Question map
The Tropic of Cancer passes through which one of the following countries?
Explanation
The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost circle of latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead, located at approximately 23.5° N [2]. It passes through 16 countries across three continents. In Africa, the line traverses Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Niger, Libya, and Egypt. Therefore, among the given options, Mali is the only country through which the Tropic of Cancer passes. While it passes through Egypt and Libya, it does not cross Sudan (North Sudan) or Chad, as the line stays north of their borders. In Asia, it passes through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, and Taiwan. Yemen is located south of the Tropic of Cancer. The line also crosses major water bodies including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean.
Sources
- [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 18: Latitudes and Longitudes > Important Parallels of Latitudes > p. 240