Equatorial Monuments Around the World

This is a major update of my earlier post on the subject. I am making this new post as it was not very convenient to edit the earlier one.

Major changes made are;

• Eight (8) Seven (7) new locations have been added.

  
  

• Due to the discontinuation of Panoramio, several images in the earlier post, which were mostly obtained from the defunct Panoramio, have now been replaced with similar images from other sources.

  
  

• Dead links in the earlier post have also been corrected.

  
  

---

The Equator is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface approximately equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole and it divides the Earth into two Hemisphere - Northern and a Southern Hemisphere. Although major portion of the Equator lies on ocean however it crosses the land mass mainly in Indonesia, Sumatra, Central Africa and South America.

Monuments and markers have been erected at many locations around the world that lie on the Equator. Some are very large, some are small, and quite a few are just hoardings or signs by the road. I have tried to locate such monuments/markers and these are listed below in sequential order of the movement of the sun from East to West.

Total 47 46 monuments/markers have been located so far. I request my readers to let me know if I have missed out any monument/marker.

Indonesia

1. Kayoa Island, South Halmahera. (added July 10, 2022)
2. Bambanipa, Trans Sulawesi Road, Central Sulawesi.
3. Santan Ulu, Unknown Road, East Kalimantan.
4. Santan Ulu, Bontang-Samarinda Road, East Kalimantan.
5. Long Iram Equatorial Monument, East Kalimantan. (added July 10, 2022)
6. Murung Raya, Central Kalimantan.
7. Pontianak.
8. Sassa Village, Linga Island.
9. P.Lingga Kepri, Mentuda, Linga Island. (added July 10, 2022)
10. Equator Beach, Bekawan, Mandah, Sumatra. (added July 10, 2022)
11. Pangkalan Lesung, AH25 Lintas Road, Sumatra.
12. Lipat Kain, Lipat Kain-Jalan Highway, Sumatra.
13. Koto Alam, Trans Sumatra Highway, Sumatra.
14. Bonjol, Sumatra.
15. Kinali, Kabupaten Pasaman Barat, Sumatra. (added July 10, 2022)
16. Sasak Pasaman Beach, Pasaman, Sumatra. (added July 10, 2022)

Kenya

1. Nanyuki.
2. Ol Pejeta Conservancy, near Nanyuki.
3. Nyaharuru-Nyeri Road.
4. Road C77 near Nyahururu.
5. Unnamed Road near Solai.
6. Nakuru-Sigor Road, Mogotio.
7. Road C55 to Nakuru, near Muserechi.
8. Eldoret-Nakuru Road.
9. Kisumu-Busia Road, Maseno.

Uganda

1. Nabusanke, Masala-Kampala Road.
2. Hima - Katunguru Rd, Kikorongo.

DR Congo

1. Kisangani-Goma (N3) Road near Babogombe.
2. Mbandaka - An historical marker made by the famous Sir Henry Morton Stanley of "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" fame.
3. Makoua.

Gabon

1. Unknown Road between N2 and N3, near Manioc.
2. Libreville-Lambaréné (N1) Road near Kongo.

Atlantic Ocean

1. Islet of Rolas (Ilhéu das Rolas), Sao Tome and Principe Islands.

Brazil

1. Macapá.
2. AP-010, Fonte Nova, Santana, AP.
3. BR-174 Road near Rorainópolis, Roraima.
4. BR-307 near São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas.

Ecuador

1. Unknown Road off E-10 near Marion, Tarapoa, Sucumbios.
2. Unknown Road off E-10, Pacayacu.
3. Sun-Dial Monument, Guachalá, Cayambe.
4. Globe Monument, Guachalá, Cayambe.
5. Pan American Highway (E 35), near Santa Rosa de Pingulmi, Pichincha.
6. Catequilla Archaeological Site, San Antonio. (added July 10, 2022)
7. The "un-official" Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth), San Antonio.
8. The "official" Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth), San Antonio.
9. The old Equator Monument, Calacalí, Ecuador.
10.  E-15, Pedernails, Ecuador.  (added July 11, 2022)

Given below are the image(s) and location of above listed monuments/markers;

1. Kayoa Island, South Halmahera, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is Anggita Priraharjo

Google Maps

Source of info: news.detik.com

2. Bambanipa, Trans Sulawesi Road, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is by 21. Daniel Felix Ramandei

The monument depicts the shape of the island of Sulawesi.

Google Street View

3. Santan Ulu, Unknown Road, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Google Maps (Likely location based on Panoramio).

4. Santan Ulu, Bontang-Samarinda Road, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is by Ra Otw

More info: Wikipedia.

Google Maps

5. Long Iram Equatorial Monument, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

A red and white pillar marker in the village of Long Iram Kota.

Image from Wikimedia Commons is by Ezagren

Google Maps

Source of info: Indonesian Wikipedia

6. Murung Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

This monument is located in dense forest in the Tumbang Olong village, District Uut Danum, Murung Raya regency, Central Kalimantan. It was built in 2001 by a timber company.

