Ciudad Mitad del Mundo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ciudad Mitad del Mundo |
|
|---|---|
The Monument to the Equator
(Monumento a la Mitad del Mundo) |
|
| Type | Museum park and monument |
| Location | San Antonio parish, Quito, Ecuador |
| Operated by | Prefecture of Pichincha |
| Status | Open all year |
The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (which means Middle of the World City) is a special piece of land in Ecuador. It's owned by the government of the Pichincha area. You can find it in San Antonio parish, about 26 kilometers (16 miles) north of the center of Quito, the capital city.
This place is famous for its Monument to the Equator. This monument shows where the Equator is located. The country of Ecuador even gets its name from the Equator! The site also has the Museo Etnográfico Mitad del Mundo. This museum teaches you all about the native people and cultures of Ecuador.
The main monument is 30 meters (98 feet) tall. It was built between 1979 and 1982. It replaced an older, smaller monument from 1936. The monument is made of iron and concrete. It's covered with polished stone called andesite.
This monument celebrates an important event from the 1700s. A group of French and Spanish scientists came here in 1736. They were on a mission to measure the Earth's shape. They wanted to see if the Earth was flatter at the poles. Their work helped us understand our planet better. The older monument was moved 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) away to a town called Calacalí.
The former headquarters of UNASUR (a group of South American nations) was also located here. However, Ecuador left the group in 2019, so the building is not used anymore. It's interesting to know that only two other spots are truly on the Equator nearby. These are the Catequilla archaeological site and the Quitsato Sundial.
The French Equator Mission
The exact spot of the Equator was first explored during a trip in 1736. This trip was called the French Geodesic Mission. The scientists wanted to measure the Earth's shape. They also tried to find the exact location of the Equator.
During their trip, they found old ruins built by the Quitu-Cara culture. These ruins were near where the scientists thought the Equator was. Years later, people realized the scientists were a bit off. Their measurements helped prove the Earth is round but slightly flattened at the poles. However, their Equator line was about 240 meters (787 feet) wrong.
The Catequilla ruins they found were actually at the true Equator line. This was discovered much later.
In 1935, the government of Ecuador built a 10-meter (33-foot) tall monument. It honored the French scientists. In 1972, a new, much taller 30-meter (98-foot) monument replaced it. This is the "Ciudad Mitad del Mundo" monument we see today.
Where is the Real Equator?
For a long time, people believed the Equator passed right through the monument. This was based on older measurements. But modern GPS systems use new data. They show the Equator is actually about 240 meters (787 feet) north of the monument's marked line.
Even so, many tourists love to visit. They take pictures standing on the yellow line at the monument. It's a fun way to imagine being in both hemispheres at once!
The monument itself is shaped like a pyramid. Each side faces a main direction (north, south, east, west). On top, there's a huge globe. It's 4.5 meters (15 feet) wide and weighs 5 tons (11,000 pounds). Inside the monument, there's a small museum. It shows off many items from Ecuadorian culture. You can see traditional clothes and learn about different native groups.
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo has other fun things to do too. There's a planetarium where you can learn about space. There's also a tiny model of Quito city. You can find restaurants and shops selling local crafts. On weekends, the main plaza often has music and cultural shows.
Intiñan Solar Museum
About 200 meters (656 feet) northeast of the main monument is a private museum. It's called the Intiñan Solar Museum. This museum also claims to be on the Equator. However, modern measurements show it's not exactly on the line either.
This museum is mostly for fun and entertainment. Tour guides show visitors "tricks" that are supposedly only possible on the Equator. For example, they might show water draining in different directions. They might also show how easy it is to balance an egg on its end.
However, these tricks can actually be done anywhere on Earth. The small forces they talk about, like the Coriolis force, don't affect things on such a small scale. Balancing an egg is just a matter of practice, not a special Equator trick. Some tour guides at the museum will even tell you the truth about these demonstrations.
See also
In Spanish: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo para niños
