Republic of Ecuador
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Dios, patria y libertad"  (Spanish) "Pro Deo, Patria et Libertate"  (Latin) "God, homeland and liberty"
Anthem: Salve, Oh Patria  (Spanish) We Salute You, Our Homeland
Capital		Quito 00°9′S 78°21′W / -0.15, -78.35
Largest city		Guayaquil
Official languages		Spanish
Demonym		Ecuadorian, Ecuadorean
Government		Presidential republic
-	President	Rafael Correa
-	Vice President	Lenín Moreno
Independence
-	from Spain	May 24, 1822
-	from Gran Colombia	May 13, 1830
Area
-	Total	256,370 km² (73rd) 98,985 sq mi
-	Water (%)	8. The flag of Ecuador, which consists of horizontal bands of yellow (double width blue and red was adopted on September 26, 1860. The coat of arms of Ecuador (Spanish Escudo de armas del Ecuador) in its current form was established in 1900 based on an older version of 1845 A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's "¡Salve Oh Patria!" ("We Salute You Our Homeland" is the National anthem of Ecuador. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Ecuador's population is ethnically diverse Mestizos ' (those of mixed Amerindian and Spanish ancestry are by far the largest of all the ethnic groups constituting Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature List of Heads of State of Ecuador (Dates in italics indicate 'de facto' continuation of office Rival governments in rebellion Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado (born 6 April 1963 in Guayaquil) is the President of the Republic of Ecuador. Vice President of Ecuador is the second highest political position in Ecuador. Lenín Voltaire Moreno Garcés (b 19 March 1953, in Nuevo Rocafuerte in the province of Orellana) has been the Vice-President Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gran Colombia ( Spanish for Great Colombia) is a name used today for the Republic of Colombia of the period 1819-1831 Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here Surface areas between 100000 km² and 1000000 km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 8
Population
-	2007 estimate	13,755,680 (65th)
-	Density	53. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/km² (147th) 139. List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² 4/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$61. The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 7 billion (70th)
-	Per capita	$4,776 (111th)
Gini		42 (medium)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 772 (medium) (89th)
Currency		U.S. dollar2 (USD)
Time zone		ECT, GALT (UTC-5, -6)
Internet TLD		.ec
Calling code		+593
1	Quichua and other Amerindian languages spoken by indigenous communities. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Ecuador Time ( ECT) as named by Zoneinfo, is the time observed in mainland Ecuador since 1931 Galápagos Time ( GALT) is the time observed since 1986 in the province of Galápagos, which is coterminous with the Región Insular (Insular Region of A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Kichwa ( Kichwa shimi, Runashimi, also Spanish Quichua) is a Quechuan language including all Quechua varieties spoken Indigenous languages of the Americas (or Amerindian Languages are spoken by indigenous peoples from the southern tip of South America to Alaska and
2	Sucre until 2000, followed by the U. The sucre was the Currency of Ecuador between 1884 and 2000 Its ISO code was ECS and it was subdivided into 10 decimos or 100 S. dollar and Ecuadorian centavo coins

Ecuador (IPA: /ˈɛkwədɔər/), officially the Republic of Ecuador (Spanish: República del Ecuador, literally, "Republic of the equator") is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. Ecuadorian centavo coins were introduced in 2000 when Ecuador converted its currency from the sucre to the U The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth 's surface with the plane perpendicular to the South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions It is one of only two countries in South America (with Chile) that does not have a border with Brazil. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 965 kilometers (600 miles) west of the mainland. Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name, and has an area of 256,371 square kilometers (98,985 mi²). The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth 's surface with the plane perpendicular to the Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Its capital city is Quito; its largest city is Guayaquil. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Inca Empire 1.2 Colonization by Spain 1.3 Independence 1.4 The liberal revolution 1.5 War with Peru 1.6 Military governments (1972-1979) 1.7 Return to a new democracy 2 Politics 3 Provinces and cantons 4 Nations of Ecuador 5 Geography and climate 6 Biodiversity 7 Economy 8 Demographics 9 Religion 10 Culture 10.1 Sports 10.2 Food 10.3 Art 10.4 Film 11 Transportation 12 See also 13 References 14 External links

History

Main article: History of Ecuador

Evidence of human cultures in Ecuador exists from c. This is the History of Ecuador. See also the History of South America and the History of present-day nations and states. 3500 B. C. [2] Many civilizations rose throughout Ecuador, such as the Valdivia Culture and Machalilla Culture on the coast, the Quitus (near present day Quito) and the Cañari (near present day Cuenca). The Valdivia culture is one of the oldest settled cultures recorded in the Americas The Machalilla were a prehistoric people in Ecuador, in southern Manabí and the Santa Elena Peninsula The Quitus were the aboriginal occupants of the now capital of Ecuador, Quito. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Each civilization developed its own distinctive architecture, pottery, and religious interests. After years of fiery resistance by the Cayambes and other tribes, as demonstrated by the battle of Yahuarcocha (Blood Lake) where thousands of resistance fighters were killed and thrown in the lake, what is now Ecuador fell to the Incan expansion and was assimilated loosely into the Incan empire.

