If I ask you what is the point in the world that is the closest to space, the first thing that would probably come to your mind is Mount Everest. Wouldn’t it?
Well, Beep. Wrong!
Here’s a quick reminder before we get to know the actual answer.
The Earth is not a perfect round sphere. So crazy things happen at some points on the Earth, specifically in Ecuador.
Ecuador means the Equator
Ecuador is a country in South America. ‘Ecuador’ means ‘Equator’ in Spanish.
First, let’s clarify what the Equator is. The Equator is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, situated halfway between the North and South poles, dividing Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
It represents the farthest point from the centre of the Earth and the closest spot to space under similar conditions.
The capital of Ecuador is Quito, which stands at 9,350 feet above sea level, making it the second-highest capital in the world.
Mt. Chimborazo vs Mt. Everest
Earth exhibits a bulge at the equator. When I refer to a ‘bulge,’ I mean that the Earth’s diameter is larger at the equator than at the poles due to its rotation.
Consequently, Mount Chimborazo holds the distinction of being the closest point to space, surpassing Mount Everest.
While Chimborazo isn’t the tallest mountain on Earth, it occupies the position nearest to both the moon and the sun, which collectively I refer to as ‘space.’
To grasp this concept better, let’s embark on the below figures.
The tallest peak on Earth, when measured from the centre of the Earth rather than the typical standard of ‘sea level,’ is Chimborazo. When assessed from sea level, Everest is considered the tallest.
Earth is flattened at the poles, resulting in mountains near the Equator gaining a few extra kilometres in height.
At 8.848 km, Everest’s summit is higher than Chimborazo (6,267 km) above sea level by 2.58 km.
However, Chimborazo (at 6,384.4 km) is further away from the centre of the Earth than Everest (at 6,382.3 km) by 2.1 km.
Therefore, the summit of Chimborazo marks the farthest point from the centre of the Earth.
Now, that’s an incredible fact about Ecuador, isn’t it?
Adding to this fascinating information, Ecuador boasts wild, diverse, and stunning flora and fauna. Speaking of diversity, the Galápagos Islands, an archipelago in Ecuador, are a must-know and a must-visit destination.
Great Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands play a crucial role in evolutionary history. It was on these islands that the naturalist Charles Darwin discovered several species of finches, each varying from one island to another. This discovery significantly contributed to the development of his theory of natural selection.
Both the Galapagos Islands and Quito were among the first sites designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Ecuador is an iconic country that I’d add to my travel list. Would you consider adding it to yours as well?
