Brazil is the largest country with territory in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The Equator crosses northern Brazil, placing part of the country north of 0° latitude and the much larger remainder south of it. Brazil covers about 8.52 million square kilometres, making it the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world.
Brazil’s territory includes much of the Amazon Basin, the world’s largest tropical rainforest region. Its southern areas extend into the Southern Hemisphere’s temperate and subtropical zones, creating major differences in climate, vegetation and agriculture.
Indonesia also crosses the Equator and has islands in both hemispheres, but it is far smaller by area. Ecuador and Colombia are likewise crossed by the Equator, yet neither approaches Brazil’s territorial size. Brasília is Brazil’s capital, while São Paulo is its largest city.