The Inca Empire

Through a succession of wars and marriages and among the nations that inhabited the valley, the region became part of the Inca Empire. Atahualpa, one of the sons of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac, could not receive the crown of the Empire since the emperor had another son, Huascar, born in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire. Atahualpa, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa, or Atawallpa ( Quito – Cajamarca, August 29, 1533) was the last sovereign Huayna Capac (Quechua Wayna Qhapaq "splendid youth" was the eleventh Sapa Inca (1464 &ndash 1527 of the Inca Empire and sixth of the Hanan Inti Cusi Huallpa Huáscar ( Quechua: Waskhar, or "Sun of Joy" 1503 &ndash 1532) was Sapa Inca of the Inca empire ||} Cusco (also spelled Cuzco, and in the local Quechua language as Qusqu 'qos Upon Huayna Capac's death, the empire was divided in two: Atahualpa received the north, with his capital in Quito; Huascar received the south, with its capital in Cusco. Huayna Capac (Quechua Wayna Qhapaq "splendid youth" was the eleventh Sapa Inca (1464 &ndash 1527 of the Inca Empire and sixth of the Hanan ||} Cusco (also spelled Cuzco, and in the local Quechua language as Qusqu 'qos In 1530, Atahualpa defeated Huascar and conquered the entire Empire for the crown of Quito. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America.

Colonization by Spain

Barely a year later, in 1531, the Spanish conquistadors, under Francisco Pizarro, arrived to find an Inca empire torn by civil war. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the Spanish explorer soldiers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuriesfor other uses see Conquistador (disambiguation A Conquistador Francisco Pizarro González 1st Marqués de los Atabillos (c 1471 or 1476 &ndash 26 June 1541 was a Spanish Conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire Atahualpa wanted to reestablish a unified Incan empire; the Spanish, however, had conquest intentions and established themselves in a fort in Cajamarca, captured Atahualpa during the Battle of Cajamarca, and held him for ransom. Cajamarca is located in the northern highlands of Peru and is the capital of the Cajamarca region. The Battle of (or Massacre at Cajamarca was a surprise attack on the Inca royal entourage orchestrated by Francisco Pizarro. The Incas filled one room with gold and two with silver to secure his release. Despite being surrounded and vastly outnumbered, the Spanish executed Atahualpa. To escape the confines of the fort, the Spaniards fired all their cannons and broke through the lines of the bewildered Incans. In subsequent years, the Spanish colonists became the new elite, centering their power in the vice-royalties of Nueva Granada and Lima. The Viceroyalty of New Granada (Virreinato de la Nueva Granada was the name given on May 27, 1717 to a Spanish colonial jurisdiction in northern South America Lima is the Capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers on a coast overlooking

The indigenous population was decimated by disease during the first decades of Spanish rule — a time when the natives also were forced into the "encomienda" labor system for Spanish landlords. The encomienda system is a Trusteeship labor system that was employed by the Spanish crown during the Spanish colonization of the Americas and the In 1563, Quito became the seat of a royal audiencia (administrative district) of Spain and part of the Vice-Royalty of Lima, and later the Vice-Royalty of Nueva Granada. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. The Royal Audience of Quito ( Spanish: Audiencia Real de Quito, sometimes referred to as la Presidencia de Quito or el Reino de Quito) was The Viceroyalty of New Granada (Virreinato de la Nueva Granada was the name given on May 27, 1717 to a Spanish colonial jurisdiction in northern South America

After nearly 300 years of Spanish colonization, Quito still was a small city of only 10,000 inhabitants. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It was there, on August 10, 1809 (the national holiday), that the first call for independence from Spain was made in Latin America ("Primer Grito de la Independencia"), under the leadership of the city's criollos like Carlos Montúfar, Eugenio Espejo and Bishop Cuero y Caicedo. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Francisco Javier Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo ( Royal Audience of Quito, 1747-1795 was a medical pioneer Writer and Lawyer of Mestizo origin Quito's nickname, "Luz de América" ("Light of America"), comes from the idea that this first attempt produced the inspiration for the rest of Spanish America, creating a domino effect that would ultimately lead to the expulsion of Spain from the continent. The first uprising against Spanish rule took place in 1809 but only in 1822 did Ecuador fully gain independence and became part of the Federation of Gran Colombia This article is about chain reactions. For the political theory, see Domino Theory.

