Equator is an epic production capturing every detail in High Definition that takes viewers on a 25, 000 mile odyssey chasing the sun to some of the most extreme and diverse locations on the planet. The equator is not only the line that divides the Earth in two, but it's also a line of life and a powerful force of nature where the pace of evolution quickens.

The equator covers only five percent of the Earth's surface, but is home to 50 percent of its animal and plant species.

The equator is a species factory. Equatorial animals live constantly in warm, humid surroundings. Life is good, they can breed all year round. But the downside of such abundance is that these creatures must compete and fight for survival with half of all the species on Earth. Equator explores exactly how and why animals and plants grow faster, bigger and stranger here than anywhere else.

Just as humanity evolved under the glare of the equatorial sun on the East African savannah, it's no accident that many "hot spots" of biological significance occur along the equator. The equatorial sun is the most powerful source of energy on Earth, a force that reaches well beyond the equatorial band itself. As it beats down on the oceans, moist air rises on such a large scale that it generates the trade winds and great ocean currents that energize life on distant parts of the globe.

Power of the Ocean
The Galapagos Islands and Palmyra Island, though separated by half an ocean, were both shaped by the power of the equator. Great ocean currents, set in motion by the force of the equatorial sun, affect the destiny of animals living in both places.

Other episodeds in this series (available seprateley) are as follows
Equator: "Battle for the Light"
The rainforests of Southeast Asia are a battleground. Here, the world's greatest diversity of species fight for light, food and life. Fuelled by the sun, rapid evolution encourages cunning and strategy to help plants and animals stake their claims in this complex environment.

Equator: "Rivers of the Sun"
The mighty Amazon River is the lifeblood of the jungle. For half a year, freshwater fish flourish in floodwaters that rise among the trees and then, as the waters retreat, these fish face a six-month drought. The enduring Amazon is both a time capsule for ancient animals and a hothouse for the evolution of new species.

Equator: "Paradox of the Andes"
In the high Andes mountains of Ecuador, the intense power of the equatorial sun beats down through thin air onto a grassland world fringed by glaciers and cloud forest. Every day is like summer - and every night is like winter. Within a 24-hour cycle, plants and animals adapt to both blistering heat and freezing temperatures - but how?

Equator: "Reef of Riches"
The Indo Pacific region is home to an exuberant abundance of life. On the coral reef, every animal is an example of evolution in action. New species emerge, explained by radical and intriguing theories. Sexual selection, a tumultuous glacial history and hothouse living conditions are all-powerful forces shaping life in this region.

Equator: "Challenge of Change"
The story of equatorial Africa is a tale of two worlds: the great grassland savannahs of the east and the mighty rainforests of the west. When the creation of the Great Rift Valley tore Africa apart 40 million years ago, it set in motion an evolutionary conquest that saw predatory cats and a multitude of grazing species become the ultimate rulers of the grasslands.