Dig deeper into Leadville's mining town past
The equator crosses 13 different countries.
They experience the quickest sunrises and sunsets due to its position. The sun can appear and disappear in a matter of minutes.
Almost half of the world's rainforests are concentrated on the equator.
It is mistakenly thought that the weather is the same all along the equator.
Temperatures do tend to be very high in these areas, but the weather does change. There are wet and dry seasons, and at one point you can even find snow.
Some believe that the moon appears to flip once you cross the equator. Sadly, this isn't the case!
There's a myth that water spirals down the plug hole in different directions depending on which hemisphere you're in. Water actually tends to spiral in the direction it first hits the sink.
Ecuador is home to the highest point on the equator. The Volcán Cayambe is 4,690 meters (15,387 ft) high.
This is the only place on the equator you can find snow. Technically, you could go skiing at the equator!
The equator cuts through the southern region of Colombia where most of its Amazon rainforest is found.
Colombia has both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, the Andes Mountains, and vast tropical jungles.
Rainforests cover almost 60% of Brazil's territory. They are home to many indigenous tribes maintaining an ancient way of life.
The Brazilian rainforest contains 56,000 species of plants, some 1,700 bird species, nearly 700 amphibian species, over 575 mammal species, and about 650 reptile species.
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island nation made up of two small volcanic archipelagos. It gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.
Gabon is a small country on the west coast of Africa. It gained its independence from France in 1960. Today, Gabon is a major oil producer.
The Republic of the Congo is covered in vast rainforests and mountain ranges, and is divided by the Congo River.
Kenya is famous for its stunning landscapes and vast wildlife reserves. It's no surprise that tourism is one of the country's major sources of revenue.
The Maldives are a nation of 1,192 islands that stretch along a length of 871 kilometers (540 miles). Only 200 of the islands are inhabited.
The crystal clear water and stunning beaches are world famous. They hold 6% of the Earth's coral reefs, where thousands of species of fish can be found.
The country of Indonesia consists of more than 17,000 islands, many of which have active volcanoes.
Indonesia sits on top of a major juncture of the Earth's tectonic plates. This is why the area is so prone to volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
Kiribati is a small nation of 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are under severe threat from climate change as the islands are extremely shallow. Their land may be swallowed up by rising sea levels.
Sources: (Eden) (New Zealand Geographic)
See also: Discover 60 extreme points of Earth
The equator line across Uganda is a popular destination for tourists, who like to take photos with one foot in either hemisphere.
On the equator, the length of days and nights never changes. There are always 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.
Somalia is the eastern-most country on the Horn of Africa. It enjoys has the longest coastline on Africa's mainland countries.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (not to be confused with Republic of the Congo) is a large country with excellent economic resources. Furthermore, it's the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa by area.
The equator is the imaginary line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth. It is the point at which the distance from the North and South Poles is the same. In some ways, the countries on the equator are the most perfectly balanced places on Earth. They have a latitude of 0 degrees and don't experience seasons, weather, or sunsets quite like the rest of of the world.
Click through this gallery to learn a bit more about these magnificent countries.
Journey to the center of the Earth: life on the equator
The unique regions that circle the center of our world
TRAVEL Tropics
The equator is the imaginary line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth. It is the point at which the distance from the North and South Poles is the same. In some ways, the countries on the equator are the most perfectly balanced places on Earth. They have a latitude of 0 degrees and don't experience seasons, weather, or sunsets quite like the rest of of the world.
Click through this gallery to learn a bit more about these magnificent countries.