ekuator

Ekuator, in Indonesian and Malay, refers to the geographic equator. It is the imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth at 0 degrees latitude, the intersection of the Earth's surface with a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis that passes through the planet’s center. As a result, the equator is a great circle that is equidistant from the North and South Poles.

The equator encircles the globe, giving a circumference of about 40,075 kilometers. It crosses multiple countries across three continents, including Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil in the Americas; Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya in Africa; and Indonesia in Asia. The line divides Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Climate along the equator is typically tropical, characterized by high temperatures, high humidity, and substantial rainfall, supporting rich biodiversity. Day lengths are approximately 12 hours year-round, with only minor variation due to atmospheric conditions and location. The consistent insolation along large stretches of the equator contributes to stable, warm conditions, though local weather can vary.

Astronomical and navigational significance includes the Sun being directly overhead at solar noon near the equator during the solstices and equinoxes. The equator also serves as a reference plane for geographic coordinate systems and Earth-centered calculations used in navigation, mapping, and satellite positioning.

Etymology: the word comes from Latin aequator, meaning "equalizer" or "maker of equal." In Indonesian and Malay contexts, ekuator denotes this primary geographic line that encircles the planet.