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| The yellow line is not the Equator. It's close. But that doesn't stop the fun. |
It is a tourist trap. And I mean that in the best and most enjoyable sense of that phrase.
The French Geodesic Mission, under Kinmg Louis XV of the France, was charged with finding the precise location of the equator. They came to Ecuador because all of the other land masses through which the equator was likely passing was jungle, whether in Brazil or Africa. And it's tough getting precise landmarks in the ever-changing jungle.
This is the walking leading up to the Mitad Del Mundo monument. It is lined with the stone busts of the scientists on the Mission.
In 1735-36, using the absolute best technology available at the time, they calculated the precise location of the equator.
This last bust before the monument is that of French astronomer Charles Marie de la Condamine, the leader of the expedition.
And this is the Mitad Del Mundo monument, completed in 1982, replacing a much smaller, but similar-looking, earlier monument.
And here I am. But I'm not standing astride the yellow line like the trapped tourists do.
The line was busy at the time.
The yellow line marks the precise point where the French Geodesic Mission measured the precise location of the actual true equator to be.
They were off by a couple hundred meters.
You can go up into the monument and look out upon the surrounding area. And down upon the large tourist village that surrounds the monument, with many, many tourist shops selling souvenirs.
I am not going to make fun of the French scientists for getting the location wrong. To the contrary, I think it is absolutely amazing that, given the technology available in the early 18th century, they got this close. It actually was an extraordinary and admirable accomplishment.
You take an elevator to the top of the monument, but you walk down, past interesting displays about Ecuadorian history and culture. This is from the Cuy Festival celebrated somewhere in Ecuador. The picture was necessary because, well, who doesn't like a picture of a guinea pig dressed in native garb?
This one was interesting. This was in the display of indigenous coastal culture in Ecuador, from 1500 years ago. Why does the indigenous art from the year 500 or so include dragons that look exactly like Chinese art from that time period?
Another floor was devoted to myth busting. All those games at the equator you see on youtube? The egg balance is because of the different sizes of the stand. The water flow in the different sinks? It's because, as you can see below, the location of where the water flows out of.
But despite modern GPS technology telling us that the true equator is not on the yellow line, the legend persists.
Next was a trip to the actual true 0 degrees, 0', 0" Equator,
But, first, a dog playing soccer:
This is the true equator. It runs through the shop of a very friendly gentleman. And he charges only $3.00 to see it. Price includes a shot of an anise-flavored rum to down while standing astride the equator.
Well worth the price of admission.
GPS confirmed this was the precise point.
The French Geodesic Mission, under Kinmg Louis XV of the France, was charged with finding the precise location of the equator. They came to Ecuador because all of the other land masses through which the equator was likely passing was jungle, whether in Brazil or Africa. And it's tough getting precise landmarks in the ever-changing jungle.
This is the walking leading up to the Mitad Del Mundo monument. It is lined with the stone busts of the scientists on the Mission.
In 1735-36, using the absolute best technology available at the time, they calculated the precise location of the equator.
This last bust before the monument is that of French astronomer Charles Marie de la Condamine, the leader of the expedition.
And this is the Mitad Del Mundo monument, completed in 1982, replacing a much smaller, but similar-looking, earlier monument.
And here I am. But I'm not standing astride the yellow line like the trapped tourists do.
The line was busy at the time.
The yellow line marks the precise point where the French Geodesic Mission measured the precise location of the actual true equator to be.
They were off by a couple hundred meters.
You can go up into the monument and look out upon the surrounding area. And down upon the large tourist village that surrounds the monument, with many, many tourist shops selling souvenirs.
I am not going to make fun of the French scientists for getting the location wrong. To the contrary, I think it is absolutely amazing that, given the technology available in the early 18th century, they got this close. It actually was an extraordinary and admirable accomplishment.
You take an elevator to the top of the monument, but you walk down, past interesting displays about Ecuadorian history and culture. This is from the Cuy Festival celebrated somewhere in Ecuador. The picture was necessary because, well, who doesn't like a picture of a guinea pig dressed in native garb?
This one was interesting. This was in the display of indigenous coastal culture in Ecuador, from 1500 years ago. Why does the indigenous art from the year 500 or so include dragons that look exactly like Chinese art from that time period?
Another floor was devoted to myth busting. All those games at the equator you see on youtube? The egg balance is because of the different sizes of the stand. The water flow in the different sinks? It's because, as you can see below, the location of where the water flows out of.
But despite modern GPS technology telling us that the true equator is not on the yellow line, the legend persists.
But, first, a dog playing soccer:
This is the true equator. It runs through the shop of a very friendly gentleman. And he charges only $3.00 to see it. Price includes a shot of an anise-flavored rum to down while standing astride the equator.
Well worth the price of admission.
GPS confirmed this was the precise point.
Tourist trap? Yes. Big tourist fun? Hell yes.
Ah, Bob. Another great peak into your amazing adventures. Loved the soccor-playing dog!
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