Ecuador. Flora and fauna

Republic of Ecuador.

The country's name comes from the Spanish ecuador, which means "territory on both sides."

Capital of Ecuador. Quito.

Area of Ecuador. 272,045 km2.

Population of Ecuador. 16.14 million people (

Ecuador GDP. $100.9 billion (

Location of Ecuador. State on the northwest coast. In the north, east and south - with. In the west it is washed by waters.

Administrative division Ecuador. The state is divided into 22 provinces.

Form of government of Ecuador. Republic.

Head of State of Ecuador. President.

Supreme legislative body of Ecuador. National Congress (unicameral parliament).

Supreme executive body of Ecuador. Government.

Major cities of Ecuador. Guayaquil, Cuenca, Machala, Ambato.

State language Ecuador. Spanish.

Flora of Ecuador. Most of the state's territory (64%) is covered with varying densities and shrubs. Valuable trees grow: mahogany, cinchona, ceiba, balsa; toquilla and tagua palms; ivei.

Fauna of Ecuador. The fauna of Ecuador is quite diverse, it is represented by a bear, a jaguar, wild cat, otter, skunk, weasel. Lives in mountains and coastal forests large number snakes, lizards and crocodiles. In national parks there are giant elephant turtles, sea lions, marine iguana lizards and other rare animals.

Sights of Ecuador. In the Quito Historical and Archaeological Museum, the 17th-century cathedral, the churches of San Francisco, San Agustin, La Compaña, and the Government Palace (1747). One of the most picturesque cities on the continent is Cuenca, the walls of whose houses are decorated with Spanish proverbs and images of corresponding scenes.

Useful information for tourists

The relative cheapness of food and the fairly rapidly developing tourism market make Ecuador an attractive country for tourism. The country has the most favorable conditions for a trip to the jungle. IN national park Oriente, two nature reserves and eight protected areas have hiking trails and parking areas. Along one of the tributaries of the Amazon, the Napo River, you can take an unforgettable trip in a real Indian pirogue or on a ship.

No vaccinations are required to enter the country. However, if you are planning trips to, vaccination against yellow fever is recommended. Some areas of Ecuador are at high altitudes and visiting them may adversely affect the health of travelers with cardiovascular disease. We recommend purchasing bottled water. You cannot drink tap water.

It is customary for waiters to leave a tip of about 10% of the total order (unless, of course, a service charge has already been included in the bill). You should not leave money on the table - this way it is unlikely to reach the person who served you. Bargaining is quite appropriate in souvenir shops and craft markets.

Highlights

In Ecuador, you can relax comfortably on excellent beaches and be treated in hot springs. Salinas, located on the ocean, 138 km west of the city of Guayaquil, is considered one of the best resorts in the country. The most favorable period for beach holiday on the coast Pacific Ocean occurs from January to April, when it becomes hot and dry. Ecuadorian beaches have a developed infrastructure and provide their guests with great opportunities for recreation and activities aquatic species sports - yachting and surfing.

Many tourists come to Ecuador to climb high volcanoes and hike, kayak or jeep through the jungle. The most popular hiking spots start in the national park around high volcano Cotopaxi, in the Las Cajas Nature Reserve and on the Chimborazo volcano. Jungle routes usually start from Quito, Dureno, Baños, Misahuali, Coca and Tena.

Diving enthusiasts choose the coast of Ecuador for its excellent and varied diving conditions. Especially many divers come to the Galapagos Islands. From June to September, large pods of whales swim to the dilapidated port of Puerto Lopez, which can be observed from the shore.

Cities of Ecuador

All cities of Ecuador

Sights of Ecuador

All sights of Ecuador

History of Ecuador

The first settlers on the site of modern Ecuador were Indian tribes who were engaged in hunting, fishing and farming. Archaeologists have found their sites dating back to the 10th century BC.

At the end of the 9th century AD, the Kara Indians invaded the mainland from the coast and formed the state of Kitu. In the middle of the 15th century, these lands were conquered by the Incas. Most of them belonged to the Quechua Indian tribe, which is why the Quechua language is widely spoken in Ecuador today.

The first landing of Spanish colonists on the Pacific coast occurred in 1526. Within 5 years, the associates of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro y Gonzalez completely conquered the equatorial lands. On the site where the Incas lived, they built their own city of San Francisco de Quito, and Pizarro's brother Gonzalo became its ruler.

