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EcuadorEcuador<!-- begin quick bar --> <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:ec-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Quito</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>republic<br/></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>US dollar (USD)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 283,560 sq km <br>''note:'' includes Galapagos Islands <br>''water:'' 6,720 sq km <br>''land:'' 276,840 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>13,447,494 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Roman Catholic 95%</td></tr> </table> </div> <!-- end quick bar --> '''Ecuador''' is a country in Western South America, with a Pacific Ocean coastline, lying on the Equator between Colombia, to the northeast, and Peru, to the south and east. The highest active volcano in world, Cotopaxi, which is in the Andes, is in Ecuador. ==Regions== Image:ec-map.png|frame|Map of Ecuador *The Amazon (Ecuador)|Amazon *The Andean Highlands (Ecuador)|Andean Highlands *The Coastal Lowlands (Ecuador)|Coastal Lowlands *The Galapagos Islands ; '''Administrative divisions''' : 22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe ==Cities== *Quito - Capital *Guayaquil - Largest port city *Cuenca (Ecuador)|Cuenca ===Ports and harbors=== Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo ==Other destinations== *Piedra Blanca *San Miguel *Tena ==Understand== ===Climate=== Tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands. Natural hazards include floods and periodic droughts. ===Terrain=== Coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) Experiences frequent earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity; ; ''Highest point'' : Chimborazo 6,267 m ===History=== The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. ; '''Independence''' : 24 May 1822 (from Spain) ; '''National holiday''' : Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809) ; '''Constitution''' : 10 August 1998 ==Get in== ===By plane=== Quito's airport has an executive lounge shared by all the airlines with drinks, snacks, and seating areas. The view is not of the airplanes and runway, but there is a view of the airport entrance and the surrounding mountain. Business class travellers get a free invitation. Economy passengers may enter by paying USD $12 as of August 2004. If you wish to try taking a bus instead of a taxi to the "gringo" section of Quito, you can exit customs, cross the main street, and board any bus with "J.L. Mera" or "Juan L. Mera" on the sign. The cost will be about USD $0.25, as of August 2004. ===By train=== ===By car=== ===By bus=== ===By boat=== ==Get around== ==Talk== ; '''Languages''' : Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua) ==Buy== ==Eat== ==Drink== Aguardiente is the local firewater. ==Sleep== ==Learn== ==Work== ==Stay safe== ==Stay healthy== ==Respect== Among many other cultural idiosyncrasies, it is considered impolite to use a downward-facing palm as a reference for the height of a person. Instead, the hand is held on its side, and the measurement taken from the lower edge to the floor. Gesturing with the palm down is appropriate for animals only. ==Contact== The South American Explorers Club is a good source of information. They have an office in Quito, and a website which may be found with google. ==External links== fr:Équateur ro:Ecuador WikiPedia:{{PAGENAME}} {{stub}} ---- ''The rest of this article is an Wikitravel:CIA World Factbook 2002 import|import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a '''real''' Wikitravel country article according to our Wikitravel:country article template|country article template. Please Wikitravel:plunge forward|plunge forward and integrate it into the article above.'' ---- ==Geography== ; '''Geographic coordinates''' : 2 00 S, 77 30 W ; '''Area''' : ''total:'' 283,560 sq km <br>''note:'' includes Galapagos Islands <br>''water:'' 6,720 sq km <br>''land:'' 276,840 sq km ; '''Area - comparative''' : slightly smaller than Nevada ; '''Coastline''' : 2,237 km ; '''Maritime claims''' : ''continental shelf:'' claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands <br>''territorial sea:'' 200 NM ; '''Natural resources''' : petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower ; '''Land use''' : ''arable land:'' 5.69% <br>''permanent crops:'' 5.15% <br>''other:'' 89.16% (1998 est.) ; '''Irrigated land''' : 8,650 sq km (1998 est.) ; '''Environment - current issues''' : deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands ; '''Environment - international agreements''' : ''party to:'' Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands <br>''signed, but not ratified:'' none of the selected agreements ==People== ; '''Population''' : 13,447,494 (July 2002 est.) ; '''Nationality''' : ''noun:'' Ecuadorian(s) <br>''adjective:'' Ecuadorian ; '''Ethnic groups''' : mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3% ; '''Religions''' : Roman