Question

How many great circles the latitudes make?

Answer 1

The latitudes, also known as parallels of latitude, are a series of horizontal circles drawn on the Earth’s surface. Among all these latitudes, only the Equator (at 0° latitude) forms a great circle, as it divides the Earth into two equal halves. All other latitudes are smaller circles and do not qualify as great circles because they do not divide the Earth into equal halves. Therefore, the latitudes make exactly one great circle, the Equator. Other latitudes are referred to as small circles since their circumference decreases as we move towards the poles.