Historical reference: Do not rely on this information. It is very old. About this collection
Tropics, the portion of the earth's surface which lies between the tropics (or turning-places) of Cancer and Capricorn, these two parallels marking the extreme northern and southern limits of the sun's apparent path. The tropics have a great degree of heat, and an almost uniform climate, and constitute the torrid zone. The two tropical lines are 23-1/2 degrees N. and S. respectively of the equator, but their position varies slightly from time to time.