Question

Define the term horse latitudes.

Answer 1

It is said that Spanish sailors ferrying horses to the West Indies were usually stuck for months in these calm waters and had to throw their horsesinto the water to conserve drinking water for themselves. This led to the term 'horse latitudes'. 

Answer 2

Horse latitudes are the latitudes located 30 degrees above and below the equator. These Latitudes have high pressures due to being near the equator and slow winds.

Explanation:

• These latitudes are called horse latitudes due to mishappenings occurring to the ships crossing these areas.
• The high pressure and slow winds stagnated ships in oceans for months which resulted in the Scarcity of drinkable water on board. Thus to conserve water they threw horses( which they were transporting) Overboard, hence the term “horse latitudes”.