Cities on Or Near the Equator

The equator is an imaginary line of latitude on the spheroid (Earth), dividing it into southern and northern hemispheres. On earth, this line is approximately 24,901 miles of which only 21.3% lies on land and the rest on the water. The Equator runs through several countries, mainly in Africa and South America. However, Indonesia (Southeast Asia) is straddled the most by the equator. Here are some of the cities on the equator. Note: cities on or near the equator are not only cities lying on the equator itself but also those located in close proximity

Equatorial Cities

Bogota

Bogota is the largest city and the capital of Colombia, with a population of approximately 8.1 million inhabitants. It is also the largest city on or near the equator, located at 4° 35′ 53″ N, in the southeastern portion of the Bogota savannah. The city experiences a subtropical climate which is usually different from what would be expected of an equatorial city. The reason for the fresh and cool climate is its elevation above the sea level (8,660 feet).

Singapore

With a population of 5.6 million people, Singapore is the second-largest equatorial city and one of the economic centers in Southeast Asia. This island-city state lies at 1° 17′ 0″ N at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore comprises of 63 islands including Pulau Ujong (the main island). It experiences a tropical rainforest climate characterized by abundant rainfall and no distinctive season

Nairobi

Nairobi is Kenya’s capital and largest city with a population of approximately 3.1 million inhabitants. Popularly referred to as the Green City in the Sun, Nairobi is the only capital city in the world with a national park. It is located at 1°17′0″S and covers an area of approximately 270 square miles. At 5,889 feet above the sea level, Nairobi experiences subtropical highland climate

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is a large metropolis on Ecuador’s Pacific coast. It is the country’s second largest city with a population of approximately 2.7 million people. Guayaquil is a port city, situated on the western bank of the Guayas River which drains into the Pacific Ocean. Because of its location near the Gulf of Guayaquil and its soil stratification, the city is constantly hit by earthquakes and tsunamis.

Fortaleza

Fortaleza is a city in Northeastern Brazil located about 1,420 miles from Brasilia. It is one of the largest equatorial cities, with a population of approximately 2.6 million residents. The city experiences a tropical wet and dry climate with relative humidity and high temperatures.

Equatorial Countries

The Equator runs through 11 countries, of which seven are countries in Africa, three in South America, and one in Asia. These countries include Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ecuador, Indonesia, the Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Sao Tome and Principe. Interestingly, the equator does not pass through Equatorial Guinea despite its name. The equator also passes through major water bodies such as the Atlantic Ocean, Lake Victoria, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Tomini, Molucca Sea, Halmahera Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.