1st parallel north facts for kids
The 1st parallel north is an imaginary line that goes all the way around the Earth. It's located 1 degree north of the Earth's equator. Think of it like a giant circle drawn on a map, about 111.36 kilometers (69.2 miles) north of the middle of the Earth.
This line crosses many different places! It goes over the Atlantic Ocean, across the continent of Africa, through the Indian Ocean, over parts of Southeast Asia, and then across the huge Pacific Ocean before reaching South America.
An interesting fact about this parallel is that it helps mark part of the border between two countries in Africa: Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Contents
Journey Around the World
Let's take a quick trip along the 1st parallel north, starting from the Prime Meridian (which is 0 degrees longitude) and heading east.
Across Oceans and Africa
The parallel begins its journey over the Atlantic Ocean. It passes near some islands belonging to Equatorial Guinea, like Corisco and Elobey Grande. Then, it crosses through several African countries. It goes through Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia.
After Africa, the line stretches across the vast Indian Ocean. Here, it passes just north of Huvadhu Atoll, which is part of the Maldives.
Through Southeast Asia
Next, the 1st parallel north reaches Indonesia, crossing islands like Nias and Sumatra. It then goes over the Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait, which are busy shipping lanes. It continues through more Indonesian islands, including Batam and Bintan, before entering the South China Sea.
The parallel touches more parts of Indonesia, including the Tambelan archipelago and the large island of Borneo. On Borneo, it weaves in and out of Malaysia (specifically Sarawak) and Indonesia (West Kalimantan).
After Borneo, it crosses the Makassar Strait and then the island of Sulawesi. It also passes through the Celebes Sea and the Molucca Sea, touching more Indonesian islands like Halmahera.
Over the Pacific and South America
The 1st parallel north then enters the enormous Pacific Ocean. Here, it passes near several small islands, including Fani (Indonesia) and the Mapia Islands (Indonesia). It also goes just south of the Kapingamarangi atoll, which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Further across the Pacific, it crosses Maiana atoll in Kiribati. It also passes near Howland Island (a US territory) and between two islands in the famous Galápagos Islands of Ecuador: Wolf Island and Pinta Island.
Finally, the parallel reaches South America. It crosses Ecuador, then Colombia, and a large part of Brazil. In Brazil, it goes through states like Amazonas, Roraima, and Pará. It also briefly touches Venezuela. The line even crosses an island in the mouth of the mighty Amazon River before finishing its journey over the Atlantic Ocean and returning to the Prime Meridian.
See also
In Spanish: Paralelo 1 norte para niños
- Equator
- 2nd parallel north
- 80th parallel south
