The equator crosses more than a dozen countries spread across three continents.

The longer version

An imaginary line drawn halfway between the poles girdles the planet, and it happens to pass through many states across South America, Africa and the islands of Southeast Asia. Borders were drawn without regard to such a line, so it cuts across them in arbitrary ways. No single country controls the whole circle.

Places near it receive strong, steady sunlight year round, which keeps temperatures high and seasons mild. Rainfall depends more on wind patterns and altitude than on latitude itself, so conditions vary from wet forest to dry savanna. Days and nights stay close to twelve hours long throughout the year. Some towns mark the line with monuments for visitors.

Where this entry sits

These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.