What Is a Parallel on Earth

parallel, imaginary line extending around the Earth parallel to the equator; it is used to indicate latitude. … See latitude and longitude.

What are all the parallels in the world?

The five major parallels of latitudes from north to south are called: 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.

Where are the parallels?

The imaginary lines circling the globe in an east-west direction are called the lines of latitude (or parallels, as they are parallel to the equator). They are used to measure distances north and south of the equator. The lines circling the globe in a north-south direction are called lines of longitude (or meridians).