Mapmakers draw some lines on maps that you cannot see on the ground. The most famous one goes around the middle of Earth.
Key idea
The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of Earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole.
Why it works
Earth spins around an imaginary line through the poles. The equator is the circle exactly halfway between them. Its name comes from "equal": it cuts Earth into two equal halves. It is about 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) around.
Worked example: Where does it go?
Which two continents does the equator cross in the middle of the map?
- Follow the line from left to right.
- It crosses South America, then the Atlantic Ocean, then Africa.
Answer: South America and Africa.
Common mistake
Some children think the equator is a real line painted on the ground. It is imaginary. In a few places people have put up signs or a painted line for visitors, but the line itself is just a way to find places.
For the grown-up. Put a rubber band around the middle of a ball. That is the equator. Mark a dot on top for the North Pole and a dot underneath for the South Pole.