Image from Google Maps is Biak Bayak

Google Maps

More information: centralborneo.net / kalteng.antaranews.com

7. Pontianak, Indonesia.

Image from Flickr is by baka_neko_baka

Google Maps

8. Sassa Village Equator Sign, Linga Island, Indonesia.

A simple nondescript sign. It can't get simpler than this!

Google Maps

9. P.Lingga Kepri Monument, Mentuda, Linga Island, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is by Novaria Ningtias

Google Maps

10. Equator Beach, Bekawan, Mandah, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is by sana sini

Google Maps

11. Pangkalan Lesung, AH25 Lintas Road, Sumatara, Indonesia.

Image from Flickr is by Bang Ardin

Google Maps

12. Lipat Kain, Lipat Kain-Jalan Highway, Sumatara, Indonesia.

Five monuments have been built at the spot. The first, just a marker, was installed in the 1970s and the current monument was built in late 2019.

Pictured below are the last three versions, including the latest.

3rd version built in 1990s.

Image from Flickr is by JAAFAR AMIL

4th version built in 2000s.

Image from Google Maps is by Dean R

Latest (5th) version built in late 2019.

Image from Google Maps is by dewi lestari

Google Street View. The GSV imagery being old (Sept. 2016) shows the 4th version.

Source of information and more: lipatkainselatan.desa.id

13. Koto Alam, Trans Sumatra Highway, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is by Adnan Photology

Google Street View

14. Bonjol, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Besides the monument there are other markers/signs also at this location.

Image from Google Maps is by Toshio Watanabe

Image from Flickr is by katerina

Image from Google Maps is by Jaap Berghuis

Sign on the Pedestrian Bridge at the Equator.

Image from Google Maps is by Hilzon

Google Maps

15. Kinali, Kabupaten Pasaman Barat, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is by Bung Pramono

Google Street View

16. Sasak Pasaman Beach, Pasaman, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Image from Google Maps is by John Powszedny

Goggle Street View

17. Nanyuki, Kenya.

Billboard on both sides of the road.

Image from Flickr is by Mara 1

Google Street View

18. Ol Pejeta Conservancy, near Nanyuki, Kenya.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 90,000-acre (360 km2) not-for-profit wildlife conservancy in Central Kenya's Laikipia County. It is situated on the Equator west of Nanyuki.

Image from Google Maps is by H H

Google Maps

19. Nyaharuru-Nyeri Road, Kenya.

Google Street View

20. Road C77 near Nyahururu, Kenya.

Image from Google Maps is by Mwari wa Njuguna

Google Street View

21. Unnamed Road near Solai, Kenya.

Google Maps (Location based on Panoramio)

22. Nakuru-Sigor Road, Mogotio, Kenya.

Besides the usual road sign there is a monument also in the shape of globe.

Image from Google Maps is by Linda De Volder

Image from Google Maps is by Kimathi Brian K

Google Street View

23. Road C55 to Nakuru, near Muserechi, Kenya.

Google Maps (Location based on Panoramio)

24. Eldoret-Nakuru Road, Kenya.

Image from Google Maps is by MASITSAH

Google Street View

25. Kisumu-Busia Road, Maseno, Kenya.

Image from Wikimedia Commons is by Omondi

Google Street View

26. Nabusanke, Masala-Kampala Road, Uganda.

Image from Google Maps is by יוסי יעקובי

There is a similar monument on the other side of the road with N S inscribed at the bottom instead of S N.

Google Street View

27. Hima - Katunguru Rd, Kikorongo, Uganda.

Located in Queen Elizabeth National park. The basic design of this monument is same as the one at Nabasunke, Masala-Kampala Road, Uganda (#26) and here also there is a similar monument on the other side of the road.

Image from Google Maps is by Justin Hopkins

Google Street View

28. Kisangani-Goma (N3) Road near Babogombe, DR Congo.

Google Maps (Location based on Panoramio)

29. Stanley's Equator Stone (Historic), Mbandaka, DR Congo.

Mbandaka town was founded in 1883 by Sir Henry Morton Stanley of "Dr.Livingstone, I presume?" fame, who had given it the name "Équateurville". Stanley had placed a large "Equator Stone" near the Congo river bank south of the city to mark the point where he believed the Equator crossed the river. The rock however is about 2,800 metres north of geographical Equator.

Image from Google Maps is by Sinayoko Abdoulaye

Google Maps (Stanley's Equator Stone) / Google Maps (Geographical Equator)

Note: I couldn't find any marker/monument on the actual Equator line in Mbandaka. Perhaps some of my readers can inform me if there is one in this town.

Source of info: Wikipedia

30. Makoua, DR Congo.

Image from Google Maps is by Gaëtan Soltesz

Google Maps

31. Unknown Road between N2 and N3, near Manioc, Gabon.

Image from Flickr is by jbdodane

Google Maps (Location based on Flickr)

32. Libreville-Lambaréné (N1) Road near Kongo, Gabon.

Image from Flickr is by David Stanley

Google Maps

Credits: I am thankful to Yves Galipeau, a poster in defunct Panoramio, for his e-mail confirming the location of this marker.

