Ecuador contains some of the most varied geography in South America. There are four distinguishable regions:
"La Sierra" (Andean highlands), "La Costa" (costal plains), "El Oriente" (Amazon basins), and the "Galapagos" Islands.
Quito, the capital (2,850 m above sea level) and the central highlands are on or near the equator; therefore, the origin of the name of this country in Spanish "El Ecuador".
| Official name |
Republic of Ecuador |
| Capital |
Quito |
| President |
Rafael Correa |
| Official Language |
Spanish |
| Other Languages |
The majority of the indigenous people speak Quicha language. Also a variety of ethnical languages are spoken from the people that live in the Amazons. |
| Area |
256,370 km2
(about the area of HONSHU and KYUSHU) |
| Total Population |
12,156,608 (2001) |
| Ethnic Distribution |
60% Mestizo (Mix of Spanish and Indigenous)
30% Indigenous
5% Spanish or European Origin
5% Black and Asian
|
| Currency |
US$ Dollar |
| GDP |
US$22.127 billon (2007) |
| Time Difference |
-14hours (between Japan and Ecuador) |
History
Following the Battle of Pichincha in 1822, Ecuador gained its independence from the dwindling Spanish Empire, and became part of the Union of states liberated by Simon Bolivar, known as "Gran Colombia".
The Union was dissolved in 1830, and Ecuador has been since then a separate political entity.Over the years, Ecuador has alternated between liberal, moderate governments, interspersed with periods of military rule.
A political predisposition to moderation has been kept even under the law-minded extremist governments.
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