Defence
The longest parallel of latitude on the Earth is the:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — Equator
Detailed Solution
The Equator (0 degrees latitude) is the longest parallel of latitude. It is a great circle that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with a length of about 40,075 km.
Why the Equator is the longest:
- Parallels of latitude are circles drawn parallel to the Equator.
- As one moves towards the poles, these circles become smaller and smaller.
- At the poles (90 degrees North and South), the parallel shrinks to a single point.
- The Equator lies midway between the poles, where the Earth is widest.
Length of some parallels (approximate):
- Equator (0 degrees): about 40,075 km.
- 30 degrees latitude: about 34,700 km.
- 60 degrees latitude: about 20,000 km (half of the Equator's length).
- 90 degrees (poles): a point.
Great circles:
- A great circle divides the Earth into two equal halves.
- The Equator is the only parallel of latitude that is a great circle.
- All meridians of longitude, taken in opposite pairs, form great circles.
The shortest route between two points on the globe follows a great circle. This is why long-distance flights often follow curved paths on flat maps.
Features of the Equator:
- It passes through 13 countries, including Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia and Indonesia.
- Ecuador is named after the Equator.
- Places on the Equator have days and nights of nearly 12 hours each throughout the year.
- The Sun is overhead at the Equator at noon on the equinoxes.
Other important parallels:
- Tropic of Cancer (about 23.5 degrees North) and Tropic of Capricorn (about 23.5 degrees South).
- Arctic Circle (about 66.5 degrees North) and Antarctic Circle (about 66.5 degrees South).
India and the Equator:
India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. The southernmost point, Indira Point, is about 6 degrees 45 minutes North of the Equator.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Tropics and the Arctic Circle are shorter than the Equator, as they lie closer to the poles.
Quick tip
Remember: Equator = longest parallel (about 40,075 km) and the only parallel that is a great circle.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore World Geography Questions
View all ›- Q1.Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, is located in:
- Q2.The world's largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, is found off the coast of:
- Q3.Which is the highest navigable lake in the world?
- Q4.Which is the longest river in the world?
- Q5.Which is the world's largest inland water body (lake)?
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
World Geography — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of World Geography, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the physical and political geography of the world: continents, major countries, mountain ranges, plateaus, rivers, deserts, grasslands, and the world's important cities, ports and resources. Exams test the longest rivers (the Nile and the Amazon), the highest peaks and the ranges they belong to, the largest deserts, and the local names of grasslands, such as the Prairies, Pampas, Steppes and Veld. Questions on cities located on rivers, such as Baghdad on the Tigris or London on the Thames, are also common. Practise the world geography questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.