Facts About the Equator:

• The region has the world's greatest concentration of human poverty and natural biodiversity.
• Almost half the world's rainforests are concentrated on the equator in just three countries: Brazil, Congo and Indonesia.
• The Sun - in its seasonal movement - traverses directly over the equator twice each year, on the spring and vernal equinoxes.
• Locations along the equator experience the fastest rates of sunrise and sunset on the planet. The transition from day to night takes only minutes.
• The lengths of day/night time vary very little, while more northerly and southerly locations can vary enormously.
• Season-long days and nights are a feature of life at the Poles.