The Equator is the Earth’s line of latitude, defined as the imaginary circle positioned at zero degrees that is equidistant from the North and South Poles. This global belt divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with a circumference of approximately 40,075 kilometers. About 78.7% of this path crosses water, involving the traversal of three of the world’s largest oceanic basins.
The Three Major Oceanic Crossings
The Equator crosses three of the five recognized global oceans. Starting in the Western Hemisphere, the line exits South America and immediately enters the Pacific Ocean, which it traverses for a substantial distance. This crossing occurs near the central Pacific islands, including the territorial waters of Kiribati.
Continuing eastward, the line moves into the Atlantic Ocean, where it separates the northern and southern portions of this body of water. The Atlantic crossing passes near the west coast of Africa, specifically intersecting the Gulf of Guinea. The final major crossing is through the Indian Ocean, where the line tracks across the northern region, passing close to the archipelagic nations of the Maldives and Indonesia.
Key Seas and Gulfs Intersected
Beyond the three main oceans, the Equator’s path is further defined by its passage through several specific, smaller aquatic features. In the Atlantic, the line passes directly through the Gulf of Guinea, a large bay off the coast of West Africa where the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) also intersects the Equator. This intersection point is often referred to as Null Island, though it is merely a point on the ocean surface.
The Equator’s journey through the vast Indonesian archipelago involves crossing numerous smaller, named seas and straits that connect the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Among these are the Makassar Strait, which runs between Borneo and Sulawesi, and the Karimata Strait, which separates Sumatra and Borneo. The line also intersects the Molucca Sea, the Halmahera Sea, and the Gulf of Tomini, highlighting its passage through one of the most complex marine geographies on Earth.
The Terrestrial Journey: Land Masses Crossed
While the Equator is primarily a line of water, its path includes segments that traverse three continents. The journey begins in South America, where the line crosses through Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil. The country of Ecuador derives its name directly from the Spanish word for equator.
The line’s second major land crossing is through Africa, the continent with the highest number of equatorial countries. It passes through Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia, along with São Tomé and Príncipe. Finally, the Equator crosses into Asia, traversing the archipelagos of Indonesia, the Maldives, and Kiribati.