Equator
From Free net encyclopedia
The equator is an imaginary circle drawn around a planet (or other astronomical object) at a distance halfway between the 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 km, or 24,901.5 miles. Image:WorldMapLongLat-special-lats-emph-Equator-non.png
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 and 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:Equator sign.JPG
Equatorial countries
The equator traverses the land and/or water of 13 countries in total:
- São Tomé and Príncipe - 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"
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, alfish headl 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
ar:خط الاستواء ast:Llínea del Ecuador zh-min-nan:Chhiah-tō bn:নিরক্ষরেখা bs:Ekvator br:Keheder bg:Екватор ca:Línia equatorial cs:Rovník cy:Cyhydedd da:Geografisk ækvator de:Äquator et:Ekvaator es:Línea 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:Egyenlítő ms:Garisan Khatulistiwa nl:Evenaar ja:赤道 no:Ekvator nn:Ekvator pl:Równik pt:Linha do Equador ru:Экватор simple:Equator sk:Rovník sl:Ekvator sr:Екватор sh:Ekvator fi:Päiväntasaaja sv:Ekvatorn tl:Ekwador th:เส้นศูนย์สูตร vi:Xích đạo tr:Ekvator zh:赤道