Does Latin America Cross the Equator? Yes—Four Countries Do

The equator passes through the territory of four Latin American nations:

• Brazil (northern states: Amazonas, Roraima, Pará, Amapá)
• Colombia (southern departments: Nariño, Putumayo, Amazonas)
• Ecuador (the country's namesake; the line crosses 24 km north of Quito)
• Peru (extreme northern tip: Loreto Region)

Note: Gabon, listed in some sources, is in Central Africa, not Latin America. The equator also crosses São Tomé and Príncipe, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, and Indonesia—but these are not part of Latin America.

This geographic fact gives these four countries unique equatorial climates, biodiversity, and the distinction of having the "middle of the world" within their borders.