It takes up to 1000 years for a stalactite to grow 1/2 inch.

What is the Earth's Axis ?

The Earth's axis is an imaginary line between the Poles. The seasons are caused because the Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23°.5 to the plane of it's orbit. The tilt of the Earth's axis affects the amount of sunlight and the length of the day.

Summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer. In June the orientation of the axis is such that the northern hemisphere is pointed towards the sun.

Summer begins in the Southern Hemisphere when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

When the Earth's axis points towards the Sun, it is summer for that hemisphere. When the Earth's axis points away, it is winter for that hemisphere.

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Did you know?

We have seasons because of the way the Earth orbits the Sun.

Less than 1/3 of the Earth is covered by land.

The Earth is not perfectly round, but slightly flattened at the Poles.

Poll