33. Islet of Rolas (Ilhéu das Rolas), Sao Tome and Principe.

Image from Google Maps is by Agnieszka Kwapień

Google Street View

34. Macapá, Brazil.

Image from Google Maps is by Vanderlan Alves

"Milton de Souza Correia" (aka Zerao) football stadium is located adjacent to the monument. Its midfield line lies exactly on the Equator. (Wikipedia).

Google Street View

35. AP-010, Fonte Nova, Santana, Brazil.

Simple small markers on both sides of the road.

Google Street View

36. BR-174 Road near Rorainópolis, Roraima, Brazil.

Image from Google Maps is by amarildo Varela

Google Street View

37. BR-307 near São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas, Brazil.

A small marker with line and explanatory map.

Image from Google Maps is by Luam Silva

Image from Google Maps is by Luciano Ramos Katzenstein

Google Maps

38. Unknown Road off E-10 near Marion, Tarapoa, Sucumbios, Ecuador.

A road sign in bad shape.

Google Maps (location based on above Panoramio picture)

39. Unknown Road off E-10, Pacayacu, Ecuador.

Image from Google Maps is by Cristhian Díaz

Google Maps

40. Sun-Dial Monument, Guachalá, Cayambe, Ecuador.

This monument, in the shape of a giant sundial, is in Guachalá, Cayambe, Ecuador. Reportedly, it is the only monument in Ecuador built exactly on the Equator line. The sundial's official name is the Quitsato Sundial, and it is part of the Quitsato Project, a non-profit project which uses its funds for the investigation of the Equatorial line.

Image from Google Maps is by Juan Carlos Chávez Vallejo.

Image from Google Maps is by Karen Silva

A signboard has also been placed on the nearby road.

Image from Google Maps is by Jose Ushiña

Google Street View.

41. Globe Monument, Guachalá, Cayambe, Ecuador.

About 200 metres (~650 ft.) south of the Solar Clock monument at Guachalá, Cayambe, there is another Equatorial monument in the shape of a globe.

.

Image from Google Maps is by Maxime Revel.

Google Street View.

42. Pan American Highway (E 35), near Santa Rosa de Pingulmi, Pichincha, Ecuador.

A simple road sign.

Google Maps (Location based on Panoramio)

43. Catequilla Archaeological Site, San Antonio, Ecuador.

Remarkably, the ancient Inca archaeological site of Mount Catequilla is located on the Equator itself. Using WGS 84, the most exact and up-to-date global positioning system, it was discovered that the peak of the Mount Catequilla archaeological site is located exactly at zero latitude (0º 0' 0"). It is the only ancient site that is located precisely at the Equator.

Image from Google Maps is by David Cardenas

Google Maps

Source of info: Wikipedia

44. The "un-official" Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth), San Antonio, Ecuador.

There are two Equatorial monuments in San Antonio, Quito. This is the unofficial one and is closer to the Equator as compared to the official one which is about 200 meters South-West of this location (see #45) below.).

The private Intiñan Museum, located nearby on the Equator, showcases various facets of Ecuadorian culture. It also offers a variety of hands-on displays that illustrate phenomena which are supposedly possible only on the Equator. These include the intricate Coriolis Effect, as well as straightforward yet fascinating demonstrations like water flowing down a drain without a whirlpool and eggs balanced on a nail etc.

Image from Google Maps is by 過路遊客.

Image from Google Maps is by nir harari

Google Maps

45. The "official" Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth), San Antonio, Ecuador.

Based on the tools available in the 1930s, a 10 metre (~33 ft.) tall monument was built in 1936 at this location. In 1979, the old monument was moved about 7 km (~4.34 miles) to the west, to the town of Calacalí, (see #46), and a larger replica of the original monument was made at this site, although it was and remains about 200 metres away from the Equator. This slightly mislocated monument is the official and touristy monument and is called "Mitad del Mundo" (Middle of the World).

Image from Google Maps is by Álvaro Jr. Peña Teràn.

Google Street View

Source of info: Wikipedia

46. The old Equator Monument, Calacalí, Ecuador.

This monument was originally at San Antonio, about 7 km (~4.34 miles) to the east, but in 1979 it was shifted to Calacalí, and was re-located near to but not on the true Equator line. Its larger-scale replica was built from the ground up on the original site in San Antanio (see # 45).

Image from Google Maps is by Marilyn Santamaria

Google Street View

47. E-15, Pedernails, Ecuador.

A hoarding on the Highway E15 in the town of Pedernales.

Image source: Google Street View

---

View all the locations in Google Earth

---

Acknowledgement:

The main source of information for my earlier version of this collection were the images posted on the (now defunct) Panoramio. Most of the images in the earlier post were also from Panoramio. With the discontinuation of Panoramio, I have now replaced these images mainly with those from Google Maps. I am thankful to all those users who shared their images of these Equatorial Monuments and Markers on Panoramio as well as on Google Maps and Google Earth. It would have been almost impossible for me to find most of the locations without their pictures.

I am also thankful to my Google Earth Community Forums' friends, hhgygy, krenek, smask, and Walter for suggesting some new locations and/or finding detailed information about some of the locations.