Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located in the central part of the country. It is situated on a plateau at an altitude of 667 meters above sea level.
But what line of latitude is Madrid on? Let’s find out!
Latitude and Longitude
Before we dive into the specific line of latitude where Madrid lies, let’s first understand what latitude and longitude are. Latitude is an imaginary horizontal line that circles the Earth.
It measures the distance north or south from the Equator, which is at 0° latitude. Longitude, on the other hand, is an imaginary vertical line that runs from pole to pole. It measures the distance east or west from the Prime Meridian, which is at 0° longitude.
Madrid’s Latitude
Now let’s get back to Madrid’s location. The city lies between 40°23’N and 3°43’W. This means that Madrid is located at a latitude of 40 degrees north of the Equator.
The Tropic of Cancer
To put this into perspective, let’s take a look at some other notable lines of latitude. One such line is the Tropic of Cancer, which lies at approximately 23.5°N and marks the northernmost point where the sun can appear directly overhead.
The Arctic Circle
Another important line of latitude is the Arctic Circle, which lies at approximately 66.5°N and marks the southernmost point where there are 24 hours of daylight in summer and 24 hours of darkness in winter.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Madrid is located on a line of latitude that runs through central Spain at approximately 40 degrees north of the Equator. Understanding lines of latitude and longitude can help us better understand our planet’s geography and how different locations are related to each other.