Independence

On October 9, 1820, Guayaquil became the first city in Ecuador to gain its independence from Spain. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 1820 ( MDCCCXX) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year It was not until May 24, 1822 (the Glorious May Revolution) that the rest of Ecuador gained its independence after Field Marshal Antonio José de Sucre defeated the Spaniard Royalist forces at the Batalla de Pichincha (Battle of Pichincha) near Quito. Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Following the battle, Ecuador joined Simón Bolívar's Republic of Gran Colombia, only to become a republic in 1830. Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco,Venezuelan or commonly known as Simón Bolívar ( July 24, 1783 &ndash Gran Colombia ( Spanish for Great Colombia) is a name used today for the Republic of Colombia of the period 1819-1831 For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display

The 19th century for Ecuador was marked by instability, with a rapid succession of rulers. The first president of Ecuador was the Venezuelan born Juan José Flores, who was ultimately deposed, followed by many authoritarian leaders such as Vicente Rocafuerte, José Joaquín de Olmedo, José María Urbina, Diego Noboa, Pedro José de Arteta, Manuel de Ascásubi and Flores's own son, Antonio Flores Jijón, among others. Juan José Flores y Aramburu ( July 19, 1800 &ndash October 1, 1864) called "The founder of the Republic" was a military general Vicente Rocafuerte y Bejarano ( May 1, 1783 - May 16, 1847) was an influential figure in Ecuadorian politics and President of Ecuador José Joaquín de Olmedo y Maruri ( Guayaquil, March 20, 1780 - February 19, 1847) A patriot and a poet son of the Spaniard Captain Diego Noboa y Arteta (b 1789 d 1870 was President of Ecuador 8 December 1850 to 26 February 1851 (interim and Manuel de Ascázubi y Matheu (b 1802 d 1876 served as Vice President of Ecuador from 1847 to 1851 and in that capacity he was also acting President from 10 Juan Antonio María Flores y Jijón de Vivanco ( 23 October 1833 - 30 August 1915) was President of Ecuador 17 August The conservative Gabriel Garcia Moreno unified the country in the 1860s with the support of the Roman Catholic Church. Gabriel Gregorio García y Moreno y Morán de Buitrón ( December 24, 1821 – August 6, 1875) was an Ecuadorian Statesman In the late 19th century, world demand for cocoa tied the economy to commodity exports and led to migrations from the highlands to the agricultural frontier on the coast. Cocoa is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree from which Chocolate is made

The liberal revolution

A coastal-based liberal revolution in 1895 under Eloy Alfaro reduced the power of the clergy and the conservative land owners of the highlands, and this liberal wing retained power until the military "Julian Revolution" of 1925. Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year José Eloy Alfaro Delgado ( June 25, 1842 in Montecristi - January 28, 1912 in Quito) was president of Ecuador Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The 1930s and 1940s were marked by instability and emergence of populist politicians such as five-time President José María Velasco Ibarra. José María Velasco Ibarra ( March 19, 1893 - March 30, 1979) was an Ecuadorian Political figure.

War with Peru

Control over territory in the Amazon basin led to a long-lasting dispute between Ecuador and Peru. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. In 1941, amid fast-growing tensions between the two countries, war broke out. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Peru claimed that Ecuador's military presence in Peruvian-claimed territory was an invasion; Ecuador, for its part, claimed that Peru had invaded Ecuador. In July 1941, troops were mobilized in both countries. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Peru had an army of 11,681 troops who faced a poorly-supplied and inadequately-armed Ecuadorian force of 2,300, of which only 1,300 were deployed in the southern provinces. Hostilities erupted on July 5, 1941, when Peruvian forces crossed the Zarumilla river at several locations, testing the strength and resolve of the Ecuadorian border troops. Events 1295 - Scotland and France form an alliance the beginnings of the Auld Alliance, against England. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Finally, on July 23, 1941, the Peruvians launched a major invasion, crossing the Zarumilla river in force and advancing into the Ecuadorian province of El Oro. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

During the course of the war, Peru gained control over some part of the disputed territory and some part of the province of El Oro, and some parts of the province of Loja, demanding that the Ecuadorian government give up its territorial claims. The El Oro Province ( Spanish Provincia de El Oro; Oro ( = Gold) is the southernmost of Ecuador 's coastal provinces Overview Located in a high Andean valley at an elevation of 7300 feet (2225 m and with a population of 404835 inhabitants Census, 2001 Loja is recognized as being The Peruvian Navy tried to block the port of Guayaquil, almost cutting supplies to the Ecuadorian troops. The Peruvian Navy ( Spanish: Marina de Guerra del Perú, abbreviated MGP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port After a few weeks of war and under pressure by the U. S. and several Latin American nations, all fighting came to a stop. Ecuador and Peru came to an accord formalized in the Rio Protocol, signed on January 29, 1942, in favor of hemispheric unity against the Axis Powers in World War II. The Rio Protocol, short for Treaty of Peace Friendship and Boundaries between Peru and Ecuador, was signed in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, on January 29, Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including As a result of its victory, Peru was awarded the disputed territory.

