- Address: Manuel Cordova Galarza, Quito, Ecuador;
- Official website: mitaddelmundo.com;
- Phone: +593 2-239-4803;
- Working hours: without days off from 9 to 18.
To be on the border that connects the southern and northern hemisphere - the task is more than feasible. All that is necessary is to arrive in the Ecuadorian capital, the city of Quito , and visit the famous monument "Mid-World" - a landmark that is the pride of Ecuador.
Facts about the construction of the Monument of the Mid-World
In general, the line of the equator crosses not one country and far from one city. However, Ecuador is particularly proud of its unique geographical location precisely for this reason. The official name of the monument in the translation sounds like "Republic of the equator", but the term "Mid-World" is most often used. The line of the equator was discovered, and then designated during the expedition, which was headed in 1736 by the researcher Charles Marie de la Condamine. For 10 years he conducted measurements in Ecuador before discovering the intersection of two sides of the world. In 1936 the construction of the monument, timed to the 200th anniversary of the first geodetic expedition, was completed. Some time later, already in 1979, this monument was replaced by a 30-meter monument made of iron and concrete in the shape of a pyramid, the top of which is decorated with a ball 4.5 meters in diameter and weighing 5 tons. It is in this form of its kind that the monument to the equator has survived to this day. It is interesting that many visitors of this place do not even know the fact that during the construction of the monument there were errors in the calculations, and in reality the true line of the equator is located 240 meters from this monument.
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To tourists on a note
The monument, which became the symbol of the middle of the world, is located in the town of San Antonio. Thousands of tourists come here, for whom the very fact of being in place, connecting the two sides of the world, seems astounding. Before the monument in height of 30 meters the line is designated - this is the middle of the world. At this point, all the tourists hurry to take photos, standing with their right foot in the Northern Hemisphere, and left - in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoying the exterior grandiose view of the monument, you can go to the museum, located inside the monument. There are ethnic collections that tell about the culture of Ecuadorians, their life and way of life.
Getting to the destination is very simple:
- It is necessary to sit in the center of Quito on the metro bus, which goes along a blue branch.
- Then you should go to the station of Ophelia.
- After that you need to take the bus "Mitad del Mundo", and on it already reach straight to the middle of the Equator.
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