Antarctic Circle
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Image:ANTARCTIC CIRCLE 021106.jpg
The Antarctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. It is at latitude 66° 33' 39" south of the equator (in 2000). For everywhere within the Antarctic Circle, there is at least twenty-four hours of continuous daylight on the Summer Solstice, and at least twenty-four hours of continuous nighttime on the Winter Solstice. That is to say, one whole day during which the sun does not set, and one whole day during which the sun does not rise. This is because the earth is tilted at a 23.5 degree angle, and during the winter solstice, the southern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, meaning that the antarctic circle is completely tilted away from the Sun, hence it experiences 24 hour nighttime, and vice versa.
The area south of this circle is known as the Antarctic, and the zone to the north is the Southern Temperate Zone.
The continent of Antarctica forms a land mass covering much of the area within the Antarctic Circle.
See also
es:Círculo polar antártico fr:Cercle Antarctique he:החוג האנטארקטי hu:Déli-sarkkör ja:南極圏 nl:Zuidpoolcirkel no:Sydlige polarsirkel pt:Círculo Polar Antártico sr:Антарктички поларни круг wa:Ceke polaire antartike zh:南極圈