Due to the fact that a small river in the conflict region was not cataloged in the Rio de Janeiro Protocol, Ecuadorian governments determined the Rio Protocol was not valid. The Rio Protocol, short for Treaty of Peace Friendship and Boundaries between Peru and Ecuador, was signed in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, on January 29, It would take two more undeclared wars before a peace agreement was finally reached in October 1998 to end hostilities. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) (See Paquisha Incident and Cenepa War. The Paquisha War was a brief military clash that took place in January-February 1981 between Ecuador and Peru over the control of three watchposts The Cenepa War ( January 26 – February 28, 1995) also known as the Alto Cenepa War, was a brief and localized military conflict between )

Recession and popular unrest led to a return to populist politics and domestic military interventions in the 1960s, while foreign companies developed oil resources in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In 1972, construction of the Andean pipeline was completed. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The pipeline brought oil from the east side of the Andes to the coast, making Ecuador South America's second largest oil exporter.

Military governments (1972-1979)

That same year a "revolutionary and nationalist" military junta overthrew the government of Velasco Ibarra. A military dictatorship is a Form of government wherein the political power resides with the Military; it is similar but not identical to a Stratocracy, The coup d'etat was led by General Guillermo Rodríguez and executed by navy commander Jorge Queirolo G. Guillermo Rodríguez is a Spanish surname that can refer to Guillermo Rodríguez (baseball catcher, Venezuelan baseball catcher Guillermo Daniel The new president exiled José María Velasco to Argentina remaining in power until 1976, when he was removed by another military government. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It was a military junta led by Admiral Alfredo Poveda, who was declared chairman of the Supreme Council. Alfredo Ernesto Poveda Burbano (1926-1990 was President of Ecuador 11 January 1976 to 10 August 1979. The Supreme Council had two other members as well, general Guillermo Durán Arcentales and general Luis Leoro Franco. After the country stabilized, socially and economically, this Supreme Council proceeded to hold democratic elections and stepped down to hand presidential duties over to the newly democratically elected president.

Return to a new democracy

Elections were held in 1979 under a new Constitution. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Jaime Roldós Aguilera was elected President, governing until May 24, 1981, when he died in a plane crash. Jaime Roldós Aguilera ( November 5, 1940 - May 24, 1981) was President of Ecuador from 10 August 1979 Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 By 1982, the government of Osvaldo Hurtado faced an economic crisis, characterized by high inflation, budget deficits, a falling currency, mounting debt service, and uncompetitive industries, leading to chronic government instability. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Osvaldo Hurtado Larrea (born June 26 1939) was President of Ecuador from 24 May 1981 to 10 August In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time

The 1984 presidential elections were narrowly won by León Febres Cordero Rivadeneira, of the Social Christian Party (PSC). Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) León Febres Cordero Ribadeneyra (born March 9, 1931) was President of Ecuador for a four-year term 10 August 1984 to During the first years of his administration, Febres-Cordero introduced free-market economic policies, took a strong stand against drug trafficking and terrorism, and pursued close relations with the United States. The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global Black market consisting of the cultivation manufacture distribution and sale of illegal Drugs Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion The United States of America —commonly referred to as the His tenure was marred by bitter wrangling with other branches of Government and his own brief kidnapping by elements of the military. A devastating earthquake in March 1987 interrupted oil exports and worsened the country's economic problems. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar)

Rodrigo Borja Cevallos of the Democratic Left (Izquierda Democrática or ID) party won the presidency in 1988, running in the runoff election against Abdalá Bucaram of the PRE. Rodrigo Borja Cevallos (born 19 June 1935) was President of Ecuador from 10 August 1988 to 10 August 1992 Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Abdalá Jaime Bucaram Ortiz (born February 20, 1952 in Guayaquil) is an Ecuadorian Politician and Lawyer who briefly His government was committed to improving human rights protection and carried out some reforms, notably an opening of Ecuador to foreign trade. Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled The Borja government concluded an accord leading to the disbanding of the small terrorist group, "¡Alfaro Vive, Carajo!" ("Alfaro Lives, Dammit!") named after [[Eloy Alfaro. ¡Alfaro Vive Carajo! (roughly translated "Alfaro Lives Dammit!" and named after Eloy Alfaro) was a clandestine leftwing group in Ecuador founded on However, continuing economic problems undermined the popularity of the ID, and opposition parties gained control of Congress in 1990. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)

Many years of mismanagement, starting with the mishandling of the country's debt during the 1970s military regime, had left the country essentially ungovernable. Since the mid 1990s, the government of Ecuador has been characterized by a weak executive branch that struggles to appease the ruling classes represented in the legislative and judiciary. The three democratically elected presidents during the period 1996-2006 all failed to finish their terms. List of Heads of State of Ecuador (Dates in italics indicate 'de facto' continuation of office Rival governments in rebellion

The emergence of the indigenous population (approximately 25 percent) as an active constituency has added to the democratic volatility of the country in recent years. The population have been motivated by government failures to deliver on promises of land reform, lower unemployment and provision of social services, and historical exploitation by the land-holding elite.

