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Equator
*** Shopping-Tip: Equator
The '''equator''' is an imaginary
circle drawn around a
planet (or other
astronomical object) at a distance halfway between the
Geographical pole poles. The equator divides the planet into a
Northern Hemisphere and a
Southern Hemisphere. The
latitude of the equator is, by definition, 0°. The length of
Earth's equator is about 40,075.0
kilometre km, or 24,901.5
mile miles.
The equator is one of the five main
circles of latitude based on the relationship of the Earth's
rotation and plane of
orbit around the sun. Additionally, the equator is the only line of latitude which is also a
great circle.
The
Sun, in its
seasonal movement through the sky, passes directly over the equator twice each
year on the
vernal point Vernal and
autumnal equinox Autumnal Equinoxes, which occur in March and September respectively. At the equator, the rays of the sun are
perpendicular to the surface of the earth on these dates.
Places near the equator experience the quickest rates of
sunrise and
sunset in the world, taking minutes. Such places also have a relatively constant amount of day/night time on every day throughout the year compared with more northerly or southerly places.
Image:WorldMapLongLat-special-lats-emph-Equator-non.png 300px|thumb|
Equatorial climate
In many
Tropics tropical regions people identify two
seasons, wet and dry, but most places very close to the equator are wet throughout the year, although seasons can vary depending on a variety of factors including elevation and proximity to an
ocean.
Image:equator_sign.JPG right|thumb|250px|In tourist areas, the equator is often marked on the sides of roads
The surface of the Earth at the equator is mainly
ocean.
The highest point on the Equator is 4,690 m, at [http://kvaleberg.com/extensions/mapsources/index.php?params=00_00_00_S_77_59_31_W_region:EC_scale:100.000
77°59′31" W] on the south slopes of
Cayambe (volcano) Volcán Cayambe (summit 5,790 m) in
Ecuador. This is a short distance above the
snow line, and is the only point on the Equator where snow lies on the ground (
Google Earth satellite data and photos).
Equatorial countries
The equator traverses the land and/or water of 13
country countries in total:
*
São Tomé and PrÃncipe - passing through
Ilhéu das Rolas, an
islet in this archipelago
*
Gabon
*
Republic of the Congo
*
Democratic Republic of Congo
*
Uganda - including some islets in
Lake Victoria
*
Kenya
*
Somalia
*
Maldives - misses every
island, passing between
Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and
Gnaviyani Atoll
*
Indonesia - crosses many islands, most notably
Sumatra,
Borneo,
Sulawesi, and
Halmahera
*
Kiribati - misses every island, passing between
Aranuka and
Nonouti Atolls in the
Gilbert Islands
*
Ecuador - including
Isabela Island in the
Galápagos Islands
*
Colombia
*
Brazil - including some islands in the mouth of the
Amazon River
Contrary to its name, no part of
Equatorial Guinea lies on the equator.
"Crossing the Line"
{{mainarticle|Line-crossing ceremony}}
Seafaring tradition maintains that all sailors who cross the equator during a nautical voyage must undergo rites of passage and elaborate rituals initiating them into The Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep. These rituals date back to the Middle Ages, though the current ceremonies are most likely derived from
Viking traditions. Those who have never "crossed the line" are derisively referred to as "pollywogs" or simply "slimy wogs". Upon entering the domain of His Royal Majesty, Neptunus Rex, all wogs are subject to various initiation rituals performed by those members of the crew who have made the journey before. Upon completion of the initiation ceremony, the wogs are then known as "trusty Shellbacks". If the crossing of the equator is done at the
180th meridian, the title of "Golden Shellback" is conferred, recognizing the simultaneous entry into the realm of the Golden Dragon. If the crossing occurs at the Greenwich or
Prime Meridian, the sailor is considered to be an "Emerald Shellback".
See also
*
Thermal equator
{{Commons2|Equator}}
Category:Lines of latitude
Category:Spherical astronomy
als:Äquator
ar:خط الاستواء
ast:LlÃnea del Ecuador
zh-min-nan:Chhiah-tÅ?
bs:Ekvator
br:Keheder
bg:Екватор
ca:LÃnia equatorial
cs:RovnÃk
cy:Cyhydedd
da:Geografisk ækvator
de:Äquator
et:Ekvaator
es:LÃnea ecuatorial
eo:Ekvatoro
eu:Ekuatore
fr:Équateur (ligne équinoxiale)
fy:Evener
gl:Ecuador terrestre
io:Equatoro
id:Khatulistiwa
is:Miðbaugur
it:Equatore
he:קו המשווה
lt:Pusiaujas
hu:EgyenlÃtÅ‘
ms:Garisan Khatulistiwa
nl:Evenaar
ja:赤�
no:Ekvator
nn:Ekvator
pl:Równik
pt:Linha do Equador
ru:Ðкватор
simple:Equator
sk:RovnÃk
sl:Ekvator
sr:Екватор
sh:Ekvator
fi:Päiväntasaaja
sv:Ekvatorn
tl:Ekwador
th:เส้นศูนย์สูตร
vi:XÃch đạo
tr:Ekvator
zh:赤�
*** Shopping-Tip: Equator