The Spaniards did not discover gold or silver in their new territories. But they set up plantations here where Indians and African slaves worked. And in the mountainous areas, breeding of small cattle began to develop.

At the beginning of the 19th century, several revolutions took place in the country, and in 1822 the national liberation movement gained the upper hand. Colombian troops defeated the armed units of the Spaniards, so Simon Bolivar began to control Ecuadorian territory. At that time it was part of Gran Colombia, which was called the “Quito region”.

Slavery was abolished here in 1845, and late XIX century, foreign countries began to actively invest in the economy of Ecuador. Great Britain searched for oil here, and the Americans built railroads and developed plantations where they grew coffee and cocoa. The British's research turned out to be successful, so in 1923 oil production began on an industrial scale in the South American country.

In the 20th century, the country experienced several uprisings of radical parties, an armed conflict with Peru, coups and decades of military dictatorships. Ecuador met the beginning of the 2000s with high inflation, corruption in all government structures and mass opposition protests. In 2007, new forces came to power and began to carry out active reforms in the economy and socio-cultural sphere.

Modern Ecuador is presidential republic. 15.4 million people live here. About 65% of Ecuadorians are mestizos, 25% are representatives of indigenous Indian tribes, 7% are Spanish and 3% are African-American. The country has two official languages: Spanish (Castillano) and Quechua.

Oil production is well developed in Ecuador. Every day this country produces 500 thousand barrels of “black gold”. Ecuadorians sell most of their oil abroad. In addition, Ecuador exports timber, hemp, rice, coffee, cocoa, bananas, flowers, fish and shrimp to other countries.

Geographical location and climate features

The equator line crosses the country 27 km north of the capital Quito. The western part of Ecuador is represented by lowlands and foothills. Mountain ranges run through the center of the country from north to south, on which many active and extinct volcanoes are located. And the eastern regions lie within the lowlands of the Amazon basin. There are no large rivers here.

Ecuador is one of the few countries on the planet that has an even climate. Due to the equatorial position and the prevailing wind rose, cyclones and anticyclones are practically not pronounced in this South American country, and there are no typhoons or hurricanes.

The air temperature in the mountains stays around +23 °C all year round, but there are sharp changes between temperatures during the day and at night. From December to April, the highlands tend to be a little cooler and rainier.

It's hot on the Pacific coast tropical climate. During the year, the average air temperature is +28 °C. From June to November there is a hot and dry season on the ocean coast, and the rest of the time it rains. Despite this, it is from December to May that the most tourists come to Ecuador.

The jungle in the Amazon has its own climatic features. This part of the country is hot and humid all year round. Average temperature air, as on the ocean shore, is +28 °C. However, the jungle has a dry season, which lasts from January to April, and a rainy season, from May to January.

Quito city

The capital of Ecuador is built at an altitude of more than 2.8 km on the slope of the Pichincha volcano. Historical center Quito attracts a lot of travelers. People enjoy walking along it and traveling in old convertible carriages. In the center is the residence of the country's president, elegantly decorated with wall paintings and intricate balconies.

There are about 50 in Quito Christian churches, and the seven most famous of them are located not far from each other. Although these are working churches, everyone is allowed inside, and in some churches you can even book a tour. In the central part of the city there are many old houses with terraces and courtyards. Here is the famous bullfighting arena - Plaza de Toro's, which is known to all matadors in the world.

The “green” attractions of Quito are its spacious parks. The largest urban park in South America is located here - Metropolitano. Here you can walk through the eucalyptus forest and see the river valley on which Quito stands, as well as a panorama of high volcanoes.

Football and basketball fans love to gather in La Carolina Park. You can meet skateboarders and cyclists here at any time. An exhibition center, a dinosaur museum and a terrarium are open in La Carolina.

National parks of Ecuador

Ecuador is the undisputed leader South America by the number and diversity of protected natural areas. Tourists wishing to visit national parks should be aware that it is not necessary to have any vaccinations before entering Ecuador. But if you are planning a trip through the jungle, it is better to get vaccinated against yellow fever in advance.

