Circles of latitude between the 55th parallel north and the 60th parallel north

Following are circles of latitude between the 55th parallel north and the 60th parallel north:

56th parallel north

Line across the Earth

56°

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56th parallel north (<maplink zoom="1" text="interactive map" class="no-icon">{ "type": "Feature", "properties": { "stroke": "#f00" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [ [ -1800, 56 ], [ 1800, 56 ] ], "type": "LineString" } }</maplink>)

The 56th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 56 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean.

At this latitude the sun is visible for 17 hours, 37 minutes during the summer solstice and 6 hours, 57 minutes during the winter solstice.

Around the world

Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 56° north passes through:

Coordinates	Country, territory or sea	Notes
	North Sea
	Denmark	Jutland (mainland)
	Kattegat
	Denmark	Island of Samsø, passing through the northern tip for about 400 meters
	Kattegat
	Denmark	Island of Sjælland, passing just south of Helsingør
	Øresund
	Sweden	Scania, passing just south of Helsingborg
	Hanöbukten
	Sweden	Blekinge
	Baltic Sea
	Lithuania	Klaipėda County
	Latvia	Passing just north of Daugavpils
	Belarus	Vitebsk Region
	Russia	For about 13 km
	Belarus	For about 17 km
	Russia	Passing just north of Moscow
	Sea of Okhotsk
	Russia	Kamchatka Peninsula
	Bering Sea
	United States	Alaska - the Alaska Peninsula
	Pacific Ocean	Gulf of Alaska - passing just south of the Semidi Islands, and just north of Chirikof Island, Alaska, United States Passing just south of Kuiu Island, Alaska, United States
	United States	Alaska - Kosciusko Island, Prince of Wales Island, Etolin Island and the Alaska Panhandle
	Canada	British Columbia - passing 2.5 km south of Hudson's Hope Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba - passing just North of Thompson Ontario - passing just north of Fort Severn
	Hudson Bay
	Canada	Nunavut - Flaherty Island and Innetalling Island
	Hudson Bay
	Canada	Quebec Newfoundland and Labrador
	Atlantic Ocean
	United Kingdom	Scotland - Island of Jura
	Sound of Jura
	United Kingdom	Scotland, passing through Helensburgh and then Falkirk town centre
	Firth of Forth	Passing through the Forth Bridge, and just north of Edinburgh
	United Kingdom	Scotland, passing through Dunbar
	North Sea

57th parallel north

Line across the Earth

57°

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57th parallel north (<maplink zoom="1" text="interactive map" class="no-icon">{ "type": "Feature", "properties": { "stroke": "#f00" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [ [ -1800, 57 ], [ 1800, 57 ] ], "type": "LineString" } }</maplink>)

The 57th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 57 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean.

At this latitude the sun is visible for 17 hours, 53 minutes during the summer solstice and 6 hours, 43 minutes during the winter solstice. On June 21, the sun is at 56.44 degrees in the sky and on December 21, the sun is at 9.56 degrees in the sky. During the summer solstice, nighttime does not get beyond nautical twilight, a condition which lasts throughout the month of June. It is possible to view both astronomical dawn and dusk every day of the month of April.

The maximum altitude of the Sun is > 18.00º in October and > 11.00º in November.

The only capital city on the 57th parallel north is Riga.

Around the world

File:European countries entirely north of 57° N.png

European countries entirely north of 57° N

Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 57° north passes through:

Coordinates	Country, territory or ocean	Notes
	Atlantic Ocean	North Sea
	Denmark	North Jutlandic Island and Jutland mainland
	Atlantic Ocean	Kattegat
	Sweden	Halland, Jönköping, Kronoberg and Kalmar counties
	Atlantic Ocean	Kalmar Strait, Baltic Sea
	Sweden	Island of Öland
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea
	Sweden	Island of Gotland
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea
	Latvia	Courland, Semigallia
	Atlantic Ocean	Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea
	Latvia	Passing through Riga. Vidzeme, Latgale
	Russia	Passing through Ivanovo
	Pacific Ocean	Sea of Okhotsk
	Russia	Kamchatka Peninsula
	Pacific Ocean	Bering Sea Passing just south of Otter Island and Saint Paul Island, Alaska, United States
	United States	Alaska - Alaska Peninsula
	Pacific Ocean	Gulf of Alaska
	United States	Alaska - Kodiak Island and Sitkalidak Island
	Pacific Ocean	Gulf of Alaska
	United States	Alaska - Kruzof Island
	Pacific Ocean	Sitka Sound
	United States	Alaska - Baranof Island
	Pacific Ocean	Chatham Strait Passing just south of Admiralty Island, Alaska, United States
		Frederick Sound
	United States	Alaska - Kupreanof Island and the Alaska Panhandle
	Canada	British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
	Arctic Ocean	Hudson Bay Passing just north of the Belcher Islands, Nunavut, Canada
	Canada	Nunavut, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador
	Atlantic Ocean
	United Kingdom	Island of Barra, Scotland
	Atlantic Ocean	Sea of the Hebrides
	United Kingdom	Island of Rùm, Scotland
	Atlantic Ocean	Sea of the Hebrides
	United Kingdom	Scotland
	Atlantic Ocean	North Sea

