Southern Hemisphere

The Southern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that lies south of the Equator. It includes much of the Southern Ocean, large areas of the Pacific and Atlantic, and some of the world’s most distinctive regions — from Australia and New Zealand to southern Africa and South America.

Understanding the Southern Hemisphere helps explain why seasons are reversed across the planet, how daylight changes throughout the year, and how locations relate to one another in global geography.

What Is the Southern Hemisphere?

The Southern Hemisphere includes all locations on Earth that are positioned south of the Equator (0° latitude). Any place with a negative latitude value is in the Southern Hemisphere.

Alongside the Northern, Eastern, and Western Hemispheres, it is one of the primary ways geographers divide and describe the Earth.

Where Is the Southern Hemisphere on Earth?

The Southern Hemisphere stretches from the Equator to the South Pole. It covers:

Australia and New Zealand
Most of Antarctica
Southern South America
Southern Africa
Parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands

Unlike the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere contains far more ocean than land, which strongly influences its climate and weather patterns.

Which Major Cities Are in the Southern Hemisphere?

Although it contains fewer major cities than the Northern Hemisphere, several globally important cities are located in the Southern Hemisphere, including:

Sydney
Melbourne
Auckland
Cape Town
Buenos Aires
Santiago
Rio de Janeiro

These cities experience seasonal patterns that are opposite to those in cities north of the Equator.

Southern Hemisphere Seasons Explained

Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere due to Earth’s axial tilt.

Summer occurs roughly from December to March, when the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun.
Winter occurs from June to September, when it is tilted away from the Sun.

This is why Christmas falls during summer in Australia, while it is winter in Europe and North America.

Southern vs Northern Hemisphere

The most noticeable difference between the Southern and Northern Hemispheres is the timing of seasons.

When it is:

Summer in the Southern Hemisphere → Winter in the Northern Hemisphere
Spring in the Southern Hemisphere → Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere

These opposing seasonal cycles shape global climate, agriculture, and daily life across the planet.

How the Southern Hemisphere Relates to Antipodes

Many locations in the Southern Hemisphere serve as antipodes to cities in the Northern Hemisphere.

Because land is unevenly distributed across Earth, the antipode of a Southern Hemisphere city often falls in the ocean. This imbalance explains why true land-to-land antipodes are rare.

How to Tell If a Place Is in the Southern Hemisphere

A location is in the Southern Hemisphere if:

Its latitude is south (S) of the Equator
Its latitude value is less than 0°

For example:

Sydney: 33.8688° S
Cape Town: 33.9249° S

Both are clearly located in the Southern Hemisphere.

Southern Hemisphere Maps and Visualisation

Maps of the Southern Hemisphere typically highlight the Equator, major latitude lines, and the South Pole. Viewing a place within its hemisphere helps provide context — showing how far south it lies, its distance from the Equator, and its relationship to the rest of the world.