Several countries are crossed by the equator, meaning that they are directly located on or very close to the equator line. Here are the countries that are crossed by the equator:
Ecuador: The country of Ecuador is named after the equator and is the only country in the world that is named after a geographical feature. The equator passes through the northern part of Ecuador, and the capital city of Quito is just a few kilometers south of the equator line.
Brazil: The equator passes through the northern region of Brazil. The Brazilian cities of Macapá, Belém, and Manaus are located near or directly on the equator.
Colombia: The equator crosses a small portion of Colombia near the town of Lago Agrio, in the Sucumbíos province.
São Tomé and Príncipe: This island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western coast of Africa, is located right on the equator.
Gabon: A significant part of Gabon, a country in Central Africa, lies on the equator. The equator passes through the Ivindo National Park in Gabon.
Republic of the Congo: The equator runs through the northern part of the Republic of the Congo, a country in Central Africa.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: The equator crosses a significant portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Central Africa. Some of the major Congolese cities along the equator include Mbandaka, Kisangani, and Bunia.
It's important to note that while these countries are directly on or near the equator, the line itself may not pass through all parts of the country. The equator is an imaginary line that encircles the Earth's middle and divides it into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.