Quitsato Sundial, Solar timekeeper at La Mitad Del Mundo near Cayambe, Ecuador.
Quitsato Sundial is a time-measuring device positioned on Earth's equatorial line, featuring a wide circular stone platform and a tall vertical pointer at its center. The pointer casts moving shadows across the paved surface that shift with the hours and seasons.
The structure came into existence in the early 2000s and opened to visitors in 2007, designed as a project to advance scientific learning in the region. It stands at a location with centuries of astronomical observation traditions by local communities.
The site honors indigenous astronomical knowledge that shaped understanding of seasons and time across the region for centuries. Today visitors witness how ancient celestial observation merges with contemporary education and public access.
Visit on clear days when shadow movements are easiest to observe, particularly in late morning and afternoon hours. The site is flat and easy to walk around, with information boards explaining basic concepts at several spots along the circular layout.
During equinox times in spring and fall, the central pointer casts no shadow at all because the sun sits directly overhead. This rare event happens twice each year and graphically demonstrates the exact equatorial location.
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