Standing on the Equator

So we are in Ecuador which of course gets its name from the Equator. Well it would be rude not to!

After our early flight we arrived in Quito by 9.30. We saw impressive mountains including an active volcano from the flight (see video - look for the eruption at the very end to left of Glacier).

On our way to Mindo where we are staying for 5 nights we stopped off at Mitad Del Mundo. This is the place where they calculated the equator to be in 1736. They built an impressive monument and there is a line.

Unfortunately modern measurements calculate the true equator a mere 250m away. Still quite accurate for the time! So we had to go there too. The real equator is much more off the tourist track but they do still have a line!

One amazing piece of trivia (credit to Find Penguins map). Today is the first time we are further from home than when we were in Mexico. All due to curvature of the earth apparently.Read more