The placement of the equatorial line was defined throughout a 1736 expedition called the French Geodesic Mission. While such studies would later determine the exact measure and shape of the world, astronomers involved missed the possibility of encountering the remnants of highly sophisticated geographical achievements made on “Equatorial” territory for hundreds of years before their arrival. Throughout the time the astronomers attempted to measure a length of a degree of latitude on that part of the planet, a group of different sorts of ruins were found nearby the territory where they thought the Equatorial line passed through. Years after that, it was brought to light that the "Geodesic Mission" had been wrong about the exact coordinates where the line passed through—the measurements had indeed proved the world was oblate and not elongated at the poles, but their studies to define the placement of the equator were incorrect by. The Catequilla ruins found throughout the expedition between 1735-1745 were actually situated at latitude 0, or the exact position where the Equatorial line crosses. In 1935, the Ecuadorean Government built a monument to honor the French expedition under the guidance of local geographer Luis Gudiño. In 1972, such monument was replaced by a monument titled “Ciudad Mitad del Mundo”, regardless of the inexact coordinates.
Latitude discrepancy
Based on data obtained by Tufiño, it was believed that the equator passed through those two sites. However, according to readings based on the World Geodetic System WGS84, used in modern GPS systems and GIS products, the equator actually lies about north of the marked line. Over the years, countless tourists have had their pictures taken straddling the line drawn down the center of the east-facing staircase and across the plaza. The pyramidal monument, with each side facing a cardinal direction is topped by a globe which is in diameter and weighs. Inside the monument is a small museum that displays a variety of indigenous items pertaining to Ecuadorian culture: clothing, descriptions of the various ethnic groups, and examples of their activities. Ciudad Mitad del Mundo contains other attractions such as a planetarium, a miniature model of Quito, and restaurants. On weekends, Ciudad Mitad del Mundo's Central Plaza hosts varied musical and cultural events for tourists. Also, there are diverse local handcraft stores and local food served at several cafés along a colonial small town.
northeast of the Ethnographic Museum Monument is a local private attraction, known as the Intiñan Solar Museum, reportedly built to mark the Equator, although modern measurements suggest that it no longer does. Except for the exhibitions of Ecuadoran culture, the museum is an amusement for credulous tourists. Tour guides and visitors demonstrate tricks which are supposedly possible only on the Equator, such as water flowing both counter-clockwise or clockwise down a drain due to Coriolis effect, balancing eggs on end, or weakening of muscles due to latitude. Some tour guides will admit the truth that proximity to the equator has no measurable influence. Inaccurate GPS readings are due to using a civilian GPS instead of military grade GPS.
