image:WorldMapLongLat-special-lats-emph-ArcticCircle-non.png
The
Arctic Circle is one of the five major
circles of latitude that mark maps of the
Earth. This is the parallel of
latitude that runs
66° 33' 38" north of the
Equator. Everything north of this circle is known as the Arctic, and the zone just to the south of this circle is the
Northern Temperate Zone.
The
Arctic Circle marks the southern extremity of the polar day of the
summer solstice in June and the
polar night of the
winter solstice in December. Within the Arctic Circle, the arctic
Sun is above the
horizon for at least 24 continuous
hours per
year, in conjunction with the Arctic's
Summer Solstice, which is often referred to in local vernacular as
midnight sun. Likewise, in conjunction with the Arctic's
Winter Solstice, the Arctic sun will be below the horizon for at least 24 continuous hours.
Due to
precession, the Arctic Circle fluctuates within a band of 250 kilometres, moving by about half a kilometre in one year.
Countries which have significant territory within the arctic circle include:
See also
External link
Category:Cartography
Category:Nunavut geography
Category:Northwest Territories geography
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Arctic Circle Restaurants is also the name of a
Utah-based regional chain of restaurants that sell burgers and shakes, famous for inventing "
fry sauce."
Category:Arctic
eo:Arkta Cirklo
no:Den nordlige polarsirkel
pl:Koło podbiegunowe
sv:Polcirkeln
wa:Ceke polaire artike
zh:北極圈