Their movement, along with the continuing destabilizing efforts by both the Elite and Leftist movements, have led to a deterioration of the executive office. The populace and the other branches of government give the president very little political capital, as illustrated by the most recent ouster of a president. In April 2005, Ecuador's congress ousted President Lucio Gutiérrez. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lucio Edwin Gutiérrez Borbúa (born March 23, 1957) served as President of Ecuador from January 15, 2003 to April 20

The vice-president, Alfredo Palacio, took his place and remained in office until the presidential election of 2006, which did not produce a conclusive winner until a runoff election on 26 November elected Rafael Correa over Alvaro Noboa. Not to be confused with the Argentine politician Alfredo Palacios. On 15 October 2006, Ecuador held a general election The voters stood to elect a new President, a new National Congress, as well as other Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado (born 6 April 1963 in Guayaquil) is the President of the Republic of Ecuador. Álvaro Fernando Noboa Pontón (born November 1, 1950 in Guayaquil) is an Ecuadorian businessman and politician ^[1]

Politics

The executive branch includes 25 ministries. Provincial governors and councilors (mayors, aldermen, and parish boards) are directly elected. Congress meets throughout the year except for recesses in July and December. There are 69 seven-member congressional committees. Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Congress for indefinite terms.

On September 30, 2007 Ecuador elected a constituent assembly, dominated by President Rafael Correa's PAIS Alliance, charged with rewriting the Constitution of Ecuador. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. On 30 September 2007 an election for a Constituent Assembly was held in Ecuador following the referendum on this issue successfully On 30 September 2007 an election for a Constituent Assembly was held in Ecuador following the referendum on this issue held on Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado (born 6 April 1963 in Guayaquil) is the President of the Republic of Ecuador. PAIS Alliance (Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (Alianza PAIS (Patria Altiva I Soberana país also means country is a Left-wing, Socialist,

Ecuador has often placed great emphasis on multilateral approaches to international issues. Ecuador is a member of the United Nations (and most of its specialized agencies) and a member of many regional groups, including the Rio Group, the Latin American Economic System, the Latin American Energy Organization, the Latin American Integration Association, and The Andean Pact.

Provinces and cantons

Main articles: Provinces of Ecuador and Cantons of Ecuador

Ecuador is divided into 24 provinces (provincias), each with its own administrative capital:

Map Key Province Capital 1 Azuay Cuenca 2 Bolívar Guaranda 3 Cañar Azogues 4 Carchi Tulcán 5 Chimborazo Riobamba 6 Cotopaxi Latacunga 7 El Oro Machala 8 Esmeraldas Esmeraldas 9 Galápagos Puerto Baquerizo Moreno 10 Guayas Guayaquil 11 Imbabura Ibarra 12 Loja Loja 13 Los Ríos Babahoyo

Map Key Province Capital 14 Manabi Portoviejo 15 Morona-Santiago Macas 16 Napo Tena 17 Orellana Puerto Francisco de Orellana 18 Pastaza Puyo 19 Pichincha Quito 20 Santa Elena Santa Elena 21 Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Santo Domingo de los Colorados 22 Sucumbíos Nueva Loja 23 Tungurahua Ambato 24 Zamora-Chinchipe Zamora

