Among all the countries in the world, only 12 countries are standing on the Equator. Two cities in 12 countries, only one who is standing on the equator, precisely separates the northern and southern hemisphere. Pontianak is the capital of West Kalimantan province formerly known as Borneo, becoming the only city in the world that sits right on the Equator, a fact which does not require the approval or international agreements.
By using the tools and simple methods, a geographer and explorer from the Netherlands led a mission to find a town on the Equator. Finally, in 1928, he found the city with the longest river in the Indonesian archipelago was standing right on the Equator. He immediately mark the spot on the banks of the Kapuas River Small with a simple pole and arrows. 70 years later, through the renovation and reconstruction of the Indonesian Agency for Applied Technology, conducted a study to determine the exact position of the equator using geographical positioning system. Although there are differences great enough distance, but the team that discovered the first remains admired, respected, and will never be forgotten.
Equator monument was originally constructed from the four pillars of ironwood. Ironwood was obtained locally and are built to keep up an arrow as symbol of orientation and referral. The word comes from the Dutch: 'EVENAAR' clearly written on the arrow which means 'Equator' in English and 'Khatulistiwa' in Indonesian.
Marker point is then recorded in the globe in 1930, in which a Dutch officer named
Herman Neijenhuis assigned to guard the monument from the year 1936 to 1940. Twice a year, the rays of the sun occurred here, that is the Vernal Equinox (March 21 to 23), and Equinox (September 21 to 23). This event occurs twice a year, many visitors as well as locals enjoy a time to experience this natural wonder for five minutes.
Borneo word is believed to originate from Pigafetta, Magellan explorer and friend in 1521, they gave the name of 'Burne' to portray a very large island, because the sailors took three months to circumnavigate the island. Borneo is a land rich in coal, oil, and gas, and remains one of the remaining reserves of tropical rain forests in Indonesia.
Pontianak is the only city in the world that sits just below the imaginary line called the equator which separates the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. Pontianak become one of the cities with the hottest temperatures in Indonesia Pontianak is far from dry and arid conditions due to the fact that the tropical rain forest decorated frame it almost everywhere. This is where you will experience a unique phenomenon because it lies on the equator makes you can not see your own shadow, and it only happens twice a year.
Because it is located right on the equator, then Pontianak as the seat of government of the Sultanate of West Kalimantan selected by Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie in 1771. An equatorial monument built a geographer and explorer from the Netherlands to mark the equator in the city.
Chinese and Arabic are the two immigrants who became the founder of this region. Store houses are mute evidence that Chinese traders never anchored and settled in this area. Singkawang is a city that can be taken for two hours from Pontianak, save a lot of stories about China's role in the region. On the banks of the Kapuas River are adjacent to the Mosque Sultanate Jamie Kadariah which emits a flash of glory the way of life of Muslims. The heyday of the empire's history is an open book to welcome any traveler who wants to know the story behind the beauty of this city.
The Netherlands has also left his mark here, his legacy is more visible in the architecture of the city. One of the historical evidence is the point of zero degrees at the Equator is Siantan, where you can visit the Equatorial Monument, which was built not far from the city center.