information on ecuador

Facts About Ecuador

Author: samnickel2

Ecuador is located in the northwestern part of South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean on the west, Columbia on the North and Peru on the South and the East. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 600 miles west of the mainland.

Spanish is the official language of the Republic of Ecuador. Even though other languages and dialects are spoken by the different ethnic groups in Ecuador.Among theselanguages, quechua is the most spoken, it is spoken in the towns of the rocky mountain range and jungle where there is two dialects, quechua of napo and the pastaza quechua. Several small lowland groups speak their own languages. English is understood in the best hotels and in airline offices and travel agencies, but it's of little use elsewhere.

Currency: The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency in Ecuador. In 2000 the sucre was replaced by the dollar as the legal currency, but despite dollarization, the sucre will likely persist in rural areas for a while longer. It is recommended that travelers bring both US dollar notes and travelers cheques as other foreign currencies are difficult to exchange outside of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. Small denominations in good condition are the easiest to exchange outside of the main cities. In the main centers most currencies can be exchanged at banks and exchange houses (casas de cambio) at variable commission rates. ATMs are available in the cities, and major credit cards are accepted in tourist areas and large hotels although a commission of 6-8% is often charged.

Ecuadorian Amazon, which represents just two percent of the whole basin, live one-third of all the bird species in the entire Amazon region, and 10 percent of all the tree species on earth. Over 24 tropical life zones are found in Ecuador (according to the Holdridge Life Zone system) including: mangrove swamp, dry tropical forest, tropical cloud forest, paramo, and tropical lowland rainforest. Due to its great variety of life zones, Ecuador boasts one the highest levels of bio-diversity in the world.

Food: Is also an interesting Ecuador fact. Western cuisine, as well as wide variety of international cooking is available throughout the country. Ecuador's traditional gastronomy is renowned for its variety and delicious taste.

As a result, land-tenure reform is an explosive issue. The city of Guayaquil dominates the coastal plain, largely populated by mestizos. Guayaquil—the country's largest city, major port, and leading commercial center—is a rival to Quito. This is the wealthiest part of Ecuador, and complaints that tax revenues are squandered in the capital are common.

Ecuador one of the most beautiful countries in South America . The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador has an array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest. And all that in a nation no bigger than the US state of Nevada.

Agricultural Products and Main Industries: Ecuador's main recognized agricultural products are bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane, cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products, balsa wood, fish and shrimp. Ecuador's main industries are petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products and chemicals.

Ecuador is known for its fabulous exotic fruits, high quality fish and seafood, and the countless varieties of Andean potatoes. Across the country you'll find a broad spectrum of national and regional dishes, including lemon-marinated shrimp, toasted corn, and pastries stuffed with spiced meats. If you're feeling courageous, you can put your culinary bravery to the test with roasted cuy (guinea pig) or tronquito (bull penis soup).

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