The provinces are divided into cantons, and further subdivided into parishes (parroquias). |||} Ecuador is divided into 24 Provinces ( Spanish: provincias, singular provincia) The provinces of Ecuador are divided into 226 cantons The cantons are subdivided into parishes ( parroquias) A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. Azuay is a province of Ecuador, created 25 June 1824. It encompasses an area of 7 Cuenca (full name Santa Ana de los cuatro ríos de Cuenca) is the third largest city in Ecuador in terms of population and is the capital of the Azuay San Pedro de Guaranda is a City in central Ecuador. It is the capital of Bolívar, a province located in the Andes mountains. Azogues is the capital of the province of Cañar in Ecuador. The population of Azogues is 27866 Carchi is a province in Ecuador. The capital is Tulcán. The Province is divided in 6 cantons. "Tulcan" is also an alternative spelling of Tulchan Tulcán is the capital of the province of Carchi in Ecuador Chimborazo is a province in Ecuador, located in the central Ecuadorian Andes, containing a section of Sangay National Park. Riobamba (full name San Pedro de Riobamba) is the capital of the Chimborazo Province in central Ecuador, which is located at the Chambo River Cotopaxi is one of the Provinces of Ecuador. The capital is Latacunga. Latacunga is a Plateau town of Ecuador, capital of the Cotopaxi Province, 89 km (55 miles south of Quito, near the confluence of the Alaques The El Oro Province ( Spanish Provincia de El Oro; Oro ( = Gold) is the southernmost of Ecuador 's coastal provinces Machala is a city in south-west Ecuador, capital of the El Oro Province. Esmeraldas is a province in northwestern Ecuador. The capital is Esmeraldas. Esmeraldas is a city in Ecuador. It is the seat of the Esmeraldas Canton and the capital of the Esmeraldas Province. Galápagos is a Province in Ecuador that is coincident with the Galápagos Islands. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the Capital of the Galápagos Province, in Ecuador. Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port Imbabura is a province in Ecuador. The capital is Ibarra. The people speak Imbabura Quechua language. Ibarra (full name San Miguel de Ibarra) is a city in northern Ecuador and the capital of the Imbabura Province. Overview Located in a high Andean valley at an elevation of 7300 feet (2225 m and with a population of 404835 inhabitants Census, 2001 Loja is recognized as being This article is about the city of Loja For the province named after this city see Loja Province and for the canton named after this city see Loja (canton Los Ríos is a province in Ecuador. The capital is Babahoyo. The province is poor low-lying often subject to flooding and has some of worst roads in the country Babahoyo, founded September 30, 1948 by Legislative decree is the capital of the Los Ríos province of Ecuador. Boundaries Districts Highlights Economy --> History Founded March 12 1535 by the Spanish captain Francisco Pacheco Morona-Santiago is a province in Ecuador. The capital is Macas. Napo is a Province in Ecuador. Its Capital is Tena. The province contains the Napo River Tena the capital of the Napo Province, is an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest. El Coca (also known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana) is a City located in Eastern Ecuador. Pastaza is a province in the Orient of Ecuador located in the eastern jungle Puyo, also known as El Puyo, is the Capital of Pastaza, a province in Ecuador. Pichincha is a province of Ecuador located in the northern sierra region its capital and largest city is Quito. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Santa Elena is a province in Ecuador. One of the two newest provinces of Ecuador it was formed in 2007 from the Guayas cantons of Salinas La Libertad & Santa Elena Santa Elena is a town in southwestern Ecuador, and is the capital of both the province and the canton of the same name Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas is a Province of Ecuador, created in October 2007 from territory previously in the province of Pichincha. Santo Domingo de Los Colorados is the provincial capital of Santo Domingo de Los Tsáchilas in Ecuador. Sucumbíos is a Province in NE Ecuador. The capital and largest city is Nueva Loja (also known as Lago Agrio Nueva Loja (also known as Lago Agrio, after Sour Lake Texas) is the Capital city of Sucumbíos, in Ecuador. Tungurahua is a Province in Ecuador. The capital is Ambato. The active Tungurahua Volcano is located in this province in the counties ("cantones" Zamora-Chinchipe is a Province of the Republic of Ecuador, located at southeastern end of the Amazon Basin, which shares borders with the Zamora is a city in southeastern Ecuador, capital of Zamora-Chinchipe province and cantonal head of Zamora Canton. The provinces of Ecuador are divided into 226 cantons The cantons are subdivided into parishes ( parroquias) A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches

Nations of Ecuador

Ecuador is a plurinational state. In addition to whites, blacks, and mestizos, many Ecuadorians belong to indigenous nations, principally:

• Achuar
• Awá
• Chachi
• Cofán
• Epera
• Huaorani
• Kichua
• Manta
• Secoya
• Shuar
• Siona
• Tsáchila
• Huancavilca
• Záparo

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Ecuador

Ecuador has three main geographic regions, plus an insular region in the Pacific Ocean:

• La Costa, or the coast, comprises the low-lying land in the western part of the country, including the Pacific coastline. The Achuar are an Amazonian community of some 4500 individuals along either side of the border in between Ecuador and Peru. The Awá are an endangered indigenous group of people living in the eastern Amazon forests of Brazil. Charles "Chachi" Arcola was a character played by Scott Baio on the sitcom Happy Days, and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi The Cofán ( A’i) people are an indigenous people native to Napo Province northeast Ecuador and southern Colombia, between The Huaorani, Waorani, or Waos are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador (in the Oriente region with some marked differences For the fish see Manta ray; for other things of this name see Manta (disambiguation. Shuar, in the Shuar language, means " People." The people who speak the Shuar language live in Tropical rainforest between the upper mountains The Tsáchila tribe of Ecuador live in the canton of Santo Domingo in the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Záparo is a nearly extinct language from the borderlands of Peru, spoken by only one person out of an ethnic population of 170 in the Pastaza province, between Ecuador is a country in western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, for which the country is named The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions
• La Sierra ("the highlands") is the high-altitude belt running north to south along the center of the country, its mountainous terrain dominated by the Andes mountain range. Terrain, or relief, is the third or vertical dimension of land surface. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America.
• El Oriente ("the east") comprises the Amazon rainforest areas in the eastern part of the country, accounting for just under half of the country's total surface area, though populated by under 5 percent of the population. The Amazon Rainforest (Brazilian Portuguese: Floresta Amazônica or Amazônia; Spanish: Selva Amazónica or Amazonía
• The Región Insular is the region comprising the Galápagos Islands, some 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) west of the mainland in the Pacific Ocean. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States

