Africa is the only continent that spans all four hemispheres—northern, southern, eastern, and western. The majority of Africa is situated in the eastern hemisphere, with a smaller portion extending into the western hemisphere. Additionally, about two-thirds of Africa is in the northern hemisphere, and the remaining third is in the southern hemisphere. This unique geographical positioning makes Africa the sole continent with land in every hemisphere.

The equator, an imaginary line equidistant from the North and South Poles, plays a significant role in this geographical distinction. It divides the Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres horizontally. Africa is the only continent where both the equator and the Prime Meridian intersect, providing a geographical connection between the northern and southern hemispheres.

The equator passes through a total of 11 countries, with seven of them located in Africa: São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia. These equatorial countries typically experience a tropical climate characterized by high temperatures and humidity due to their location in the tropics.

The Prime Meridian, an imaginary line with zero degrees longitude, divides the Earth into the western and eastern hemispheres longitudinally. Of the eight countries through which the Prime Meridian passes, five are in Africa: Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana. This geographical feature highlights Africa’s unique position at the intersection of hemispheres and its varied climatic and geographic characteristics.