The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are the parallels ol latitude that divide the tropics from the temperate zones in the northern and southern hemispheres. The Tropic ol Cancer is the northernmost point at which the sun appears directly overhead; the sun reaches this extreme on the summer solstice each year. The Tropic of Cancer passe,- through 16 countries in the Northern Hemisphere. It also passes through the provinces of Taiwan, Kwangtung, Kwangsi and Yunnan. There are currently nine monuments for the tropic of Cancer in the world, and they are all located between two sides of Taiwan Straight. The Directorate General of Posts has taken the three tropic of Cancer monuments in Taiwan as the topic for a set of three stamps. which is scheduled to be released on June 21, 2000.The stamps will have denominations of NT$5.00, NT$12.00 and NT$25.00. The following is a brief introduction to the designs of the stamps: (1) The Monument of Hsiatiao, Chiayi county: Located in Shuishafig rural county of Chiayi county, this monument was built in 1908 and was the first monument to the tropic of Cancer in the world. The stamp shows the fifth and sixth generation monuments at the site. The fifth is shaped like a three-sided pillar, with characters for "the Monument of the Tropic of Cancer" carved on all three sides, and on the top of the pillar is a coordinate globe, consisting of three interlocking circles. The sixth generation monument is a landmark that looks like an UFO.(2) The Monument of Wuho, Hualien county: Located in Juisui rural county in Hualien county, the top of the monument is sloping and the two sides of the monument bear the phrase "Marking the Tropic of Cancer." At the very the top of the monument is a double-pointed arrow. (3) The Monument of Chingpu, Hualien county: Located in Fengpin, Hualien county, this monument is shaped like a pillar, with "The Tropic of Cancer" carved on it. In the middle of the pillar is a narrow slit.