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 Ecuador is geographically and ethnically diverse. It
is bordered in the north by Colombia and in the east and south by Peru.
The Galapagos Islands are a province of Ecuador located 650 miles off
Ecuador's Pacific coast.
Despite its small size, Ecuador is one of the world's
most varied countries. The country is divided in three regions: A highland region, the Sierra, crosses the central
part of Ecuador from north to south. The Sierra consists of two parallel
ranges (cordilleras) of the Andes and of upland basins, up to 65 km (40
mi) wide, that lie between the ranges. To the west of the Sierra is the
Pacific coastal zone, the Costa. To the east of the Sierra is a part of
the upper Amazon River basin, the Oriente or eastern jungle.
Quito, the country’s capital, is high in the Andes
Mountains. Guayaquil, a port along the Pacific coast, is the largest
city.
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 Ecuador's climate is equally generous to the
traveler. Embracing the Pacific, Ecuador rests squarely on the equator
(hence its name). Here, seasons are defined more by rainfall than
temperature. A warm rainy season lasts from January to April, and May
through December is characterized by a cooler, drier period that is
ideally timed for a summer trip. Ecuador is a country of boundless diversity, friendly
people and spectacular natural wonders. |
