Facts about Ecuador

Since the holidays are over and things have settled down I figured it was time for another update. I wanted to provide you with some facts and pictures of Ecuador! So here you have it! I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

- The equator runs through the country, hence why the country is named Ecuador
-  Ecuador is a republic government
-  The capital of Ecuador is Quito
-  Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador, apart from being a major port and a leading commercial center
-  Ecuador received its independence from Spain on May 24, 1822, but the holiday is celebrated on August 10, 1809 because that is when Quito received its independence
-  Ecuador was a part of the Inca Empire before the arrival of the Spanish, in 1534
-  Population: 14 million
-  Age Structure:  0-14 yrs: 31.1%

                            15-64 years: 62.7%

                            65 and over: 6.2%

-  Average Life Expectancy: 75.5  years

-  95% of the population is Roman Catholic

-  Official Language: Spanish

-  Literacy Rate: 91% of the population is able to read

-  Main exports are: petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish

-  Adopted the US dollar for its currency in 2000, crazy huh??? (I also found a site that said January 2001)

-  Ecuador is about the size of Colorado

-  Ecuador is the smallest country in the Andean highlands

-  Bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the south and east, and the Pacific ocean to the west

-  Ecuador is one of only two countries in South America that do not share a border with Brazil

-  It’s one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world and contains 10 percent of the Earth's plant species and 18 percent of bird species

-  Has the second highest deforestation rate in South America

-  Divided into 4 regions: Andean Highlands (Sierra), Amazon Lowlands (Oriente), Coastal Lowlands (Costa), and the Galapagos Islands about 600 miles west of the Ecuadorean mainland

-  Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

-  Two of Conservation International’s 34 biodiversity hotspots are represented in Ecuador, and it is the smallest of the 17 mega-diverse countries of the world

-  Chimborazo Volcano, at 6310, forms the highest point in Ecuador, while the lowest point is formed by Pacific Ocean

-  Ecuador has many active volcanoes and also, one of the greatest densities of volcanoes in the world

-  Majority of the balsa wood in the world comes from Ecuador

-  Quinine, the first drug used to prevent and treat malaria, is obtained from the bark of the cinchona tree that grows in the Andes mountain range, in Ecuador and Peru

-  Guinea pig is considered to be a delicacy in Ecuador

Flag of Ecuador

Different regions of Ecuador

Volcano Cotopaxi (claimed to be the highest active volcano in the world)



Now for some facts about the famous Galapagos Islands!

- The name 'galapagos', an old Spanish word for 'saddle', was originally used by Bishop Tomas and his crew to describe the giant tortoises but the name stuck

- Darwin's research in Galapagos led to the groundbreaking theory of The Origin of Species

- In 1978 UNESCO designated Galapagos as the first World Heritage site

- The convergence of three major oceanic currents brings an incredible mix of marine life to Galapagos

- Galapagos is home to the only surviving giant Pinta tortoise, 'Lonesome George'

- The abundant, fearless wildlife allows visitors to get up close and personal to some of the world's rarest animals

- There are two seasons: December to May is warm and wet and June to December is cool and dry

- Annual rainfall in the lower regions is 2-4in (60-100mm) and the air temperature varies between 69°-84°F/21°-29°C

- The Islands' climate is determined by ocean currents

- Despite being located in the tropics, the Islands' micro-climate is curiously dry

Map of the Galapagos Islands

You can find these giant tortoises roaming the Islands!

                Marine Iguana: found in the islands, as well, could you image coming across one of these things?!?!? I hear they are nice creatures, I won't believe it til I see it!

 The famous blue footed booby found on the Galapagos. Booby comes from the Spanish term bobo, which means "stupid" or "fool/clown". This is because the Blue-footed Booby is clumsy on the land, and (like other seabirds), they can be very tame and therefore easily captured, killed, and eaten by humans

There you have it, plenty of facts about Ecuador and its famous Galapagos islands! Coming next, some pics and my itinerary for Staging (aka orientation) and my first few days in Ecuador.

Hasta Luego (translation: 'bye'. If I have to learn Spanish, then so do you! :-) )

Heather