Most popular for trekking and mountaineering national park is located around a large active volcano in Ecuador. The Indians call this volcano “Cotopaxi” or “shiny mountain”, as its high snow-white caps never melt even under the rays of the equatorial sun. Cotopaxi has two round craters. There are several trails for tourists along the slopes of the volcano, and a convenient campsite is located at an altitude of 4.7 km. For those interested, walking and horseback riding tours are organized around the park. In the vicinity of the high mountain you can see llamas, wild horses, deer, tiny hummingbirds and agile Andean lapwings. And on the western slope of the volcano there is a famous “cloud” forest, where many endemic plant species grow.

Sangay National Park is located 170 km south of Quito, in the most inaccessible places of Ecuador. Its territory covers 520 thousand hectares: these are the mountainous regions of the Andes with eight belts of high-altitude vegetation, 324 lakes and three Ecuadorian volcanoes, the height of which exceeds 5000 m. There are several thermal springs and the beautiful “Devil's Cauldron” waterfall on the Palora River. Sangay is home to rare Andean foxes, red howler monkeys, South American tapirs, Andean bears, pumas, jaguars, ocelots, Mazama deer, margas and porcupines. In addition to hiking routes, people travel around the park on mountain bikes and horses.

In the province of Oriente there is the Yasuní National Park, where dry mountain and rain forests tropics. They are home to more than 60% of all mammals in Ecuador and 520 species of birds. Yasuni is the only place in the world where 473 tree species can be counted per 1 hectare of forest. In the north of the park, several distinctive Indian tribes live in a special reserve.

Machalilla is the only national park occupying the coastal part of Ecuador. In his security zone includes coral formations near Isla de la Plata, as well as extensive forested areas. Large colonies of birds live here, and there are archaeological sites where artifacts from the pre-Columbian era have been found.

The Turtle or Galapagos Islands are of volcanic origin. They are located near the equator and are 972 km to the west from the mainland of Ecuador. The archipelago consists of 13 islands, 6 small islets and more than a hundred rocks and alluvial areas protruding from the ocean. All of them are one of the provinces of Ecuador. The highest point of the Galapagos - Wolf Volcano - rises to a height of 1707 m. Due to the cold current, the climate here is slightly cooler than in other places on the equator.

The Galapagos were discovered in 1535, and they began to belong to Ecuador in 1832. The unique local fauna was explored and described by Charles Darwin. Since 1978, the Galapagos Islands have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and have the status of a World Biosphere Reserve. It is home to elephant and green turtles, marine iguanas, common conolophids, blue-footed boobies, as well as endemic species of penguins, cormorants, buzzards and sea lions. In the coastal waters of the archipelago you can find whales, killer whales and sharks.

Five islands are inhabited, and total quantity Their population is just over 25 thousand people. Most of the islanders are engaged in fishing and serving tourists. The capital of the archipelago is located on the island of San Cristobal, and the largest in size is Isabela Island.

There are many interesting tours around the Galapagos. These include cruise trips on comfortable yachts, diving tours to explore the underwater world, as well as trips to natural attractions on the islands themselves. Travelers can see many endemic animals and visit the crater of the Sierra Negra volcano, which reaches a diameter of 10 km and is considered the largest on the planet.

More than 90% of the archipelago and the adjacent marine area are part of the Ecuadorian National Park. There is an entrance fee: $100 for adults and $50 for children. Payment for visiting the national park is taken in cash upon arrival in the Galapagos Islands.

While in a protected area, travelers must adhere to certain rules. In the Galapagos it is allowed to move only along special trails and stop at equipped areas. Excursions around the islands are accompanied by a local guide who is an employee of the national park. In addition, guests must refrain from any activities that may harm wildlife.

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Local cuisine

Ecuadorian cuisine is considered one of the most exquisite in the world, because it is the only Latin American country where it has been possible to preserve the original culinary traditions of Indian tribes. As many centuries ago, Ecuadorians prefer soups, seafood dishes and side dishes made from grains, vegetables, rice, fried plantains and yucca.

One of the most popular is the potato soup “locro de papas”, prepared with peas and maize. This soup is usually served with avocado and grated cheese. Ecuadorians also love chicken soup"caldo de galina" fish soup with yucca and banana “sancocho”, fish and vegetable soup “chupe de pescado”.

