Having a territory of 276,841 sq km, Ecuador is about the size of Colorado, USA, or about 50 % of the size of France. Compared to many other countries in South America, that's relatively small and as a result, most distances can be traveled by bus in just a day's ride. Buses are inexpensive and the more up-scale services are really nice. Daily flights can be taken from Quito to most major cities. Many cities may be reached by plane within 30-45 minute flights.
The country has three very distinct zones: the coast, the Andes Mountains and the humid tropics inside the east. Since the world is not precisely round and wider equator, the middle of our planet is a bit farther away from the equator than from the poles. Therefore, the Chimborazo, with 6,267 m above sea level, lies at a greater distance from the middle of the earth than Mount Everest, which makes it the highest mountain on earth. Volcanic activity considerable along the Andes as well as on the Galapagos Islands.
You'll find 7 climate zones in Ecuador, with precipitation varying from extremely wet on the Andes slopes to semi arid down the southern coast and temperatures varying from tropical in the lowlands to permanently cold high up at high altitudes. The Central valley in the Andes is specially confident with a permanently spring-like climate.
Many cultures prospered in Ecuador millenniums before these were occupied by the Incas in the late 14 hundreds. A variety of native languages are are nevertheless alive, besides official language Spanish and the Inca language Quichua. Ingapirca is the is the main historic monument from the Incas, as the Spanish mined most buildings for construction materials. Diseases coming over with the colonizers killed thousands of Indians in the first decades of colonization. The "encomienda", the forced labor system of the colonizers was also a significant cause of high mortality through the colonial period.
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 combined the territories of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. New Granada became independent in 1822 taking Gran Colombia as its new name.
In 1830 Ecuador became independent from the federation. Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in some conflicts with its the neighboring countries and some painful border issues remained in dispute. In 1999 all disputes were resolved brief border war with Peru in 1995 had trigger negotiations under the beneath the guidance of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and the USA. The country now has enjoyed four decades of democracy.
Ecuador's has over 15 million inhabitants which, until quite recently mostly lived in the central Andes. During the last few years however, major shifts have taken place and today the population is equally distributed over the highlands and the coastal lowlands. Many individuals have migrated to urban areas which now comprise 60% of the population, with Guayaquil and Quito being the largest cities exceeding 2 million inhabitants each. But Ecuador's Amazon, the "Oriente" (East) remains lowly populated with at most 3% of the population.
The nation's economy is heavily dependent on oil , while complimented by manufacturing for the internal market, commerce and agriculture. Besides oil, bananas, shrimp, flowers, and a few other minor agriculturalproducts for the export. In 2010, oil oil sales made u 56% of the export earnings. As the world's largest exporter of the world of bananas and plantains its annual sales exceed $2 billion a year while Ecuador also is a major player on the markets of shrimp ($800 million) and cacao ($400 million) markets. Non-traditional export goods are flowers ($600 million), canned fish ($600 million), and cars ($375 million).
During the last 2 decades or so, Ecuador has become a major tourist destination with highlights Galapagos National Park, old Quito, the colonial town of Cuenca, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Cajas National Park, Cotopaxi and also the Otavalo Indian market. Cuyabeno has been rapidly building a name as the best place on earth to go to to get know the Amazon forest.
The country has three very distinct zones: the coast, the Andes Mountains and the humid tropics inside the east. Since the world is not precisely round and wider equator, the middle of our planet is a bit farther away from the equator than from the poles. Therefore, the Chimborazo, with 6,267 m above sea level, lies at a greater distance from the middle of the earth than Mount Everest, which makes it the highest mountain on earth. Volcanic activity considerable along the Andes as well as on the Galapagos Islands.
You'll find 7 climate zones in Ecuador, with precipitation varying from extremely wet on the Andes slopes to semi arid down the southern coast and temperatures varying from tropical in the lowlands to permanently cold high up at high altitudes. The Central valley in the Andes is specially confident with a permanently spring-like climate.
Many cultures prospered in Ecuador millenniums before these were occupied by the Incas in the late 14 hundreds. A variety of native languages are are nevertheless alive, besides official language Spanish and the Inca language Quichua. Ingapirca is the is the main historic monument from the Incas, as the Spanish mined most buildings for construction materials. Diseases coming over with the colonizers killed thousands of Indians in the first decades of colonization. The "encomienda", the forced labor system of the colonizers was also a significant cause of high mortality through the colonial period.
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 combined the territories of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. New Granada became independent in 1822 taking Gran Colombia as its new name.
In 1830 Ecuador became independent from the federation. Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in some conflicts with its the neighboring countries and some painful border issues remained in dispute. In 1999 all disputes were resolved brief border war with Peru in 1995 had trigger negotiations under the beneath the guidance of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and the USA. The country now has enjoyed four decades of democracy.
Ecuador's has over 15 million inhabitants which, until quite recently mostly lived in the central Andes. During the last few years however, major shifts have taken place and today the population is equally distributed over the highlands and the coastal lowlands. Many individuals have migrated to urban areas which now comprise 60% of the population, with Guayaquil and Quito being the largest cities exceeding 2 million inhabitants each. But Ecuador's Amazon, the "Oriente" (East) remains lowly populated with at most 3% of the population.
The nation's economy is heavily dependent on oil , while complimented by manufacturing for the internal market, commerce and agriculture. Besides oil, bananas, shrimp, flowers, and a few other minor agriculturalproducts for the export. In 2010, oil oil sales made u 56% of the export earnings. As the world's largest exporter of the world of bananas and plantains its annual sales exceed $2 billion a year while Ecuador also is a major player on the markets of shrimp ($800 million) and cacao ($400 million) markets. Non-traditional export goods are flowers ($600 million), canned fish ($600 million), and cars ($375 million).
During the last 2 decades or so, Ecuador has become a major tourist destination with highlights Galapagos National Park, old Quito, the colonial town of Cuenca, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Cajas National Park, Cotopaxi and also the Otavalo Indian market. Cuyabeno has been rapidly building a name as the best place on earth to go to to get know the Amazon forest.
About the Author:
Find out why The Andes Mountain Chain is such a great region to for traveling. For 4 decades Wesley Vanderhill has lived in South America and suggests you where to go and what to do in Ecuador.
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