Physical Features
The Equator is an imaginary line that circles Earth exactly in the middle, like a belt around the planet’s belly!
Equator - Facts for Kids
Did you know?
Search name of person, animal, place, thing, etc.
Share
Facts About Equator For Kids
The Equator stretches for 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles), which is like walking around Earth‘s middle once!
At the Equator, Earth bulges outward slightly, making our planet look more like a slightly squashed ball than a perfect sphere!
Standing on the Equator means you’re experiencing the fastest rotation on Earth, moving at about 1,037 miles per hour (1,668.89 km/h) as our planet spins!
Cities on the Equator get almost 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night all year — but daylight is a bit longer because sunlight bends in Earth’s air and the Sun looks like a disk, not a point.
The Equator divides Earth into two equal halves: the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere!
If you could dig straight down at the Equator, you’d need to dig approximately 6,378 kilometers (3,963 miles) to reach Earth’s center!
The gravitational pull at the Equator is slightly weaker than at the poles, making objects weigh about 0.5% less!
The Equator crosses three of Earth’s five oceans: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean!
Natural Life
The Amazon Rainforest, Earth’s largest rainforest, stretches near the Equator and is home to more than 3 million species of plants and animals!
Near the Equator, rainforests grow some of the tallest trees on Earth — many over 80 meters (262 feet) tall, about as high as a 25-story building!
The Galápagos Islands sit on the Equator, and their giant tortoises can live well past 100 years — some are thought to reach 150+ years old!
Coral reefs in equatorial/tropical regions are among the marine environments with the highest numbers of fish species.
The Congo Basin, crossed by the Equator, is a green treasure trove with over 10,000 plant species, many found nowhere else on Earth.
Equatorial butterflies can have wingspans as wide as dinner plates, reaching up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) across!
The pygmy tarsier, one of the world’s smallest primates, lives in the montane forests of central Sulawesi, Indonesia — an equatorial region.
Fueled by the constant warmth and moisture near the Equator, some bamboo species can grow up to 91 centimeters (36 inches) in a single day.
Equatorial regions are home to thousands of orchid species, with some countries like Ecuador having over 4,000 species, including many found nowhere else on Earth.
Climate & Weather
Close to the Equator, many places don’t have four seasons like spring, summer, autumn, and winter—instead they often have just two: a wet season and a dry season.
At the Equator, temperatures are usually warm all year — often between 24-35 °C during the day and 20-25 °C at night — though up in the mountains it can get cooler.
Equatorial regions receive the most direct sunlight on Earth, which is why they’re typically the warmest places on our planet!
Rain at the Equator often falls at the same time every day, usually in the afternoon, creating a daily natural clock!
The air at the Equator rises so quickly that it creates a band of clouds that can be seen from space!
Hurricanes and tropical cyclones never form exactly on the Equator because they need Earth’s rotation to start spinning!
The Equator receives more rainfall than almost anywhere else on Earth, sometimes getting more than 3,000 millimeters (118 inches) per year!
Human Connection
Modern scientists use satellites to study the Equator and learn about Earth’s climate and weather patterns!
Many people who live in places near the Equator build their homes on stilts — special tall legs — so their houses stay dry during heavy rains and can stay cooler because air flows underneath.
Ecuador built a big monument called Mitad del Mundo to mark where people believed the Equator was. It’s famous and fun to visit — but today we know it’s about 240 meters south of the real Equator.
Over 700 million people live in countries that the Equator passes through!
Traditional houses near the Equator often have special roof designs that help keep rain out during the wet season!
Scientific Importance
The Equator helps scientists understand how Earth’s atmosphere and oceans move around our planet!
Spacecraft are often launched near the Equator because Earth’s faster rotation there helps rockets use less fuel!
Solar panels near the Equator can produce more electricity than anywhere else because they get so much direct sunlight!
Scientists use the Equator as a reference point to measure and map locations anywhere on Earth!
The Equator’s consistent climate makes it perfect for studying how plants and animals adapt to heat!
Records and Special Facts
The highest point exactly on the Equator is the peak of Volcán Cayambe in Ecuador, reaching 5,790 meters (19,000 feet)!
Sources:
Explore More
Download Worksheet
📝