* High Altitude: The key factor is altitude. Even though the equator receives a lot of sunlight, the air gets colder as you go higher up.
* Mountains: This is why the peaks of mountains like Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa (near the equator) have glaciers and snow. The tops of these mountains are high enough to experience freezing temperatures year-round.
* Volcanoes: Similarly, active volcanoes near the equator, like Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador, can also have snow and ice on their summits due to their height and volcanic activity.
So, while the equator itself is generally hot, ice can be found near it in places with high enough altitudes!