Thanks to the Indians, Ecuadorians learned to cook many exotic dishes: potato soup with blood “jaguarlocro”, broth with fried veal hooves “caldo de pata”, fried guinea pig “cuy” and crab dish “cangrejada”. In local restaurants it is worth trying a popular spicy dish - ceviche, which is made from seafood marinated in lime juice.

Recipes meat dishes In Ecuador, they mainly have Spanish roots, but many meat dishes prepared in the culinary traditions of the indigenous Indians have been preserved here. For example, “guatita” is a dish of cow tripe with potatoes and peanut sauce. Instead of bread, Ecuadorians prefer to eat fried green plantains called patacones, fried corn called canguil, and tortillas made from maize flour.

Beautiful warm climate and fertile lands provide Ecuadorians and tourists with a large amount of tropical fruits. In this country they drink a lot of freshly squeezed juices, which perfectly quench thirst. In addition, Ecuadorians like to mix the juice with water or milk, getting “batidos”. When traveling around Ecuador, you should try the exotic naranjilla juice, which has flavors of pineapple, passion fruit and strawberry, as well as tree tomato juice, which tastes like a mixture of tomatoes and citrus fruits.

Surprisingly, in a country that grows and exports coffee, this drink is not very popular. Common to Europeans loose leaf tea Ecuadorians have no respect either. They prefer to drink herbal teas made from local flowers and herbs, and for dessert they serve a variety of cookies, Yogoso ice cream and humitas sweet corn.

Ecuadorian beer has a good reputation throughout South America. The most popular varieties are “Club”, “Belle” and “Pilsner”. From more strong drinks Ecuadorians love chicha corn vodka and aguardiente cane vodka, which tastes like strong rum. The latter is often drunk with the addition of sugar, cinnamon or fruit juices.

Accommodation

In Quito and others major cities In Ecuador you can find hotels of different price categories. Hotels of the world's major hotel chains have been built to accommodate tourists, and there are also a sufficient number of expensive luxury apartments.

In the Galapagos, travelers can expect cheaper accommodation. You won't find any hotels here high level service and there are not many good seafood restaurants. Because of this, many tourists prefer to travel between the islands on comfortable yachts. Cruise tourism allows you to see a lot of interesting things, and the service on first-class yachts lives up to all expectations.

Fans of jungle tours, as a rule, stay in budget ecological lodges. They have sufficient amenities for a comfortable stay.

Transport

The territory of Ecuador is crossed by a network highways with a length of more than 46,000 km, and about 6.5 thousand km of them are paved. Several highways pass through the country good quality. However, it is not recommended to rent a car in Ecuador. This is due to the fact that in cities there is practically no compliance with the rules traffic, making it difficult and unsafe for foreigners to drive in this country.

Due to the mountainous terrain, Ecuador has few railways. Their total length is only 1200 km. The main trains run between the cities of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. These are old trains that run very slowly. In addition, on railway Lengthy renovation work occurs from time to time.

The country has well-developed aviation connections. Almost all domestic flights depart from Quito or Guayaquil. You can comfortably fly to the Galapagos Islands on local planes.

Travel between cities by regular buses. There are two types: cheap public buses and more expensive “Ejecutivo”, which provide passengers with greater convenience and safety. There are two trolleybus lines in the capital of Ecuador.

Taxis are usually used inside cities. Tourists are driven through the streets in cars yellow, where travel can be paid by meter or by agreement with the driver. It should be taken into account that in evening time Taxi drivers work at double rates.

Souvenirs

You can buy nice things to remember your stay in Ecuador in shops, markets and from local residents. Most shops in the country are open from 9.00 to 19.00 and are closed on Sundays. IN rural areas During the daytime, all retail establishments close for a 2-3 hour siesta.

Excellent souvenirs from Ecuador include handmade ceramics, wool products, national clothing, homespun tapestries and silver jewelry, as well as cheap charcoal fans woven from palm leaves. In the village of Cotacachi, tourists usually buy high-quality leather goods, in the city of Ibarra - beautiful wooden crafts, and in the city of Otavalo - colorful Indian carpets.

In Quito, souvenirs are sold at the indoor Indian market. In addition, on weekends, a souvenir fair opens in the city park of El Ejido, where they sell paintings by local artists, jewelry and bright ponchos with Indian patterns.

