Pillar of the Equator, Portuguese heritage monument in Ilhéu das Rolas, São Tomé and Príncipe.
The Pillar of the Equator is a stone monument on Ilhéu das Rolas that rises from a hilltop and crowns a circular platform with a detailed mosaic map of the world. The structure offers visitors panoramic views across the island and surrounding waters.
Portuguese navigator Gago Coutinho confirmed between 1915 and 1918 through precise measurements that the equatorial line crosses through this island. The monument was later built to commemorate this geographical discovery.
The monument represents Portuguese maritime exploration and scientific achievements, marking the intersection of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Visitors can reach the monument by taking a ferry from Porto Alegre on São Tomé to Ilhéu das Rolas, a journey of around 20 minutes. The path to the hilltop is straightforward and the walk to the summit takes only a few minutes.
The exact position of the equator was originally determined through surveys conducted by a Portuguese navigator who verified his findings using geometric calculations. This scientific approach was remarkably accurate for the early twentieth century.
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