The imaginary line called the equator divides the Earth into two equal parts. It separates the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere. The name comes from the Latin word for equalizer. Although it is only an imaginary line, it is put on globes and maps as if it did exist.

Drawing the equator

The Earth is shaped somewhat like a ball, and it spins around an imaginary straight line called an axis. The Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5° from the vertical (up and down) position. The northern end of this axis lies in the Arctic Ocean and is called the North Pole. The southern end lies in Antarctica and is called the South Pole. The line of the equator is drawn at an equal distance from the two poles. The equator's circumference, or length around, is about 24,900 miles (40,000 kilometers).

The equatorial belt

The areas lying on or near the equator are called equatorial regions. They form a belt around the Earth known as the equatorial belt. The belt passes over oceans and countries.

Starting in the Pacific Ocean and heading west, the belt crosses over Kiribati and Indonesia and reaches the Indian Ocean. It next passes over Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, and South America. Finally it reaches the Pacific Ocean again. The African countries that the belt passes over include Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. The South American countries that lie in the belt are Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. The cities of Macapá in Brazil and Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo lie directly on the equator, as do the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador.

Climate

The areas that lie on or near the equator receive the most amount of sunshine possible all through the year. They often face the longest and warmest summers, with high temperatures, plenty of rainfall, and high humidity. The climate varies some in regions that lie at a great height or near oceans. For instance, the mountains that cover most of Uganda alter its climate. Kenya's climate is made cooler by the nearby Indian Ocean.