Journey to the center of the Earth: life on the equator

The equator is the imaginary line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth. It is the point at which the distance from the North and South Poles is the same. In some ways, the countries on the equator are the most perfectly balanced places on Earth. They have a latitude of 0 degrees and don’t experience seasons, weather, or sunsets quite like the rest of of the world.

Click through this gallery to learn a bit more about these magnificent countries.




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Facts

The equator crosses 13 different countries.




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Facts

They experience the quickest sunrises and sunsets due to its position. The sun can appear and disappear in a matter of minutes.




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Facts

On the equator, the length of days and nights never changes. There are always 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.




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Facts

Almost half of the world’s rainforests are concentrated on the equator.




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Myths

It is mistakenly thought that the weather is the same all along the equator.




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Myths

Temperatures do tend to be very high in these areas, but the weather does change. There are wet and dry seasons, and at one point you can even find snow.




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Myths

Some believe that the moon appears to flip once you cross the equator. Sadly, this isn’t the case!




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Myths

There’s a myth that water spirals down the plug hole in different directions depending on which hemisphere you’re in. Water actually tends to spiral in the direction it first hits the sink.




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Ecuador

Ecuador is home to the highest point on the equator. The Volcán Cayambe is 4,690 meters (15,387 ft) high.




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Ecuador

This is the only place on the equator you can find snow. Technically, you could go skiing at the equator!




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Colombia

The equator cuts through the southern region of Colombia where most of its Amazon rainforest is found.




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Colombia

Colombia has both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, the Andes Mountains, and vast tropical jungles.




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Brazil

Rainforests cover almost 60% of Brazil’s territory. They are home to many indigenous tribes maintaining an ancient way of life.




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Brazil

The Brazilian rainforest contains 56,000 species of plants, some 1,700 bird species, nearly 700 amphibian species, over 575 mammal species, and about 650 reptile species.




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São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe is an island nation made up of two small volcanic archipelagos. It gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.




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Gabon

Gabon is a small country on the west coast of Africa. It gained its independence from France in 1960. Today, Gabon is a major oil producer.




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Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo is covered in vast rainforests and mountain ranges, and is divided by the Congo River.




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Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (not to be confused with Republic of the Congo) is a large country with excellent economic resources. Furthermore, it’s the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa by area.




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Uganda

The equator line across Uganda is a popular destination for tourists, who like to take photos with one foot in either hemisphere.




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Kenya

Kenya is famous for its stunning landscapes and vast wildlife reserves. It’s no surprise that tourism is one of the country’s major sources of revenue.




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Somalia

Somalia is the eastern-most country on the Horn of Africa. It enjoys has the longest coastline on Africa’s mainland countries.




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Maldives

The Maldives are a nation of 1,192 islands that stretch along a length of 871 kilometers (540 miles). Only 200 of the islands are inhabited.




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The Maldives

The crystal clear water and stunning beaches are world famous. They hold 6% of the Earth’s coral reefs, where thousands of species of fish can be found.




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Indonesia

The country of Indonesia consists of more than 17,000 islands, many of which have active volcanoes.




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Indonesia

Indonesia sits on top of a major juncture of the Earth’s tectonic plates. This is why the area is so prone to volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis.




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