The Country Closest to Space 

Most people really think Mount Everest is the location on Earth closest to space.

I know this is because it is the highest mountain on earth but sorry to burst your bubble, it is not the place closest to space. I’ll explain now. You see, our planet isn’t a perfect sphere; it’s more like a compressed globe. This squashing effect happens because of the Earth’s rotation which causes a slight bulge at the Equator. Now, think of the Equator as the farthest point from Earth’s centre and the closest spot to space.

Mount Everest gets its fame as the highest point above sea level because, well, the seas are higher at the Equator, and that’s how we measure mountain heights. But there’s an interesting twist to it because this bulge in the Earth’s shape causes Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador to end up being about 1.5 miles “higher” than Everest. Therefore it is very safe to say Ecuador is the closest country to space. Ecuador is as close to space as it gets on our planet!

I know what you are thinking. Just how close is Mount Chimborazo to space? 

Well, it turns out, when you measure from the Earth’s centre instead of the usual “sea level” standard, Chimborazo is the highest peak. It is perched just southwest of the Equator, and at an elevation of approximately 6263 metres above sea level, it’s the highest point directly beneath the moon’s path.

But there is another surprising factor: The distance from Chimborazo to the Earth’s centre is 6,384.4 km (that’s 2,163 m more than Everest’s 6,382.3 km). But here’s the shocker: Chimborazo isn’t even the highest when you measure it in height above sea level. That title belongs to other peaks in the Andes.

So, why this difference? Why is it so?  It’s all about the Equator. You see, near the Equator, gravity plays tricks on us due to the Earth’s spin and the distance from its centre. At the peak of Chimborazo, you experience about 1% less gravity compared to places with a stronger gravitational pull. That’s why it’s so close to space!

Let’s dive a little deeper, this time into the country’s name. As some of us might know, Ecuador means “Equator” but in Spanish. But there’s more to the name. The name traces back to the Ecuador Department of Gran Colombia, a creation from 1824 and a piece of the former territory of the Royal Audience of Quito.

But I’m not done yet: The nation’s official name is “República del Ecuador,” which translates to “The Republic of the Equator” in English. And that is where we have our fun fact – Quito, the republican capital city, is just over 40 kilometres (or about a quarter of a degree) to the south of the Equator. Talk about living up to the name!

Ecuador doesn’t just get its name from the Equator. It is a fantastic tourist location.

It primarily has “four worlds”, yeah, permit me to say that. Ecuador spoils you with delightful food and cultural experiences. Quito is the primary gateway, of course. And then, there are other tourist favourites like Cuenca and the legendary Galapagos Islands, which you can reach by air or land.

Galapagos is an absolute work of art and nature lovers here will thank me later. It is a UNESCO Natural Heritage of Humanity and if you are ever in Ecuador, these islands are a must-see. They just have to be in your itinerary!

For the lovers of adventure, I might have something for y’all. Ecuador sits right in the “Middle of the Universe.” Yes, the Equator runs through it, and there’s a really big monument where you can stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere. How does standing in the middle of the earth sound to you? Makes you excited, right?

The thing is, you might lose balance and fall. Yeah, some crazy physics is involved there.

Visitors can also opt for climbing to the peak of Mount Chimborazo which is less complicated and costly than. It takes about 8-10 hours to achieve this and it’s a pretty big deal for the environment. The government set aside a massive 58,560-hectare area called the Reserva de Produccion Faunistica Chimborazo, where they’re protecting the Andes’ native fauna, including vicuñas, as well as llamas, alpacas, deer, and horses.

The high-altitude regions, especially the slopes of Mount Chimborazo, play host to unique ecosystems. These are areas where you can find special plant species and animals that have adapted to extreme conditions. 

If you love the adventure that comes with mountaineering, Mount Chimborazo is the place to be. Its proximity to the equator and the rugged terrain makes it a very good destination for climbers.

But being so close to space must have its effect, you might wonder. The answer to that is a big YES.

Let us see some intriguing effects of Mount Chimborazo’s proximity to space in Ecuador. 

Reduced atmospheric pressure: As you climb the slopes of Mount Chimborazo, you’ll feel a very noticeable drop in atmospheric pressure. The air gets thinner at these extremely high altitudes.

What does this cause in turn? 

Altitude-related effects such as lower oxygen levels. 

Physical performance is affected too and breathing becomes a chore. A really hard one at that.

Enhanced view of outer space: This is probably a pro instead of a con but thanks to the rare atmosphere up there, you get a front-row seat to the wonders of the night sky.  Astronomers and stargazers will particularly enjoy this. Air density is reduced, light pollution lessens and you can see celestial objects with mind-blowing clarity.

So if you ever find yourself on the slopes of Mount Chimborazo, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

In summary, Ecuador is the place to be. The unique experiences, plant life, amazing scenery, and opportunities for scientific exploration all contribute to making it fun. I highly recommend it!