Which line of latitude is nearest is nearest the equator?

Answer 1

The answer is exactly the same as it was when this question got posted to WikiAnswers

on both February 8 and February 21.

There isn't any "line closest to the equator".

This is probably the most widespread misconception we see in this category of WikiAnswers ...

the impression that there is an official set of "lines", that those are the only ones that we're

allowed to use, and we have to pick the latitude we need out of the official set.

You wouldn't ask "What's the number of the first line of length after the beginning of the ruler ?"

The answer would be: "You can darn well measure any length you want to, even if the ruler

doesn't happen to have a line printed there."

Some maps and globes have some lines printed on them, and some don't have any.

On the maps and globes that have lines, the lines may be printed every 15 degrees,

every 10 degrees, or every degree.

Whatever lines they decide to print on the map or the globe, that doesn't mean that

those are the only latitudes you're allowed to use, or the only ones that exist.

When you measure latitude accurately, you can tell the difference in latitude between two points

that may be only 1 inch apart. That's something like 0.00000023 of a degree of latitude, or

0.00082 of 1 'second' of latitude.

But even that isn't the smallest bit of latitude you're allowed to use. If you want to use slices

of latitude that describe locations that are only 1 millimeter apart, or 0.01 inch apart, you go

right ahead.

The first number of latitude north of the equator that you can use is whatever number

you want to use, no matter how small it is.

And no matter how small it is, and how close to the equator your number is,

I can always come along and name a latitude that's smaller, and even closer

to the equator than yours is.

There is no such thing as "closest to the equator". It's like asking "What's the

shortest possible distance ?"

Answer 2

The 1st parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 1 degree north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Indian ocean, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean and South America.

The 1st parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 1 degree south of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean and South America.