The equator does NOT pass through which of the following Countries ? 1. Gabon 2. Somalia 3. Equatorial Guinea 4. Rawanda Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- (a)1 and 4
- (b)2 and 4
- (c)2 and 3
- (d)3 and 4
Correct — D, 3 and 4. The equator does NOT pass through Equatorial Guinea (3) or Rwanda (4). Despite its name, Equatorial Guinea's mainland (Río Muni) lies just north of the equator — the line runs through the sea to its south. Rwanda lies entirely just south of the equator, which crosses neighbouring Uganda to its north. By contrast the equator does cross Gabon (1) and southern Somalia (2), so options that exclude those are wrong.
- (a)1 and 4 — Includes Gabon, but the equator does run through central Gabon; only Rwanda (of this pair) is truly not crossed.
- (b)2 and 4 — Includes Somalia, but the equator does pass through southern Somalia; only Rwanda here is genuinely not crossed.
- (c)2 and 3 — Somalia is crossed by the equator, so it does not belong in a 'not passed through' list; only Equatorial Guinea of this pair qualifies.
The equator (0° latitude) passes through 11 countries on land, including three in equatorial Africa's core — Gabon, the Congos, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia. Two nearby African states are famous traps: Equatorial Guinea (named for its nearness to the equator, but whose mainland sits just north of it) and Rwanda (just south of the line).
The naming trap is the whole point: 'Equatorial Guinea' sounds like the equator must cross it, and Rwanda's Great-Lakes location feels equatorial — but neither is actually on the line. Remember that the equator crosses Gabon, both Congos, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia in Africa, and check each listed name against that mental map.
- Equator does pass through: Gabon and southern Somalia (of the four listed).
- Equator does NOT pass through Equatorial Guinea's mainland (it lies just north of 0°).
- Rwanda lies just south of the equator; the line runs through Uganda to its north.
- In Africa the equator crosses Gabon, Rep. of Congo, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia.
- Assuming 'Equatorial Guinea' must lie on the equator — its mainland is just north of it
- Placing Rwanda on the equator; it is just south, with the line running through Uganda
UPPSC/UPSC ask which countries a major latitude (equator, Tropic of Cancer) does or does not pass through — build the country list on a mental map, don't trust a country's name.
Consider the following countries: I. Bolivia II. Brazil III. Colombia IV. Ecuador V. Paraguay VI. Venezuela. Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?
- (a) Only two
- (b) Only three
- (c) Only four
- (d) Only five
Answer(c) Only four
Same map skill — deciding which countries a major geographic reference (the equator here, the Andes there) does or does not pass through.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Through how many countries does the equator pass on land?
- (a)7
- (b)9
- (c)11
- (d)13
Answer(c) 11 — spanning South America, Africa and South-East Asia.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The equator passes through which of the following African countries?
- (a)Ethiopia
- (b)Kenya
- (c)Tanzania
- (d)Zambia
Answer(b) Kenya — the equator crosses Kenya, but not Ethiopia, Tanzania or Zambia.