Ecuador is named after an invisible line. It divides the northern and southern hemispheres. But have you seen the Monumento Maya?
The Monumento Maya stands as a testament. It marks Ecuador’s unique geographical location. It’s known as the “middle of the world” or “mitad del mundo.” Quito is the major city closest to the equatorial line. This made it practical to develop a monument around it. Ecuador’s altitude makes the location even more unique.
The equator is the reference point for latitude. It lies perpendicular to the Earth’s axis. The distance from the equator to each pole is the same. This spot has unique features. These are the equatorial bulge and a weaker gravitational pull.
The equatorial bulge results from Earth’s wider diameter at the equator. Rotation causes this bulge. The diameter is wider by approximately 42 kilometers. Gravitational pull is weaker at the equator than at the poles.
Pre-Columbian cultures knew their positioning in the middle of the world. The Quitu culture took its name from it. “Qui” means middle. “Tu” means earth. They used a sundial before the French mission. The French mission came to study the line in the 18th century.
The “Mitad del Mundo” monument commemorates the first Geodesic Mission. The French Academy of Sciences determined the equatorial line in 1736. “Geodesic” originally meant the shortest line between two points. It became the science of measuring Earth’s size and shape.
This mission was significant. It sought to enlighten the 18th-century scientific community. It was the first major international scientific expedition. The French Academy of Sciences sent two expeditions. One went to Lapland. The other went to Ecuador. France enlisted Spain’s help. Spain had a presence in South America.
The monument commemorates this mission. It employed modern scientific principles. An earlier monument was built in 1936. It was smaller and off by a few hundred feet. Today’s monument is a 30-meter tower. It holds up a giant globe. The monument is surrounded by a plaza. The four cardinal directions are imprinted on stones. A bright yellow line runs down the middle. People stand on it with one foot on each side.
The monument is impressive. It is misplaced by approximately 240 meters. It’s south of the actual equator line. The actual equator line didn’t lend itself to building such a monument. The French Mission’s measurements were outsmarted by GPS devices.
The area around the Monumento Maya has artisanal shops. There are also cafés and restaurants. You can find a planetarium. There is also a craft beer museum. The monument honors the scientific engagement sparked by the equatorial line.
Remember the invisible line made visible by Ecuador. Take a photo with one foot in each hemisphere.