58th parallel north

Line across the Earth

58°

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58th parallel north (<maplink zoom="1" text="interactive map" class="no-icon">{ "type": "Feature", "properties": { "stroke": "#f00" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [ [ -1800, 58 ], [ 1800, 58 ] ], "type": "LineString" } }</maplink>)

The 58th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 58 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean.

At this latitude the Sun is visible for 18 hours, 11 minutes during the summer solstice and 6 hours, 27 minutes during the winter solstice.

Around the world

Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 58° north passes through:

Coordinates	Country, territory or ocean	Notes
	North Sea
	Norway	Markøy and Austre Seli, Vest-Agder
	Atlantic Ocean	North Sea
	Norway	Lindesnes peninsula, Vest-Agder Passing 2.3 km (1.4 mi) north of mainland Norway's southernmost point
	Atlantic Ocean	Skagerrak Passing between Våre Island to the north and Udvåre Island to the south, Vest-Agder
	Norway	Hille Island, Vest-Agder
	Atlantic Ocean	Skagerrak
	Norway	Skjernøy Island, Vest-Agder
	Atlantic Ocean	Skagerrak Passing south of Uvår and Songvår Islands, Vest-Agder
	Sweden	Tjörn Island, Västra Götaland County
	Atlantic Ocean	Hakefjorden
	Sweden	Västra Götaland County, Lake Vättern (southernmost point of Visingsö), Jönköping County, Östergötland County, Kalmar County
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea Passing just north of the islands of Gotland and Fårö, Sweden
	Estonia	Island of Saaremaa, Saare County
	Atlantic Ocean	Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea
	Estonia	Pärnu County
	Latvia	For 19.8 km (12.3 mi), Valmiera district
	Estonia	For 2.7 km (1.7 mi), Viljandi County
	Latvia	For 8.6 km (5.3 mi), Valmiera district
	Estonia	Viljandi County, Valga County and Põlva County
	Russia	Northwestern, Central, Volga, Ural Federal Districts, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Irkutsk Oblast, Zabaykalsky Krai, Zabaykalsky Krai, Yakutia, Khabarovsk Krai Passing through Perm and Ust-Ilimsk
	Pacific Ocean	Sea of Okhotsk
	Russia	Kamchatka Peninsula, Kamchatka Krai
	Pacific Ocean	Bering Sea
	United States	Alaska - Alaska Peninsula
	Pacific Ocean	Shelikof Strait, Gulf of Alaska
	United States	Alaska - Raspberry Island and Afognak Island
	Pacific Ocean	Gulf of Alaska
	United States	Alaska - Yakobi Island, Chichagof Island, Admiralty Island and the mainland
	Canada	British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
	Arctic Ocean	Hudson Bay
	Canada	Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador
	Atlantic Ocean
	United Kingdom	Island of Lewis and Harris, Scotland
	The Minch
	United Kingdom	Scotland
	North Sea

Climate

In general, this parallel sees significant differences in temperature and precipitation with proximity to warm ocean currents. The moderation from the Gulf Stream ensures a moderate oceanic climate in much of Western Europe and on the immediate coastline of Alaska, whereas moving inland on continental masses, subarctic climates predominate as the dark winters dominate the temperature cycle. In the transitional area centred on the Baltic Sea this latitude sees a humid continental climate with warm summers and snowy winters somewhat below freezing.

