Lines of latitude, also known as parallels, are imaginary lines that circle the Earth running east to west, but measure the distance north or south. They are essential concepts in geography and navigation. The equator is the most well-known parallel and is located at 0 degrees latitude. There are other named lines of latitude based on the suns position during Earths orbit, such as the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, which help us understand climate, weather, and ocean currents. The Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle are also lines of latitude and are located at roughly 66 degrees north and south, respectively. They mark the boundaries of the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Lines of latitude are measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds. A positive latitude value indicates a location in the Northern Hemisphere, while a negative value indicates a location in the Southern Hemisphere. There are 180 degrees of latitude in total, and the distance between each degree of latitude is about 69 miles (110 kilometers) . The five major parallels of latitudes from north to south are called the Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle. On a map where the orientation of the map is either due north or due south, latitude appears as horizontal lines.

In summary, lines of latitude are imaginary lines that circle the Earth running east to west, but measure the distance north or south. They are essential concepts in geography and navigation, and there are other named lines of latitude based on the suns position during Earths orbit. They are measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds, and there are 180 degrees of latitude in total. The five major parallels of latitudes from north to south are the Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle.