The Calms of Cancer and of Capricorn separate the belts of prevailing westerly winds from the Trade Wind belt. They are regions of high pressure and usually of cloudless skies. Vessels from ports of Europe and the United States crossed the Calms of Cancer when making West Indian ports. These calms were therefore a great drawback to commerce. Steam navigation has eliminated the waste of time and the loss of jettisoned cargoes;[1] but conditions more or less detrimental, which humanity cannot overcome, still exist. Much of the southwestern
Winds of the Atlantic.
part of the United States and northern Mexico are covered by the high-pressure Calms of Cancer, and, at a little distance from the ocean coasts, rain-bearing winds are infrequent. Similarly, the sparse rainfall of parts of South America is due to the Calms of Capricorn.
Local Winds.—The local winds of a region appeal to a community more forcibly than do the general movements. One may not appreciate the fact that the habitability of a region
- ↑ On various occasions vessels whose cargoes consisted of horses were becalmed in this region. When the supply of water gave out the horses were thrown overboard—hence the name “horse latitudes.”