Catholic 95% ==Government== ; '''Country name''' : ''conventional long form:'' Republic of Ecuador <br>''conventional short form:'' Ecuador <br>''local short form:'' Ecuador <br>''local long form:'' Republica del Ecuador ; '''Government type''' : republic ; '''Legal system''' : based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction ; '''Judicial branch''' : Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court) ; '''Diplomatic representation in the US''' : ''chief of mission:'' Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI <br>''consulate(s) general:'' Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco <br>''FAX:'' [1] (202) 667-3482 <br>''telephone:'' [1] (202) 234-7200 <br>''chancery:'' 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 ; '''Diplomatic representation from the US''' : ''chief of mission:'' Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEY <br>''embassy:'' Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito <br>''mailing address:'' APO AA 34039 <br>''telephone:'' [593] (2) 256-2890 <br>''FAX:'' [593] (2) 250-2052 <br>''consulate(s) general:'' Guayaquil ; '''Flag description''' : three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms ==Economy== ; '''Economy - overview''' : Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. The aftermath of El Nino and depressed oil market of 1997-98 drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in 1999. The beginning of 1999 saw the banking sector collapse, which helped precipitate an unprecedented default on external loans later that year. Continued economic instability drove a 70% depreciation of the currency throughout 1999, which forced a desperate government to "dollarize" the currency regime in 2000. The move stabilized the currency, but did not stave off the ouster of the government. Gustavo NOBOA, who assumed the presidency in January 2000, has managed to pass substantial economic reforms and mend relations with international financial institutions. Ecuador completed its first standby agreement since 1986 when the IMF Board approved a 10 December 2001 disbursement of $96 million, the final installment of a $300 million standby credit agreement. ; '''Industries''' : petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber ; '''Agriculture - products''' : bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp ; '''Exports - commodities''' : petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish ; '''Imports - commodities''' : machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, fuels; consumer goods ; '''Currency''' : US dollar (USD) ; '''Currency code''' : USD ; '''Exchange rates''' : sucres per US dollar - 25,000.0 (January 2002), 25,000.0 (2001), 24,988.4 (2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997) <br>''note:'' on 13 March 2000, the National Congress approved a new exchange system whereby the US dollar was adopted as the main legal tender in Ecuador for all purposes; on 20 March 2000, the Central Bank of Ecuador started to exchange sucres for US dollars at a fixed rate of 25,000 sucres per US dollar; since 30 April 2000, all transactions are denominated in US dollars ==Communications== ; '''Telephones - main lines in use''' : 1,115,272 (1999) ; '''Telephones - mobile cellular''' : 384,000 (1999) ; '''Telephone system''' : ''general assessment:'' generally elementary but being expanded <br>''domestic:'' facilities generally inadequate and unreliable <br>''international:'' satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) ; '''Radio broadcast stations''' : AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001) ; '''Radios''' : 5 million (2001) ; '''Television broadcast stations''' : 7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001) ; '''Televisions''' : 2.5 million (2001) ; '''Internet country code''' : .ec ; '''Internet Service Providers (ISPs)''' : 31 (2001) ; '''Internet users''' : 328,000 (2002) ==Transportation== ; '''Railways''' : ''total:'' 965 km <br>''narrow gauge:'' 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2000 est.) ; '''Highways''' : ''total:'' 43,197 km <br>''paved:'' 8,165 km <br>''unpaved:'' 35,032 km (2001) ; '''Waterways''' : 1,500 km ; '''Airports''' : 205 (2001) ; '''Airports - with paved runways''' : ''total:'' 61 <br>''over 3,047 m:'' 3 <br>''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 4 <br>''914 to 1,523 m:'' 18 <br>''under 914 m:'' 18 (2002) <br>''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 18 ; '''Airports - with unpaved runways''' : ''total:'' 144 <br>''914 to 1,523 m:'' 31 <br>''under 914 m:'' 113 (2002) ; '''Heliports''' : 1 (2002) ==Military== ; '''Military branches''' : Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police ==Transnational Issues== ; '''Illicit drugs''' : significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; dollarization may raise the volume of money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
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