Equator in Ecuador

On our planet, there are not many places through which passes the equator. Despite the fact that its length is 40075 km., it intersects only 11 countries. And only in one country it passes through the mountains, in Ecuador, which was named in honor of the equator. Due to the mountains the temperature at the equator in Ecuador is quite comfortable, while in all other places, it is approximately 33 degrees Celsius.

In 1736 a French expedition calculated the position of the equator. 200 years later, in 1936, a huge monument was erected in honor of this event. The place was called Mitad del Mundo (the center of the world).

With the advent of modern technology, scientists have determined that the exact line of the Equator lies about 240 meters north-west from the monument. This place is called Intiñan Solar Museum and there is much more interesting than near the monument.




Equator in general is very interesting place. Since most of the inhabitants of the earth are living above or below it we don't know many unusual properties. For example, the temperature on the equator is almost the same during a year. So, living in Quito or in Singapore, you will live with almost constant temperature, which is very unusual for a resident of the United States or Europe.

But the most miracles begin in the museum, which you can visit with a guided tour. Sundials at the equator are vertical, not horizontal.


Chicken egg can be put on a nail. Nastya, by the way, did it and got a certificate :)


But the most unusual and famous experiment is associated with water. Pour water into the sink and throw a couple of leaves, flush. On the equator leaves will not move! Repeat actions 2 meters to the north. Water will swirl and the leaves will spin. Now do the same in the southern hemisphere, the whirlpool will twist in the opposite direction! It all seems incredible and there are plenty of skeptics, even among scientists, who scientifically proved that the Coriolis force can not affect on such a small distance. But we've seen it :)


In the museum live cute Cuy, which actually are the food food for Ecuadorians.




Getting there: From the center of Quito on the blue line of Metrobus go to the Ophelia station, then take a bus to the "Mitad del Mundo". Taxi from Quito will cost you $50-60 return.