What latitude line is closest to the equator?

Answer 1

The equator is the 'zero' of latitude, so the smaller the latitude number is,

the closer it is to the equator.

There's no such thing as the 'smallest'. You can name any latitude you want,

and no matter how small it is, I can always name a smaller one.

Answer 2

The answer is exactly the same as it was on February 8, last time the question was

posed on WikiAnswers:

There isn't any "line closest to the equator".

This is probably the most widespread misconception we see in this category of WikiAnswers ...

the impression that there are a set of "lines", and we have to pick the latitude we want out of the

set of lines that we're allowed to use.

You wouldn't ask "What's the number of the first line of length after the beginning of the ruler ?"

The answer would be: "You can darn well measure any length you want to, whether or not the ruler

happens to have a line printed there or not."

Similarly, some maps and globes have some lines printed on them, and some don't have any.

On the ones that have lines, the lines may be printed every 15 degrees, every 10 degrees, or

every degree. Whatever lines they decide to print on the map or the globe, that doesn't mean

that those are the only latitudes there are, or the only ones you're allowed to use.

When you measure latitude accurately, you can tell the difference in latitude between two points

that may be only 1 inch apart. That's something like 0.00000023 of a degree of latitude, or

0.00082 of 1 'second' of latitude.

But even that isn't the smallest bit of latitude you're allowed to use. If you want to use slices of

latitude that describe the location to within a millimeter, or within 0.01 inch, you go right ahead.

The first number of latitude north of the equator that's available to you is whatever number you

want to use, no matter how small it is.