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NEED - Northern Environmental Education Development – The Burren www.GeoNeed.org The Equator & the Tropics The rocks of the Burren were formed in a warm shallow sea when Ireland was south of the Equator, in a part of the world called the Tropics. FASCINATING FACTS!!! The tropics are found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The Equator is exactly half way between the North Pole and the South Pole. Ireland is 53° north of the Equator. Map of the Tropics and the Equator NEED - Northern Environmental Education Development – The Burren www.GeoNeed.org On March 21st and September 21st, the Sun is exactly above the Equator. These days are called the Spring Equinox and the Autumn Equinox. On June 21st, the longest day of the year, the Sun is exactly above the Tropic of Cancer. This day is called the Summer Solstice, or Midsummer’s Day. Poulnabrone Dolmen on the Summer Solstice On December 21st, the shortest day of the year, the Sun is exactly above the Tropic of Capricorn. This day is called the Winter Solstice. Newgrange Passage Tomb on the Winter Solstice NEED - Northern Environmental Education Development – The Burren www.GeoNeed.org Some Questions! 1. What is the Equator? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ 2. Where are the tropics? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ 3. Ireland is how many degrees north of the Equator? ____________________________________________________ 4. When is the longest day of the year? ____________________________________________________ 5. What do we call the longest day of the year? ____________________________________________________ 6. Where is the sun on the longest day of the year? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ NEED - Northern Environmental Education Development – The Burren www.GeoNeed.org LEARNING WITH GOOGLE EARTH Using Google Earth – can you find: 1. Ireland 2. The Equator 3. The Tropic of Cancer 4. The Tropic of Capricorn Hint: To see the east-west and north-south lines in Google Earth Click on View Tick Grid Google Earth NEED - Northern Environmental Education Development – The Burren www.GeoNeed.org Some Questions! 1. Can you name two countries on the Equator? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ 2. Can you name two countries that are 10° south of the Equator? (Did you know that Ireland was about 10° south of the Equator when the rocks in the Burren were formed!) ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ 3. Using the ruler tool in Google Earth, can you measure how far Ireland is from the Equator? (This is how far Ireland has travelled since the rocks in the Burren were formed – over 300 millions years ago) ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ RULER