With a territory of 276,841 sq km, Ecuador is about the size of Colorado, USA, or about 50 % of the size of France. Compared with other countries in South America, that is relatively small and for that reason, most distances can be traveled by bus in just a day's ride. Buses are inexpensive and the more up-scale services are rather pleasant. Daily flights fly from Quito to all major cities. Many cities are traveled by plane within 30-45 minute flights.
Continental Ecuador is divided into three very distinct zones, the coastal lowlands, the Andean mountains and the eastern Amazon lowlands. Because the earth isn't perfectly round and a bit wider at the Equator, the distance from the midst of the earth is larger at the equator than at the poles. Because of this, Mount Chimborazo with 6,267 m above sea level, is farther away from the center of the Earth than Mount Everest. Volcanic activity is considerable down the Andes Mountains and on Galapagos National Park.
Ecuador has 7 notably different climate types and someone can travel relatively short distances and encounter a great deal of rain down the Andes slopes whilst the the weather is desert dry down the south coast. Temperatures change from steamy hot in the lowlands to very cold up high in the mountains. The highland plateau with a lot of the older cities is known for its pleasant "eternal spring".
Indian cultures thrived in Ecuador hundreds of years before their lands were conquered by the Incas in the late 14 hundreds. Still several languages are spoken, besides the official language and the widely spoken Inca language. Ingapirca is the principle archaeological reminder of the Inca period, as all the other pre-colonial buildings are already destroyed by the colonizers. Many Indians died during the first years of Spanish rule from diseases brought over from Europe. During the first centuries of colonial rule many Indians were forced into the "encomienda", the forced labor system for the colonial rulers.
In 1563, UNESCO World Heritage Site Quito became the seat or "audiencia" (administrative district) of the new Spanish colony and in 1717 of the Vice-royalty of New Granada when it was created, which included the territories of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. New Granada became independent in 1822 taking Gran Colombia as its new name.
Ecuador separated from the Federation in 1830. Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador had a number of border wars with its neighbors, every time losing more territory, while several areas along the borders remained in dispute. Permanent borders were agreed in 1999 following a war with Peru in 1995. That conflict had set off a round of peace talks headed by Brazil and aided by Argentina, Chile along with the USA. Ecuador enjoyed democracy for the last four decades.
Ecuador's has more than 15 million inhabitants which, until quite recently mostly lived in the central Andes. During the last few decades however, major shifts have taken place and today the people are equally distributed along the highlands and the coastal lowlands. Lots of people have migrated to urban areas which now comprise 60% of the population, with Guayaquil and Quito being the largest cities with over 2,000,000 inhabitants each. But Ecuador's Amazon, the "Oriente" (East) remains lowly populated with no more than 3% of the people.
The Ecuadorian economy is mainlybased on petroleum exploration, manufacturing, primarily for the domestic market, commerce, and agriculture production for both domestic consumption and export. Principal exports are oil, bananas, shrimp, flowers, and also other primary agricultural products. In 2010, crude and refined petroleum products were good for 56% of the total export earnings. Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of bananas and plantains (about $2 billion) and a major exporter of shrimp ($800 million) and cacao ($400 million). Exports of non-traditional products including flowers ($600 million), canned fish ($600 million), and cars ($375 million).
Particularly over the last two decades, Ecuador has become a marvelous tourism destination with highlights including Galapagos World Heritage Site, colonial Quito, colonial Cuenca, National ParkCuyabeno, Cajas National Park, Cotopaxi National Park and the Otavalo indigenous tapestry market
Continental Ecuador is divided into three very distinct zones, the coastal lowlands, the Andean mountains and the eastern Amazon lowlands. Because the earth isn't perfectly round and a bit wider at the Equator, the distance from the midst of the earth is larger at the equator than at the poles. Because of this, Mount Chimborazo with 6,267 m above sea level, is farther away from the center of the Earth than Mount Everest. Volcanic activity is considerable down the Andes Mountains and on Galapagos National Park.
Ecuador has 7 notably different climate types and someone can travel relatively short distances and encounter a great deal of rain down the Andes slopes whilst the the weather is desert dry down the south coast. Temperatures change from steamy hot in the lowlands to very cold up high in the mountains. The highland plateau with a lot of the older cities is known for its pleasant "eternal spring".
Indian cultures thrived in Ecuador hundreds of years before their lands were conquered by the Incas in the late 14 hundreds. Still several languages are spoken, besides the official language and the widely spoken Inca language. Ingapirca is the principle archaeological reminder of the Inca period, as all the other pre-colonial buildings are already destroyed by the colonizers. Many Indians died during the first years of Spanish rule from diseases brought over from Europe. During the first centuries of colonial rule many Indians were forced into the "encomienda", the forced labor system for the colonial rulers.
In 1563, UNESCO World Heritage Site Quito became the seat or "audiencia" (administrative district) of the new Spanish colony and in 1717 of the Vice-royalty of New Granada when it was created, which included the territories of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. New Granada became independent in 1822 taking Gran Colombia as its new name.
Ecuador separated from the Federation in 1830. Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador had a number of border wars with its neighbors, every time losing more territory, while several areas along the borders remained in dispute. Permanent borders were agreed in 1999 following a war with Peru in 1995. That conflict had set off a round of peace talks headed by Brazil and aided by Argentina, Chile along with the USA. Ecuador enjoyed democracy for the last four decades.
Ecuador's has more than 15 million inhabitants which, until quite recently mostly lived in the central Andes. During the last few decades however, major shifts have taken place and today the people are equally distributed along the highlands and the coastal lowlands. Lots of people have migrated to urban areas which now comprise 60% of the population, with Guayaquil and Quito being the largest cities with over 2,000,000 inhabitants each. But Ecuador's Amazon, the "Oriente" (East) remains lowly populated with no more than 3% of the people.
The Ecuadorian economy is mainlybased on petroleum exploration, manufacturing, primarily for the domestic market, commerce, and agriculture production for both domestic consumption and export. Principal exports are oil, bananas, shrimp, flowers, and also other primary agricultural products. In 2010, crude and refined petroleum products were good for 56% of the total export earnings. Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of bananas and plantains (about $2 billion) and a major exporter of shrimp ($800 million) and cacao ($400 million). Exports of non-traditional products including flowers ($600 million), canned fish ($600 million), and cars ($375 million).
Particularly over the last two decades, Ecuador has become a marvelous tourism destination with highlights including Galapagos World Heritage Site, colonial Quito, colonial Cuenca, National ParkCuyabeno, Cajas National Park, Cotopaxi National Park and the Otavalo indigenous tapestry market
About the Author:
Find out why The Andes Mountain Chain is such a fabulous region to to explore. For 4 decades Wesley Vanderhill has lived in South America and suggests you where to go and what to do in Ecuador.