In terms of area, Ecuador is one of the smallest South American countries.
Ecuador is home to the highest active volcano on the planet - Cotopaxi (5897 m). It is located 60 km from Quito. Above 5200 m above sea level, the slopes of the volcano are covered with an ice cap.
Every year, about 200 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher occur in Ecuador.
The memorial complex dedicated to the equator does not stand on the equator itself, but is located 27 km from the city of Quito. This is one of the most visited monuments in Ecuador.
Ecuadorians are not rich. Only 10% of real estate is bought by local residents.
The right to vote in this country is mandatory, and it is granted not only to indigenous residents, but also to foreigners living in the country. Ecuadorian legislation provides for a fine for evading elections.
The country prohibits the import of used cars older than one year.
Homosexual relations, prostitution, wearing firearms and abortion is prohibited. The minimum sentence for drug crimes is 8 years.

Customs and visa features

Ecuador is the only state on the planet where there is visa-free entry for citizens of any country. And this is one of the few countries on the planet that recognizes the “World Citizen Passport”. Russians do not have to apply for a visa to Ecuador for up to 90 days.

You can import foreign and local currency without restrictions within the limits specified in customs declaration. Adults are allowed to carry up to 1 liter of alcohol, up to 300 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 200 g of tobacco.

Exporting leather and wool products from Ecuador is only possible if there is a receipt from the store. The export of crafts made from black coral, antiques, gold items, wild animals and stuffed animals is prohibited.

How to get there

You can fly to Quito from Russia with transfers in Madrid, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. The flight takes from 17 hours. Other cities in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands can be reached using local airlines or ground transportation.

ECUADOR, Republic of Ecuador (Republica del Ecuador), a state in the north-west of South America, on both sides of the equator; Ecuador is washed by the Pacific Ocean. Ecuador includes the Galapagos Islands. The area of Ecuador is 283.6 thousand km2.

Ecuador borders on the north with Colombia, on the east and south with Peru, its western part washed by the Pacific Ocean. The region of the Galapagos Islands stands apart in physical and geographical terms. From the coast to the islands 1000 km. There are 17 in this area big islands and 100 small ones. Main feature archipelago - its rare fauna. Administrative division of Ecuador: 21 provinces. The capital of Ecuador is Quito. The head of state and government is the president. The legislative body is the National Congress.

Geographically, the country is divided into 3 zones - the lowland part of the coast, the central mountainous area with the high Andes and the eastern side (Amazonian jungle). In this country, which has been so deeply affected by volcanism, there are no less than 20 active volcanoes from Mount Sangay to the border with Colombia. The most famous of these volcanoes are Pichincha (4789 m), rising above the city of Quito, Ilinisa (5212 m) and the colossal Chimborazo (6262 m) - the highest point of Ecuador. Although some of these volcanoes are very ancient and have long been extinct, such as Chimborazo, others, in particular Cotopaxi and Sangay, are still active. There are frequent earthquakes here, often catastrophic.

Soaring mountains, fire escaping from the depths of the earth, cold at an extraordinary altitude and tropical sun, all taken together have turned Ecuador into one of the countries with the most dramatic differences natural environment on the globe. There are more than 20 in the country national parks and ecological reserves occupying about 16% of Ecuador's territory. The most famous of them are the Galapagos Islands and the national parks of Cotopaxi and Sangay.

Climate of Ecuador

Natural conditions are largely determined by the Andes. Southern part The coast of Ecuador is washed by the Pacific Humboldt Current, the cold waters of which have a significant impact on the climate. Ecuador has all types of climates - from humid and hot in the southwest and north to harsh, cold. The climate of the High Andes of Ecuador is cool and damp. Temperatures here are always low, with significant daily fluctuations (from 13 to 2 degrees Celsius). The typical weather for these places is drizzling rain, turning into snow and fog. In the lower part of the mountains, the average annual temperature fluctuates around 22 degrees. The average temperature on the coast is 30 degrees, and in the east of the country - 25. Temperatures on the Galapagos Islands are relatively low for equatorial latitudes, with monthly averages ranging from 21 to 26 degrees.

Plants and fauna of Ecuador

No other country in South America has such a wide range of different plant communities as Ecuador.

