Ecuador - Colonial cities and abundant wildlife
Ecuador
The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999.
Part of Ecuador's Territories are the amazing Galapagos Islands. These wonderful islands are part of the world's and the Ecuadorians' pride, for this reason we conserve the islands in the best way possible.
| Facts & Figures | |
|---|---|
| Official Name: | Republic of Ecuador |
| Population: | 12,782,000 |
| Largest Cities: | Quito |
| Languages: | Spanish (official), local dialects |
| Official Currency: | Sucre |
| Religions: | Catholic, others |
| Land Area: | 276,840 sq km (106,888 sq miles) |
| Highest Point: | Chimbgrnzo (6,267 meters) |
Climate
Ecuador exists on the equator, but because of varying elevations, the climates are very different throughout the country. The hottest temperatures are in the humid eastern jungle, coming close to 100 °F (37.8 °C). In the mountains, the average annual temperature is a cool 55 °F (12.8 °C). The coast has temperatures between 45-70 °F (7 °-12 °C).
Currency
Sucre/U.S. Dollar
Oil
Since oil was discovered in Ecuador in the 1970s, it has become an increasingly important part of the Ecuadorian economy. The country has 2.1 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, and production in 1999 averaged 379,600 barrels per day (bbl/d). Of this, 152,000 bbl/d were consumed domestically, with the remaining 227,600 bbl/d being exported.