They are situated on the same latitude in the Southern Hemisphere.
Explanation
The geographical location of any place on Earth is defined by its latitude (distance north or south of the Equator) and longitude (distance east or west of the Prime Meridian). This question tests the ability to visualize the latitudinal alignment of major island groups across different oceans.Detailed Analysis:
- Mauritius Islands: Located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. Their latitudinal position is approximately 20° South.
- Tonga Islands: Located in the southern Pacific Ocean. Their latitudinal position is also approximately 20° South.
- Comparison: Since both island groups are situated south of the Equator at roughly the same angular distance, they share the same latitude in the Southern Hemisphere.
Analysis of Incorrect Options:
- They are situated on the same longitude.: They are not on the same longitude. Mauritius is approximately 57° East, while Tonga is approximately 175° West.
- They are situated on the same latitude in the Northern Hemisphere.: Both islands are located south of the Equator, so they are not in the Northern Hemisphere.
- They are located in the Frigid Zone.: Both islands are located within the tropics (Torrid Zone), well north of the Antarctic Circle. The Frigid Zone is located beyond the polar circles (66.5°).
Key Takeaway: Mauritius (Indian Ocean) and Tonga (Pacific Ocean) are geographically aligned on approximately the 20° South latitude.