Ecuador is the South American country crossed by the Equator and named for it.
The country’s official name, República del Ecuador, means “Republic of the Equator.” The Equator passes through northern Ecuador, including areas near Quito, although the line does not run directly through the city centre.
Ecuador’s territory includes mainland regions on the Pacific coast and the Galápagos Islands, which lie roughly 1,000 kilometres west of the mainland. The country also contains part of the Andes and a western section of the Amazon Basin.
Several countries are crossed by the Equator, including Colombia, Brazil, and several nations outside South America. Ecuador is distinctive because its national name explicitly refers to the imaginary line dividing Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.