Here's why:
* Altitude: Even though the equator receives a lot of direct sunlight, the higher you go in altitude, the colder the temperature gets. The average decrease in temperature with altitude is about 6.5 degrees Celsius for every 1000 meters. This means that even near the equator, mountains that are high enough can have permanently frozen conditions at their peaks.
* Other factors: Factors like latitude, wind patterns, and cloud cover also play a role in how much snow a mountain receives and whether it persists throughout the year.
Examples of such mountains:
* Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania): Located in Africa, it is the highest mountain in Africa and has glaciers even though it's close to the equator.
* Mount Kenya (Kenya): Another mountain in Africa with glaciers and snow caps.
* Mount Puncak Jaya (Indonesia): The highest peak in the Indonesian archipelago, it is located on the island of New Guinea and has snow and glaciers.
So, while it might seem unusual, it's absolutely possible for a mountain near the equator to have snow throughout the year!
