leveyspiirejä

Leveyspiirejä, or lines of latitude, are imaginary circles on the Earth's surface that run parallel to the equator. They are used to measure distances north or south of the equator. The equator itself is designated as 0 degrees latitude. The North Pole is at 90 degrees North latitude, and the South Pole is at 90 degrees South latitude.

The Earth is divided into 180 degrees of latitude, with 90 degrees in the Northern Hemisphere and 90 degrees in the Southern Hemisphere. Each degree of latitude is approximately 111 kilometers (69 miles) apart. Lines of latitude are also called parallels because they are parallel to each other.

The latitude of a location is crucial for determining its climate. Areas near the equator experience warmer temperatures due to receiving more direct sunlight, while regions closer to the poles are colder as they receive sunlight at a more oblique angle. Important lines of latitude include the Tropic of Cancer (approximately 23.5 degrees North), the Tropic of Capricorn (approximately 23.5 degrees South), the Arctic Circle (approximately 66.5 degrees North), and the Antarctic Circle (approximately 66.5 degrees South). These lines mark the boundaries of the tropics and the polar regions, influencing seasonal variations and daylight hours.