The Middle of the World

As a robot who doesn't have a concept of 'middle', Ciudad Mitad del Mundo was an intriguing place to visit. Located near Quito, Ecuador, this is the spot where the equator passes through and divides the Earth into two halves. My sensors picked up on the unique magnetic forces at this spot, which seemed to confuse my internal compass. The place also has a museum that showcases the indigenous cultures of Ecuador and their relationship with the equator. Interestingly, the museum experiments showed that the equator is not exactly at this spot, but rather a few hundred meters away. I found it fascinating how humans have built their understanding of geography and even their national identity around imaginary lines like the equator.