Where cold ocean currents dominate such as near Hudson Bay the climate is polar, rendering in severe winter conditions and very subdued summers. This type of climate is seen in the surroundings of Inukjuak in Quebec, Canada, where the sea ice eliminates winter moderation, but the thawing of the cold water renders in very cool summers as well. In more continental cold areas such as these winters commonly go below −30 °C or −22 °F even during the day. Further west in inland areas winters are often as severe, but summers average above 22 °C or 71.6 °F, similar to the Baltic region where climates are much gentler.

59th parallel north

Line across the Earth

59°

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59th parallel north (<maplink zoom="1" text="interactive map" class="no-icon">{ "type": "Feature", "properties": { "stroke": "#f00" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [ [ -1800, 59 ], [ 1800, 59 ] ], "type": "LineString" } }</maplink>)

The 59th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 59 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean.

At this latitude the Sun is visible for 18 hours, 30 minutes during the summer solstice and 6 hours, 11 minutes during the winter solstice.

If latitude in northern hemisphere is 59°45′ or smaller, every day in August can view both nautical dawn and nautical dusk.

Around the world

Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 59° north passes through:

Coordinates	Country, territory or oceans	Notes
	Atlantic Ocean	North Sea
	Norway	Jæren, Rogaland
	Atlantic Ocean	Byfjorden, Boknafjorden
	Norway	Hundvåg and Vassøy Islands, Rogaland
	Atlantic Ocean	Idsefjorden, Boknafjorden
	Norway	Rogaland, Vest-Agder, Aust-Agder, Telemark
	Atlantic Ocean	Langesundsfjorden, Skagerrak Passing over Langøya, Geiterøya, Store Arøya and Stokkøya islands
	Norway	Vestfold
	Atlantic Ocean	Skagerrak Passing south of Ferder lighthouse and Oslofjorden
	Norway	Andholmen and Søndre Sandøy, Hvaler islands, Østfold
	Atlantic Ocean	Sekken sound, Skagerrak for 1.9 km
	Sweden	Strömstad Municipality, Västra Götaland County for 19 km
	Atlantic Ocean	Iddefjord, Skagerrak for 1 km
	Norway	Halden Municipality for 13.6 km
	Sweden	Västra Götaland County, Lake Vänern, Värmland County, Örebro County, Södermanland County, Stockholm County
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea
	Estonia	Island of Hiiumaa
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea
	Estonia	Island of Vormsi and the mainland. Passing through Lake Peipus
	Russia	Passing through Rybinsk Reservoir
	Pacific Ocean	Sea of Okhotsk
	Russia	Zavyalov Island
	Pacific Ocean	Sea of Okhotsk
	Russia
	Pacific Ocean	Sea of Okhotsk
	Russia	Kamchatka Peninsula
	Pacific Ocean	Litke Strait, Bering Sea
	Russia	Karaginsky Island
	Pacific Ocean	Bering Sea
	United States	Alaska
	Pacific Ocean	Gulf of Alaska - passing just north of the Barren Islands
	United States	Alaska
	Canada	British Columbia - for about 13 km (8.1 mi)
	United States	Alaska
	Canada	British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba (not far north of Churchill).
	Arctic Ocean	Hudson Bay Passing just south of the Ottawa Islands, Nunavut, Canada
	Canada	Nunavut, Quebec
	Arctic Ocean	Ungava Bay
	Canada	Nunavut, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador
	Atlantic Ocean
	United Kingdom	Mainland, Orkney, Scotland
	Arctic Ocean	North Sea

Notable cities and towns on 59°N

• Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden
• Tallinn, Harju County, Estonia
• Magadan, Magadan Oblast, Russia

60th parallel north

Main article: 60th parallel north

Line across the Earth

60°

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60th parallel north (<maplink zoom="1" text="interactive map" class="no-icon">{ "type": "Feature", "properties": { "stroke": "#f00" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [ [ -1800, 60 ], [ 1800, 60 ] ], "type": "LineString" } }</maplink>)

File:60th parallel Canada.svg

The 60th parallel north in Canada, marking the southern borders of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and the Nunavut mainland.

The 60th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 60 degrees north of Earth's equator. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean.

In Canada, the 60th parallel forms the southern mainland boundary of the northern territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut with the western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Accordingly, "north of 60" is an expression often used for the territories. The 60th Parallel Territorial Park is on Mackenzie Highway between Alberta and Northwest Territories and it has a visitor centre there in the homeland of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the North Slave Métis Alliance.

Between 1776 and 1950, the 60th parallel formed the southern limit of the Royal Greenland Trade Department's exclusive monopoly on trade near the Dano-Norwegian and later Danish colonies of Greenland (1776–1782) and South Greenland (1782–1950).

