It’s an imaginary line, a simple circle of 0° latitude drawn on our globes. Yet, the Equator is a place of profound physical and cultural significance. It bisects our planet into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and along its 24,901-mile journey, it carves a path through dense rainforests, towering mountains, sprawling cities, and vast oceans. This is the belt of the Earth where the sun shines most directly, leading to consistently warm temperatures and the phenomenon of the equinox, where day and night are almost exactly equal in length year-round.
But the Equator is more than a geographical abstraction. It’s a real place, passing through 13 sovereign nations, each with a unique relationship to this line. Let’s embark on a journey from west to east, mapping the Equator’s path across the globe and discovering the incredible worlds it touches.
The South American Start
Our journey begins on the Pacific coast of South America, where the Equator gives a country its very name.
Ecuador
From the Spanish word for “equator”, Ecuador is the quintessential equatorial nation. Just outside its capital, Quito, the famous Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument draws tourists who delight in straddling the painted yellow line. Interestingly, modern GPS technology has revealed the true Equator lies about 240 meters north, at the private Intiñan Solar Museum, where visitors can try balancing an egg on a nail head—a feat supposedly easier at 0° latitude. Beyond these attractions, the Equator slices through Ecuador’s diverse geography, from the volcanic peaks of the Andes to the dense, biodiverse Amazon rainforest in the east.
Colombia
Heading east, the Equator clips the southern part of Colombia. This region is a world away from the bustling cities of Bogotá and Medellín. Here, the line crosses a landscape dominated by the Amazon rainforest. It’s a land of immense rivers, including the Caquetá (a tributary of the Amazon), and is home to numerous indigenous communities whose cultures are deeply intertwined with the forest’s ecosystem.
Brazil
The Equator’s South American journey concludes in Brazil. It spans the northern states, including Amazonas and Roraima, but most notably Amapá. The Equator passes directly through Amapá’s capital, Macapá, making it a unique urban center. The city boasts the Marco Zero monument and a football stadium, Estádio Milton Corrêa, where the midfield line is said to align perfectly with the Equator, meaning each team defends one hemisphere.
An African Crossing
The Equator’s longest overland stretch is across Africa, crossing seven nations and showcasing a staggering diversity of landscapes and ecosystems.
São Tomé and Príncipe
Our first stop in Africa is the small island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea. The Equator doesn’t cross the main island but passes directly through a tiny, idyllic islet to the south called Ilhéu das Rolas. A monument marks the spot on this volcanic, forest-covered isle, a testament to the nation’s unique geographical position.
Gabon
Moving to the mainland, we enter Gabon, a country where over 85% of the territory is covered by rainforest. As the line traverses the country, it passes through lush, protected landscapes like Lopé National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its large populations of gorillas and chimpanzees. Gabon’s commitment to conservation makes its equatorial region a true natural treasure.
Republic of the Congo & Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Equator continues through two neighboring nations that share a name. First, the Republic of the Congo, then the vast Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Both are dominated by the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest. The line crosses the mighty Congo River multiple times on its path through the DRC, passing near the city of Mbandaka, which has its own “Equator stone” marker from the colonial era.
Uganda
In Uganda, the “Pearl of Africa”, the Equator passes through the country’s south, including over the waters of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. One of the most popular places to see the line is in Kayabwe, on the road to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, local entrepreneurs perform the famous Coriolis effect demonstration, showing how water drains in opposite directions on either side of the line—a fun, albeit scientifically simplified, tourist spectacle.
Kenya
Perhaps one of the most remarkable geographical phenomena occurs in Kenya. The Equator slices through the country just north of Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa. The incredible result? Glaciers on the Equator! This high-altitude anomaly showcases the powerful influence of elevation on climate. The town of Nanyuki has become a popular stop for those looking to stand in two hemispheres at once.
Somalia
The Equator’s final African crossing is over the southern tip of Somalia, near the port city of Kismayo. Here, the lush rainforests of Central Africa give way to a more arid, coastal landscape defined by scrubland and the Jubba River, which flows into the Indian Ocean.
Islands of Asia and the Pacific
Leaving Africa behind, the Equator embarks on a long journey across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, touching down on the archipelagos of Asia.
The Maldives
The line doesn’t cross any major land in the Maldives but passes through its southernmost atolls, specifically the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. For this low-lying nation of coral islands, the Equator is less a line on land and more a demarcation in the vast, biodiverse marine environment. It also highlights the nation’s extreme vulnerability to sea-level rise, a critical issue for all low-lying equatorial regions.
Indonesia
The Equator finds significant land again in the sprawling archipelago of Indonesia. It cuts across several major islands, including Sumatra, Borneo (known as Kalimantan in Indonesia), and Sulawesi. This path creates some of the most biodiverse hotspots on the planet, home to orangutans, pygmy elephants, and countless other species. The city of Pontianak in West Kalimantan is one of the largest cities located directly on the Equator, and it celebrates the biannual equinox with cultural festivals when the sun is directly overhead.
Kiribati
Our journey ends in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, in the island nation of Kiribati. This nation of 33 coral atolls and reef islands is scattered across an enormous area of ocean. The Equator passes through many of its islands in the Gilbert and Phoenix island groups. Kiribati holds the unique distinction of being the only country in the world to sit in all four hemispheres (Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western), making it a true crossroads of the globe.
A Line That Connects Us All
From Andean glaciers to Pacific atolls, the Equator is far more than a simple line of latitude. It is a vibrant, life-giving belt that encircles our planet, defining climates, nurturing unparalleled biodiversity, and shaping the cultures of the 13 nations it touches. Tracing its path reveals a world of stunning geographical diversity and reminds us of the profound connections that link these unique places together.