The equator is an imaginary line, which divides our planet into two equal parts – a northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere.
Its length is about 40 075, 5 kilometers.
It is known as “the zero parallel”.
It crosses three continents – South America, Africa and Asia, as well as three oceans – Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean.
Because of the angle of spinning round of the planet Earth during the year, the sun twice passes over the equator – once on the 21st of March and once on the 23rd of September.
This is the longest parallel on the planet.
On the equator the girt of the planet is biggest, because it has specific shape – slightly flattened from the side of the poles.
The equator crosses the territory of thirteen countries – Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Indonesia and the islands of Sao Tome and Principe, Maldives, Kiribati.
Farthest from the equator is the mainland of Europe.
For example, Crete, which is one of the southern parts of Europe and is located among the waters of the Mediterranean is distanced about 3870km from the equator.
The areas around the equator are really rich of life.
The rainforest are home to thousands of species. ½ of the wildlife of the planet Earth inhabit the areas of the equator.
The full of life tropical rainforests occupies the equatorial areas of three continents – South America, Africa and Asia.
In these parts of the world the rainfall is sudden and regular, and the climate is warm all year around.
The equatorial temperatures vary slightly between 25 and 30°C all year around (the mountains are cooler).
The summer lasts 12 months.
The difference between daily and night temperatures is insignificant.
The equator receive the most of the sun radiation in comparison with the other parts of the Earth.
Here the rays of the sun fall perpendicular to the ground twice of the year.
Except to divide the Earth into two equal parts, the equator is also place where the gravitation field of the planet is changing.
On the both sides of the equator the water is drained into the canal spinning in two different directions.
Moreover, the zero latitude affect also the movement of the hurricanes.
In the north of the equator they are moving to the northwest and in the south of the equator – to the southeast.