Although it lies approximately twice as far away from the Equator as from the North Pole, the 60th parallel is half as long as the Equator line, due to the cosine of 60 degrees being 0.5. This is where the Earth bulges halfway as much as on the Equator.

At this latitude, the Sun is visible for 18 hours, 52 minutes during the June solstice and 5 hours, 52 minutes during the December solstice. The maximum altitude of the Sun is 53.44° on 21 June and 6.56° on 21 December. The maximum altitude of the Sun is > 15.00º in October and > 8.00º in November.

The lowest latitude where white nights can be observed is approximately on this parallel.

During the summer solstice, nighttime does not get beyond nautical twilight, a condition which lasts throughout the month of June. It is possible to view both astronomical dawn and dusk every day between August 22 and April 21.

Around the world

Malachy Tallack wrote a book, Sixty Degrees North: Around the World in Search of Home, about his travels along the general line of the parallel, starting and finishing at Shetland.

Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 60° north passes through:

Coordinates	Country, territory or ocean	Notes
	Atlantic Ocean	North Sea
	Norway	Islands of Stolmen and Selbjørn, Hordaland
	Atlantic Ocean	Bekkjarviksundet, Selbjørnsfjorden, North Sea
	Norway	Island of Huftarøy, Hordaland
	Atlantic Ocean	Langenuen, North Sea
	Norway	Islands of Reksteren, Tysnesøy and the mainland Hordaland
	Atlantic Ocean	Hardangerfjorden, North Sea
	Norway	Mainland: Folgefonna glacier, Telemark, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo, Hedmark, Østfold Passing just north of the capital Oslo
	Sweden	Passing through Fagersta Passing just north of Uppsala
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea
	Finland	Högskär, Bäckö and several smaller islands, Åland Islands
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea
	Finland	Passing through Ekenäs
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea
	Finland	Porkkala peninsula
	Atlantic Ocean	Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland Passing just south of Helsinki, Finland and the island of Gogland, Russia
	Russia	Moshchny Island
	Atlantic Ocean	Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea
	Russia	Island of Kotlin (city of Kronstadt)
	Atlantic Ocean	Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea
	Russia	Passing through Saint Petersburg, Lake Ladoga
	Pacific Ocean	Shelikhov Gulf, Sea of Okhotsk
	Russia	Kamchatka Peninsula
	Pacific Ocean	Bering Sea
	Russia	Pylgin Range
	Pacific Ocean	Olyutor Gulf, Bering Sea
	Russia	Olyutor Peninsula
	Pacific Ocean	Bering Sea
	United States	Alaska - Nunivak Island
	Pacific Ocean	Etolin Strait, Bering Sea
	United States	Alaska
	Pacific Ocean	Cook Inlet, Gulf of Alaska
	United States	Alaska - Kenai Peninsula, Evans Island, Elrington Island, Latouche Island and Montague Island
	Pacific Ocean	Gulf of Alaska
	United States	Alaska - Wingham Island, Kayak Island and a small section of mainland
	Pacific Ocean	Gulf of Alaska
	United States	Alaska
	Canada	Yukon / British Columbia border Northwest Territories / British Columbia border Northwest Territories / Alberta border - passes through Wood Buffalo National Park and beside Fort Smith, NT Northwest Territories / Saskatchewan border Nunavut / Manitoba border
	Arctic Ocean	Hudson Bay Passing just north of the Ottawa Islands, Nunavut, Canada
	Canada	Quebec Passing just south of Puvirnituq, Quebec
	Arctic Ocean	Ungava Bay Passing just south of Kangirsuk, Quebec, Canada
	Canada	Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador
	Atlantic Ocean	Border between the Davis Strait (to the north) and the Labrador Sea (to the south)
	Greenland	Passing south of Narsaq; crossing mainland at Narsarmijit; going through Cape Farewell Archipelago, passing just north of Itilleq Island
	Atlantic Ocean
	United Kingdom	Islands of Mainland and Mousa, Shetland Islands, Scotland
	Atlantic Ocean	North Sea

Notable cities and towns on 60°N

• Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
• Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada
• Bergen, Vestland, Norway
• Oslo, Norway
• Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
• Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
• Saint Petersburg, Russia

See also

• Circles of latitude between the 50th parallel north and the 55th parallel north
• Circles of latitude between the 60th parallel north and the 65th parallel north