Ecuador is located in northwest South America and has diverse geography including the Pacific Coast, Andes Mountains, Amazon jungle, and Galapagos Islands. Spanish is the dominant language though indigenous languages like Quichua are also spoken. Ecuadorian culture blends Spanish and indigenous influences with mainstream culture defined by the Hispanic mestizo majority. Cuisine varies regionally with seafood popular on the coast, highland foods like pork and potatoes, and cassava a staple in the Amazon. Ecuador is predominantly Roman Catholic since the Spanish colonized and converted the country. Climate ranges from tropical on the coast and in the Amazon to varying temperatures in the highlands and islands. Ecuador has high biodiversity and is home to

1. By Joselyn Espinoza
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2. Flag & Coat of Arms

3. Location
Ecuador is
located on the
Equator in the
northwest of
South America.
The geography of its
four regions is very
diverse: Pacific
Coast, Andes,
Amazon and
Galapagos Islands.

4. Language
The main spoken language in Ecuador is
Spanish (94% of the population). Languages of
official use in native communities include
Quichua, Shuar, and 11 other languages.

5. Culture
Ecuador's mainstream culture is
defined by its Hispanic mestizo
majority, and like their ancestry, it
is traditionally of Spanish heritage,
influenced in different degrees by
Amerindian traditions, and in
some cases by African elements.

6. Cuisine
In the highland region, pork, chicken,
beef, and cuy (guinea pig) are popular
and are served with a variety of grains
(especially rice and corn) or potatoes.
In the coastal region, seafood is
very popular, with fish, shrimp and
ceviche being key parts of the diet.
In the Amazon region, a dietary
staple is the yuca, elsewhere called
cassava. Many fruits are available
in this region, including bananas,
tree grapes, and peach palms.

7. Religion
Since the Spanish
colonization,
Ecuador became
a Roman Catholic
country. The
Catholic Church
had and still has
an important place
in the Ecuadorian
government and
society.

8. Climate
The Coast, and the Amazon
jungle region have tropical
weather with temperatures
averaging about 30°C, with
occasional highs around 40°C
and lows of 20°C.
Galapagos Islands experience
temperatures ranging from
20°C to 35°C .
Ecuador does not have
seasons. In Quito, and the rest
of the Andean highlands, the
weather tends to be cool,
though it varies significantly in a
single 24 hour period.
Temperature may rise to 24°C
at noon, and drop to 10°C or
less at night.

9. Biodiversity
In addition to the
mainland, Ecuador
owns the Galápagos
Islands, for which the
country is best known.
Ecuador is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world
according to Conservation International, and it has the
most biodiversity per square kilometer of any nation.

10. Currency
Ecuador's monetary unit was
the SUCRE but it was
circulating until the beginning
of 2000.
After the financial banking crisis of
1999, the US dollar became legal
tender in Ecuador until now.

11. Economy
In the agricultural sector, Ecuador is a
major exporter of bananas (first place
worldwide in production and export),
flowers, and the eighth largest producer
of cocoa.

12. Tips for Travelers
VISAS: Citizens of most countries can stay
a maximum of 90 days without a visa.
HEALTH RISKS: Dengue fever, hepatitis,
malaria, typhoid, and a minor risk of
cholera, rabies and diphtheria. Get a
yellow fever vaccination if you plan to visit
the rainforests of the Amazon Jungle.
TOURISM: http://visitaguayaquil.com/
http://www.quito-turismo.gob.ec/
http://www.parquehistorico.gob.ec/
http://www.turismo.gob.ec/