The equator - What is the Equator?

The Equator is very well marked on each map or globe, so for some people it is hard to believe that it doesn’t exist.
The Equator is only one imaginary line, which we can always cross and not to know that we’ve crossed it.
That’s why the sailors celebrate every passing of the Equator with appropriate crossing ceremonies.

What is the Equator?

The Equator separates the Earth to northern and southern hemispheres. It is an imaginary line that goes around the circle the Earth in the middle, between the North and South Pole.
Other imaginary lines that make a circle around the Earth parallel to the Equator are called "parallels". The Equator is marked with zero, and the lines above and below it, signify north and south latitude, which are used to make it easier to locate a point on the Earth's surface.
As we know the Earth in the maps is divided into several areas. Starting from the top, or from the north, we have the arctic regions, tropical regions and the south temperate Antarctic area.
Tropical or equatorial region extends from the Equator to the north and the south to 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degrees south latitude. In these areas the sun's rays fall vertically, and therefore there is always warm.
As we know, the Earth's axis is inclined relative to its orbit around the Sun. Therefore, the Equator is tilted in relation to this trajectory, for exactly 23.5 degrees. As the Earth revolves around the sun, the sun's rays because of this inclination sometimes fall vertically on the areas north of the Equator, sometimes on the Equator, and sometimes south of it. However, the sun can never be directly overhead at places outside 23.5 degrees north and south latitude.
This explains why the area Equator is only part of the Earth where the sun's rays fall vertically. Since this is happening throughout the year, it is clear why on the Equator is always so hot!