The Pacific Andes, from Cape Pasado to just below the equator, are covered with dense rain forest. Then the rain forests give way to xerophytic shrubs, heralding the approach to the deserts of Peru. The southern part of the coast of Ecuador is washed by the Humbolt Current (Peruvian Current), the cold waters of which cause a sharp decrease in precipitation. Rare thorny and xerophytic trees are interspersed with numerous cacti and crotons. The most famous tree in the area is the palo de balsa. Found both in the Guayas River valley on the lower slopes of the Andes and in northern Peru, this tree is famous for its lightest wood in the world. The Indians used it to build their light ships (the Spanish word balsa means “raft”). But perhaps the most famous unique case of using balsa was the construction of the Kon-Tiki raft from its wood, on which the Norwegian ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl covered a distance of 7740 km from Peru to the islands of Polynesia.

Also found in this area is a palm-like plant, the palmate carludowica. The famous “Panama hats” are made from the fiber of its leaves, the production centers of which are located in Ecuador and northern Peru. The high Andes of Ecuador, called paramos, are covered with herbaceous plants, above which tower taller ones, the most typical of which is the espeletia or frailejon, 1.5 to 6 meters high, the stem topped with a huge bouquet of spear-shaped leaves covered with hairs. During the flowering period, espelettes are covered with clusters of flowers. The local flora of the inter-Andean valley has been largely replaced by cultivated plants. Beyond the Eastern Cordillera, after the transitional forest zone, the tropical forest zone begins.

There are at least 1,357 bird species in Ecuador, the most interesting of which are hummingbirds (120 species). Paramos is inhabited by: mountain tapir, little deer(northern pudu), spectacled bear.

But the most rare species animals live on the Galapagos Islands, forming a closed world that has escaped the rapid process of evolution. Isolation allowed archaic creatures to survive here that had long disappeared in other parts of the globe. The percentage of endemic species here is very high due to their differentiation in isolated areas. Some species of animals exist only in the Galapagos, such as Darwin's finches or ground finches. The most interesting of all the animals of the Galapagos is marine iguana- a giant reptile more than a meter long. The ridge in the middle of her back makes her look like a dragon. The islands are also home to the land iguana, which differs from its distant relative in having a shorter tail and brighter color (from bright yellow to reddish-brown). The islands are also home to 15 species of giant land turtles. These giants are found only on the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean.

The waters surrounding the Galapagos are famous for their abundance of dolphins and whales. Close proximity of cold and warm waters led to a peculiar combination of the fauna of warm and cold seas in one area. The existence of penguins in the Galapagos is a true paradox. Along with the birds south seas, adjacent to them and the iguanas, they form one of the most amazing spectacles on the globe. Also on the islands there are 2 species of pinnipeds, the rarest of which is the Galapagos fur seal.

Population of Ecuador

Before the invasion of the Incas and Spaniards, the Indian tribes Caras (on the coast) and Quitu (in the mountains) lived in Ecuador. In the 11th century. they united into the kingdom of Kitu, and all Indians began to be called Shiri. By 1300 The Purua tribes came from the south and mixed with the Shiri. This kingdom was conquered at the end of the 15th century. Incas and became the northern outskirts of their empire. In 1526 The Inca emperor died, after which the empire fell into two parts, incl. northern with its center in Quito. In 1532-1535 it was conquered by Spanish conquistadors led by Pizarro, and in 1563. became the royal audience of Quito, which until 1739. was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, and in 1739. was transferred to the newly created Viceroyalty of New Granada. In 1822 the territory of Quito was liberated from the Spaniards and was included in the Federation of Gran Colombia, but in 1830. came out of it and became independent state called the Republic of Ecuador. Some areas of the country were transferred to neighboring Colombia (in 1916) and Peru (in 1942; the Amazon region between the Marañon and Putumayo rivers). The head of the republic and government is the president, the parliament (National Congress) consists of one chamber. Official language is Spanish; The Indians speak predominantly Quechua. The country's territory is divided into 22 provinces.

Population 13.710 thousand people. (2003), the majority live in the intermountain Sierra plateau and in the port cities of the Pacific coast. The eastern half of the Oriente country is not inhabited at all. Ethnic composition: mestizos - 65%, Indians (Quechuas predominate, Jivaros live in the east, Alamos live east of Quito) - 25%, Creoles - 7%, blacks - 3%. 95% of the population are Catholics. 63% of the population lives in cities.

