It's fitting for Ecuador to have its name with the equator running through the country. I learned on my walking tour that the name Quito means the place in the middle. Now how did they figure that out way before everyone else? Simple pole in the ground will tell you the time, and if you watch it all year, you notice trends such as when the shadow gets longer or shorter. They chose Quito to be their captial, almost exactly on the Equator, the spot where you are closest to the sun. Well done people, well done.
This morning I visited the Mitad del Mundo, the exact spot science tells us is the equator. Such a fun feeling to walk from one hemisphere to the other. Pretty darn cool. That feeling was the highlight, but there is a small village of artisan shops, museums and history. Nice to learn more about science and the culture here.
You do way less at the ecuator (approx .5% less). Water does not flush the opposite way in each hemisphere, rather it depends on the force and direction when it enters into the bowl. You can balance an egg supposedly at the ecuator, but I couldn't find any chickens, so that'll have to wait for the next visit.
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