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South America and South Atlantic Islands
Ecuador |
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Country information
GEOGRAPHY
Ecuador straddles the equator in the north-western part of South America. The country is bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the south and east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Galapagos archipelago, famous for its connection with Charles Darwin, is part of Ecuador and is set in the Pacific Ocean some 960km off the Ecuadorian coast. Ecuador has a tropical climate in coastal regions, but gets cooler as you move inland. The terrain consists of coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and a flat, rolling jungle in the east (oriente). Elevation varies from sea level to 6,310m. Guayaquil, on the coast, is Ecuador’s largest city. At an altitude of 2,850m above sea level the capital Quito is set in a hollow at the foot of Rucu Pinchincha (4,794m). It is the second highest capital in Latin America after La Paz. Guagua Pichincha, an active volcano, overlooks the city 12km away.
