60th parallel south
 | This articlerelies largely or entirely on asingle source.(February 2018) |
The60th parallel southis acircle of latitudethat is 60degreessouthofEarth'sequatorial plane.No land lies on the parallel—it crosses nothing but ocean. The closest land is a group of rocks north ofCoronation Island(Melson Rocks or Governor Islands) of theSouth Orkney Islands,which are about 54 km south of the parallel, andThule IslandandCook Islandof theSouth Sandwich Islands,which both are about 57 km north of the parallel (with Cook Island slightly closer).[1]
The parallel marks the northern limit of theSouthern Ocean(though some organisations and countries, notablyAustralia,have other definitions) and of theAntarctic Treaty System.It also marks the southern boundary of theSouth Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zoneand theLatin American Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.
At this latitude the sun is visible for 18 hours, 52 minutes during the December solstice and 5 hours, 52 minutes during the June solstice. On December 21, the sun is at 53.44 degrees up in the sky and 6.56 degrees on June 21. The sun's altitude is exactly 30 degrees at either equinox.
The latitudes south of this parallel are often referred to as the Screaming 60s due to the prevailing high-speed, westerly winds which can generate large waves in excess of 15 m (50 ft) and peak wind speeds over 145 km/h (90 mph).[2]
The maximumaltitudeof the Sun is > 15.00º in April and > 8.00º in May.
The lowest latitude wherewhite nightscan be observed is approximately on this parallel.
During the summer solstice, nighttime does not get beyondnautical twilight,a condition which lasts throughout the month of December. It is possible to view both astronomical dawn and dusk every day between February 17 and October 24.
Around the world
[edit]Starting at theprime meridianand heading eastwards, the parallel 60° south passes through:
Coordinates Ocean Notes 60°0′S0°0′E/ 60.000°S 0.000°E ThePrime Meridian 60°0′S20°0′E/ 60.000°S 20.000°E the boundary of theAtlanticandIndian Oceans 60°0′S147°0′E/ 60.000°S 147.000°E the boundary of theIndianandPacific Oceans Additionally passes through the Pacific Ocean at theDrake PassagebetweenSouth Americaand theAntarctic Peninsula 60°0′S67°16′W/ 60.000°S 67.267°W the boundary of thePacificandAtlantic Oceans Running close to the southern border of theScotia Seaand theSouth Orkney Islands, 
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands(claimed by
Argentina)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Maxar Technologies(2021)."Southern Thule"(Map).Google Earth.Retrieved5 January2023.
- ^Sinert, Richard."The Furious 50s and Screaming 60s".mydaywithbarkly.Retrieved2009-07-11.
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