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Flora of Ecuador unusually rich - grows here huge number plant species. At altitudes below 2000 there are evergreen forests, the height of trees in which often exceeds 50 meters. As the altitude increases, vines, ferns and shrubs appear; above 3.5 kilometers - resinous shrubs and grasses. When you reach a height of 4500 meters, only rocks and eternal snow appear. It should be noted that on the western slopes of the Andes there are huge plantations of bananas, palm trees and cocoa.

Fauna of Ecuador(fauna) of the country is no less diverse - such representatives as the jaguar, puma, wild cat, spectacled bear, tapir, northern pudu, monkeys and many others live here. The most interesting part of the fauna is undoubtedly the world of reptiles inhabiting the Galapagos Islands. The famous Galapagos tortoises, sea and land iguanas are found here, and in the coastal waters you can find whales, dolphins, fur seals and even penguins.

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Located on the northwestern coast of South America. It borders on Colombia in the north, and Peru in the east and south. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The country's name comes from the Spanish ecuador, which means "territory on either side of the equator."

Official name: Republic of Ecuador

Capital: Quito

Territory area: 283.6 thousand sq. km. (including the Galapagos Islands - 7.8 thousand sq. km)

Total Population: 14.8 million people

Administrative division: The state is divided into 22 provinces.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President.

Population composition: 65% are mestizos, 25% are Amerindians, 7% are Spaniards, 3% are Africans.

Official language: Spanish. Many local residents continue to speak the Indian dialects Quechua, Jíbaro, Cofay Aushiri, Canelo and Zaparo.

Religion: 89% are Catholics, 11% are Protestants.

Internet domain: .ec

Mains voltage: ~110 V, 60 Hz

Country dialing code: +593

Country barcode: 786

Climate

The climate is equatorial and mountain-equatorial, in the south - subequatorial. The general picture of the natural and climatic conditions of the country is extremely heterogeneous - in fact, here you can observe a huge variety of microclimatic zones associated with the peculiarities of the local topography - even neighboring sections of the valley can differ radically from each other in weather due to different topography.

TO characteristic features local climate also includes rapid changes in local weather during the day, which is associated with different heating of mountain slopes under the influence sun rays, changing their azimuth during the day. Ecuadorians even say “we have four seasons in one day.” With a certain degree of convention, two seasons can be distinguished in Ecuador - humid hot and dry cool.

Average monthly temperatures in Quito in summer range from +18 to +25 C, in winter - from -3 to +13 C. Precipitation is about 600 mm. per year, with a noticeable decrease in levels between August and February. Central Plains They are famous for their fairly uniform climate - all year round here from +17 to +24 C, precipitation falls no more than 300 mm, mainly in the off-season and autumn.

In the southern part of Costa, summer temperatures fluctuate around +23 C, winter temperatures around +19 C. At the same time, no more than 200 mm of rain falls per year. In Oriente, the average annual temperature is +30-35 C, while a huge amount of precipitation falls here - from 5000 mm on the eastern slopes of the Andes to 4500 in the lowland areas (July and August are the wettest months, from September to December the amount of precipitation decreases noticeably).

Geography

Ecuador is located in South America. The equator passes 24 km north of the country's capital, Quito, which is where it got its name. The area of Ecuador is more than 280 thousand square meters. km. In the west it is washed by the Pacific Ocean, in the north it borders with Colombia, and in the east and south with Peru. The western coastal part of Ecuador is occupied by lowlands, in the central part there is mountainous region Sierra with high Andes.

The Andes consist of two ridges, elongated meridionally, between which there is an intermountain basin. The mountain ranges include about 20 active volcanoes. The highest point of Ecuador is the Chimborazo volcano (6310 m), which is considered extinct. Also known are the volcanoes Pichincha (near the capital of the country - Quito), Cayambe (5790 m), Ilinisa and the destructive Cotopaxi (5897 m) and Sangay. The most active volcano is considered to be Sumaco (3732 m) in the north of the eastern Andes.

