
A. Not really! Horse latitudes are actually areas in which the winds
blow lightly. They are similar to areas along the equator called "doldrums"
(doldrums means dullness).
The name "horse latitudes" originated when ships from New
England carrying cargoes of horses sailed through these calm areas.
Stranded between ports without enough wind, their water supplies became
dangerously low. The thirsty crews threw horses overboard because they
didn't have enough water to share. Some of the horses had already died
from thirst.
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