The equator lies a short drive (20km) north of Quito, Ecuador.
At the exact line that separates the northern and southern hemispheres, there is monument and a yellow line painted on the ground. Also at Mitad del Mundo, or middle of the world, there is a small museum with artifacts from each of Ecuador’s ethnic groups. Some of the locals claim that there was a mistake made when they marked the equator and they will show you where the real equator lies… for a price.
Our guide told us that if you stand on the equator you actually weigh less. No explanation was given for this effect and since there wasn’t a scale handy it could not be verified. Regardless of how much you weigh, be sure to have the all-important photo taken of yourself with one foot in the Southern hemisphere and one foot in the Northern hemisphere. You can also pick up souvenirs for the folks back home, perhaps a panama hat or a stuffed toy llama.
Apparently the best day to visit is on a Sunday, when the locals visit and there’s traditional dancing and music.
The best time to visit the equator is during the equinox occurring around March 20 and September 23 each year. At noon the sun is directly overhead and there are no shadows.
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