Earthquakes often occur in Ecuador, which are most dangerous for mountain villages. In the east of the country lies the Amazonian jungle, which is called Oriente. Ecuador also owns the Galapagos Islands, which are located 1000 km from the Pacific coast and consist of more than 100 islands.

Flora and fauna

Flora

Nowadays, most of the western slopes of the Andes are occupied by banana, palm and cocoa plantations. Closer to the deserts of Peru, xerophytic vegetation begins with cacti and crotons, and the palo de balsa tree grows here with the lightest wood from which Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki raft was built. IN high Andes paramos grows - herbaceous plants such as espeletia or frailechon, they can reach a height of 6 meters. Tropical forests grow in the Amazon jungle.

Animal world

Typical inhabitants of Paramos are mountain tapir, small deer (northern pudu), and spectacled bear. In addition, Ecuador is home to such large animals as the jaguar, puma, wild cat, monkeys, and smaller animals - weasel, otter, skunk, raccoon, tayra, grison, kinkajou and coati.

Birds include tanagers, all kinds of parrots, toucans and hummingbirds; pigeons and woodpeckers are also found. The world of reptiles is diverse - frogs, toads, turtles, crocodiles, lizards and snakes.

But the most interesting is the flora and fauna on the Galapagos Islands. In conditions of isolation, the most incredible species of animals have been preserved here - ground finches, marine iguana (a giant reptile more than a meter long), land iguana, and more than 15 species of turtles. The coastal waters of the Galapagos Islands are home to dolphins and whales, the Galapagos fur seal and, most amazingly, penguins!

Attractions

Ecuador, which means "equator" in Spanish, lies on either side of this line on the globe. One of the most unusual countries on the continent, on whose territory there is a colossal mountain system The Andes with a huge number of dormant and active volcanoes, the exotic Amazon with its diverse natural world and unique tribes, a long sea coast and dozens of mountain

Resorts,

Ecuador is considered one of the best places South America for active recreation. At the same time, the country’s historical heritage is also very diverse, which makes it an excellent holiday destination for lovers of cultural tourism.

Galapagos Islands
Volcano Road
Cotopaxi
Cuenca
Sangay
Chimborazo

Banks and currency

The national currency of the country is the US dollar (US$), equal to 100 cents (centavos). In circulation are banknotes in denominations of $100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, as well as coins of $1, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent. There is also a $2 banknote and a $1 coin in circulation, but they are becoming less and less common in circulation.

Everywhere, except banks, you can encounter difficulties with paying with large denomination ($100 and $50) bills, regardless of the year of issue and series.

Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 13.30 and from 14.30 to 18.30. Some banks are open on Saturdays from 09.30 to 14.00. But after 13.30 work with private clients is usually not carried out. Casa de Cambio exchange offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00, on Saturdays from 09.00 to 12.00.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, banks and exchange offices (however, the number of the latter is increasingly decreasing due to the transition of the country's monetary system to American currency). It is quite difficult to change foreign currencies other than US dollars in some inland provinces, especially Oriente. Typically, banks and Casa de Cambio charge a commission of 1-4% for exchange transactions.

Credit cards from the world's leading payment systems are widely accepted in tourist areas and in large hotels, although they often charge an additional tax for their use (from 6% to 8%), and cheaper establishments simply do not accept them for payment (even if there is a sign on the door work with them).

Travel checks can be cashed at most banks in large cities, and most often only accept checks in US dollars. A noticeable inconvenience of using checks here is the lengthy procedure for verifying their authenticity - American Express checks usually take up to 24 hours to cash, while checks from lesser-known companies sometimes take up to a week to check).

Useful information for tourists

The relative cheapness of food and the fairly rapidly developing tourism market make Ecuador an attractive country for tourism.

The country has the most favorable conditions for a trip to the jungle. There are hiking trails and parking areas in the Oriente National Park, two nature reserves and eight protected areas. Along one of the tributaries of the Amazon, the Napo River, you can take an unforgettable trip in a real Indian pirogue or on a ship.

No vaccinations are required to enter the country. However, if you plan to hike in the Amazon jungle, a yellow fever vaccination is recommended. Some areas of Ecuador are at high altitudes and visiting them may adversely affect the health of travelers with cardiovascular disease.

Bargaining is quite appropriate in souvenir shops and craft markets.