The Tropic of Cancer is an imaginary line of latitude located at exactly 23.5° North of the Equator. It marks the northernmost point on Earth where the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon. Knowing which countries it passes through is a common competitive exam question.
The word 'Cancer' in the Tropic of Cancer has nothing to do with the disease. It was named over 2,000 years ago because, during the summer solstice, the sun was located in the star constellation of Cancer (the Crab).
The Tropic of Cancer passes through exactly 16 countries, spread across three major continents.
Here is the list broken down by continent (moving from West to East):
The line cuts straight through the massive, hot Sahara Desert.
It crosses all three major oceans: The Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. It also crosses smaller significant bodies like the Red Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Taiwan Strait.
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