The Earth's surface is known to comprise five main geographical and climatic zones which are essentially defined by the major circles of latitude. The main differences between each of these zones relate to climate distribution as well as the attitude of the Sun. By definition, the positions of the Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, and Antarctic Circle all depend on the tilt of the Earth's rotation axis relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun.

The circles of latitude mark the divisions between the five main geographical zones. These zones are defined as follows:

•	The North Polar Region, located north of the Arctic Circle.
•	The North Temperate Zone, located between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer.
•	The Tropics, located between the north and south Tropical Circles.
•	The South Temperate Zone, located between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle.
•	The South Polar Region, located south of the Antarctic Circle.