Ecuador's capital is Quito, which is in the province of Pichincha in the Sierra region. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Its largest city is Guayaquil, in the province of Guayas on the Coast. Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port Cotopaxi, which is just south of Quito, features one of the world's highest active volcanoes. Cotopaxi is a Stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 75 kilometres (50 mi south of Quito, Ecuador, South America Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. The top of Mount Chimborazo (6,310-m above sea level) is considered to be the most distant point from the center of the earth, given the ovoidal shape of the planet (wider at the equator). The inactive Stratovolcano Chimborazo (tʃimboˈraso is Ecuador's highest summit In geometry an oval or ovoid (from Latin ovum, 'egg' is any Curve resembling an egg or an Ellipse.

Although the country is not particularly large (the size of the U. S. state of Colorado), there is great variety in the climate, largely determined by altitude. The Pacific coastal area has a tropical climate, with a severe rainy season. The climate in the Andean highlands is temperate and relatively dry; and the Amazon basin on the eastern side of the mountains shares the climate of other rain forest zones.

Because of its location at the equator, Ecuador experiences little variation in daylight hours during the course of a year.

Biodiversity

Ecuador is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world according to Conservation International. The megadiverse countries are a group of countries that harbor the majority of the earth's species and are therefore considered extremely Biodiverse. ^[2] With 1600 bird species (15 percent of the world's known bird species) in the continental area, and 38 more endemic in the Galápagos. Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere In addition to 25,000 species of plants, the country has 106 endemic reptiles, 138 endemic amphibians, and 6,000 species of butterfly. Reptiles, or members of the class Reptilia are air-breathing Cold-blooded Vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers Prehistoric amphibian Amphibians (class Amphibia such as Frogs Toads Salamanders Newts Gymnophiona, Sirens and The Galápagos Islands are well known as a region of distinct fauna, famous as the place of birth of Darwin's Theory of Evolution, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fauna is all of the Animal life of any particular region or time Charles Robert Darwin (February 12 1809 &ndash April 19 1882 was an English naturalist, who realised and demonstrated that all Species of life eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 ^[3] Despite being on the UNESCO list, the Galapagos islands are endangered by a range of negative environmental effects, threatening the existence of this exotic ecosystem. An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( ^[4]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ecuador

Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources and rich agricultural areas. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas, flowers and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. True shrimp are swimming decapod Crustaceans classified in the Infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh Industry is largely oriented to servicing the domestic market, and some exports to the Andean Common market. Deteriorating economic performance in 1997-98 culminated in a severe economic and financial crisis in 1999. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The crisis was precipitated by a number of external shocks, including the El Niño weather phenomenon in 1997, a sharp drop in global oil prices in 1997-98, and international emerging market instability in 1997-98. El Niño-Southern Oscillation ( ENSO; commonly referred to as simply El Niño) is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar These factors highlighted the Government of Ecuador's unsustainable economic policy mix of large fiscal deficits and expansionary money policy and resulted in a 7. 3 percent contraction of GDP, annual year-on-year inflation of 52. 2 percent, and a 65 percent devaluation of the national currency, the Sucre, in 1999, which helped precipitate a default on external loans later that year.

On January 9, 2000, the administration of President Jamil Mahuad announced its intention to adopt the U.S. dollar as the official currency of Ecuador to address the ongoing economic crisis. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Jorge Jamil Mahuad Witt (born July 29, 1949) was President of Ecuador from August 10, 1998 to January 21, The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The formal adoption of the dollar as currency on September 10, 2000, as opposed to merely pegging the Sucre to the dollar as Argentina had done, theoretically meant that the benefits of seigniorage would accrue to the U. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Sucre (population 247300 in 2006 is the constitutional Capital of Bolivia, seat of the Supreme Court ( Corte Suprema de Justicia Seigniorage (ˈseɪnjərɪdʒ '''''sei'''nY'Ridj'') also spelled seignorage or seigneurage, is the net Revenue derived from the issuing of S. economy. Subsequent protests related to the economic and financial crises led to the removal of Mahuad from office and the elevation of Vice President Gustavo Noboa to the presidency. Gustavo Noboa Bejarano (born in Guayaquil, Ecuador on 21 August, 1937 -

However, the Noboa government confirmed its commitment to dollarize as the centerpiece of its economic recovery strategy. The government also entered into negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), culminating in the negotiation of a 12-month standby arrangement with the Fund. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic Additional policy initiatives include efforts to reduce the government's fiscal deficit and to implement structural reforms to strengthen the banking system and regain access to private capital markets.

