. In North America, it crosses Mexico and touches the southern tip of Baja California. In Africa, it traverses Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and touches the northeastern corner of Sudan. In Asia, it passes through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, and Taiwan.

The region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is known as the tropics. This region generally experiences warm temperatures year-round and receives direct sunlight for much of the year. The Tropic of Cancer is a significant line of latitude in geography and climate studies, marking the boundary of the Northern Hemisphere's most sun-drenched region.