Traveling Tales  Sincholagua's Peak, by Tom Smallwood. | |
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Country Overview | |
Ecuador borders the Pacific Ocean at the equator, with Colombia to the North and Peru to the South. Land area totals 276,840 sq km, including the Galapagos Islands. Coastal climate is tropical while inland mountainous regions can be inhospitable. The Ecuadorean Andes are home to Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world. Government type is a Republic, with President Gustavo Noboa Bejarano, Vice President Pedro Pinto Rubianes, their cabinet and the National Congress residing in the capital city Quito. Population is 12.9 million with a 2.2% rate of natural increase. Language is officially Spanish, spoken by the majority of the population. Also, over 2 million speak Native American languages, most notably, Quichua. Economy benefits from substantial natural resources, including oil and agricultural products. However, growth can be inconsistent with fluctuation in world market prices. GDP per capita is US$2,900 with 50% of the population living below the poverty line. Maps: Political Map - Physical Map |