Antarctic Circle

Antarctic Circle
an imaginary line drawn parallel to the equator, at 23° 28prime; N of the South Pole: between the South Frigid Zone and the South Temperate Zone. See diag. under zone.

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Parallel of latitude approximately 66.

5° south of the Equator that circumscribes the southern frigid zone. It marks the northern limit of the area within which, for one day or more each year, the sun does not set or rise. The length of continuous day or night increases southward from the Antarctic Circle, mounting to six months at the South Pole.

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      parallel, or line of latitude around the Earth, at 66°30′ S. Because the Earth's axis is inclined about 23.5° from the vertical, this parallel marks the northern limit of the area within which, for one day or more each year, at the summer and winter solstices, the Sun does not set (December 21 or 22) or rise (June 21 or 22). The length of continuous day or night increases southward from one day at the Antarctic Circle to six months at the South Pole. The South Pole is located on the central ice-covered plateau of the large continental mass, the Antarctic, which almost fills the area within the Antarctic Circle. On any date, the lengths of day and night at the Antarctic Circle are the converse of those at the Arctic Circle. The Antarctic Circle, which separates the South Frigid Zone from the South Temperate Zone, was first crossed by Captain James Cook (Cook, James) on January 17, 1773.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Antarctic Circle — [also a c ] an imaginary circle parallel to the equator, c. 66°34′ south of it …   English World dictionary

  • Antarctic Circle — The Antarctic Circle is one of the five major circles (or parallels) of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. As of 2000, it lies at latitude 66° 33′ 39″ (or 66.56083°) south of the equator. The area south of the Antarctic Circle is known as the… …   Wikipedia

  • Antarctic Circle — noun a line of latitude north of the south pole • Instance Hypernyms: ↑polar circle * * * noun the Antarctic Circle : an imaginary line that goes around the Earth near the South Pole * * * the Anˌtarctic ˈCircle [Antarctic Circle] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Antarctic Circle — An|tarc|tic Cir|cle the Antarctic Circle an imaginary line around the world at a particular distance from the most southern point, which is the South Pole →↑Arctic Circle …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Antarctic Circle — noun (singular) an imaginary line drawn around the world at a certain distance from the most southern point (the South Pole) compare arctic circle …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • antarctic circle — noun Usage: often capitalized A&C Date: 1556 the parallel of latitude that is approximately 66 1/2 degrees south of the equator and that circumscribes the southern frigid zone …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Antarctic Circle — noun The line which marks approximately the northernmost place in the Southern Hemisphere where the sun does not set on the summer solstice and does not rise on the winter solstice …   Wiktionary

  • Antarctic Circle — parallel of latitude at 66° 33′ S; the boundary of the South Frigid Zone …   Webster's Gazetteer

  • Antarctic Circle — n. southern latitude line below which the sun only rises and sets one time per year …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Antarctic Circle — Antarc′tic Cir′cle n. geo geg an imaginary line drawn parallel to the equator, at 23° 28′ N of the South Pole: between the South Frigid Zone and the South Temperate Zone …   From formal English to slang

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