45th parallel south
The 45th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 45 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane.
It is the line that marks the theoretical halfway point between the equator and the South Pole. (The true halfway point is 16.2 kilometres (10.1 mi) south of this parallel because the Earth is not a perfect sphere but bulges at the equator and is flattened at the poles.)
Unlike its northern counterpart it passes mostly over open ocean. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean and South America.
At this latitude the sun is visible for 15 hours, 37 minutes during the December solstice and 8 hours, 46 minutes during the June solstice.
Around the world
Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 45° south passes through:
Co-ordinates Country, territory or sea Notes 45°0′S 0°0′E / 45.000°S 0.000°E Atlantic Ocean 45°0′S 20°0′E / 45.000°S 20.000°E Indian Ocean 45°0′S 147°0′E / 45.000°S 147.000°E Pacific Ocean Tasman Sea 45°0′S 167°8′E / 45.000°S 167.133°E 
New ZealandSouth Island, passing just north of the towns of Oamaru, Naseby, and Queenstown, and through the small settlement of Becks 45°0′S 171°6′E / 45.000°S 171.100°E Pacific Ocean Passing just south of Guamblin Island, 
Chile45°0′S 74°23′W / 45.000°S 74.383°W ChileIslands in the Chonos Archipelago including James Island and Melchor Island, and the mainland 45°0′S 71°33′W / 45.000°S 71.550°W 
Argentina45°0′S 65°35′W / 45.000°S 65.583°W Atlantic Ocean
See also
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