Buoyed by high oil prices, the Ecuadorian economy experienced a modest recovery in 2000, with GDP rising 1. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. 9 percent. However, 70 percent of the population was estimated to live below the poverty line that year, more than double the rate in 1995. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country

In April 2007, after winning a referendum on constitutional reform, President Correa announced that he no longer intended that the country would make repayments to the IMF nor deal with the World Bank. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Ecuador

Ecuador's population is ethnically diverse. Ecuador's population is ethnically diverse Mestizos ' (those of mixed Amerindian and Spanish ancestry are by far the largest of all the ethnic groups constituting The largest ethnic group (as of 2007) is the Mestizos, who are the mixed descendants of Spanish colonists and indigenous Indians and who constitute 62 percent of the population. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Mestizo is a Spanish term that was coined during the Spanish Empire to refer to people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin Amerindians account for around 25 percent of the current population. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Whites, mainly criollos, the unmixed descendants of early Spanish colonists, as well as immigrants from other European countries, account for about 10 percent. Criollo is a term that dates back to the Spanish colonial Casta system ( Caste system) of Latin America The small Afro-Ecuadorian minority, including Mulattos and zambos, largely based in Esmeraldas and Imbabura provinces, make up 5 percent. An Afro-Ecuadorian is a member of an Ethnic group in Ecuador who are descendants of black African slaves brought by the Spanish during their conquest of Ecuador Mulatto is a term used to describe a person with one white parent and one black parent or a person whose Ancestry is a mixture of black and white Zambo is a Spanish term (the Portuguese language term is Cafuso) that was used in the Spanish Empire and continues to be used today

There are sizable expatriate Ecuadorian communities in Spain, the United Kingdom (Ecuadorian Britons), and Italy, as well across Europe, the United States, Canada, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico and Japan. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ecuadorian Britons ( Británicos ecuatorianos) are people of Ecuadorian ancestry living in the United Kingdom (born and/ or raised in the UK they can be Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. It is estimated that 700,000 people emigrated from Ecuador following the 1999 economic crisis, and that the expatriate Ecuadorian population totals 2. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) 5 million.

The tropical forest region to the east of the mountains (El Oriente) remains sparsely populated and contains only about three percent of the population.

The public education system is free at the point of delivery, and attendance is mandatory from ages five to 14. Provision of public schools falls far below the levels needed, and class sizes are often very large, and families of limited means often find it necessary to pay for education. However, the Ministry of Education reports that only 76 percent of children finish six years of schooling. In rural areas, only 10 percent of the children go on to high school. Ministry statistics give the mean number of years completed as 6. 7.

Ecuador has 61 universities, many of which offer graduate degrees, although only 87 percent of the faculty in public universities possess graduate degrees. About 300 higher institutes offer two to three years of post-secondary vocational or technical training.

City Populations 2001 [3]

• Guayaquil 2,100,000
• Quito 1,800,000
• Cuenca 400,000
• Machala 205,000
• Santo Domingo de los Colorados 200,000
• Manta 200,000
• Eloy Alfaro 175,000
• Portoviejo 172,000
• Ambato154,000
• Riobamba 125,000
• Loja 125,000

Religion

Main article: Religion in Ecuador

Approximately 69% percent of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic. Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Cuenca (full name Santa Ana de los cuatro ríos de Cuenca) is the third largest city in Ecuador in terms of population and is the capital of the Azuay Machala is a city in south-west Ecuador, capital of the El Oro Province. Santo Domingo de Los Colorados is the provincial capital of Santo Domingo de Los Tsáchilas in Ecuador. For the fish see Manta ray; for other things of this name see Manta (disambiguation. Durán also known as Eloy Alfaro is a City located in the province of Guayas, Ecuador, near the junction between the Daule & Babahoyo rivers and where Boundaries Districts Highlights Economy --> History Founded March 12 1535 by the Spanish captain Francisco Pacheco Riobamba (full name San Pedro de Riobamba) is the capital of the Chimborazo Province in central Ecuador, which is located at the Chambo River This article is about the city of Loja For the province named after this city see Loja Province and for the canton named after this city see Loja (canton Religion in Ecuador is an expression of the different cultural heritages in the Ecuadorian culture including the Spanish colonisation the Native Amerindian and the Afro-Ecuadorian [4] In the rural parts of Ecuador, indigenous beliefs and Christianity are sometimes syncretized. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings There also are Latter Day Saint and Protestant denominations as well as a small Muslim minority numbering in the low hundreds. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The Jewish community numbers just below a thousand and is mostly of German and Italian origin. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest There also are some few Sephardic Jews (Judeo-Spanish Jews). Sephardi Jews ( Hebrew: ספרדי, Standard Səfardi Tiberian Səp̄arədî; plural

Most festivals and annual parades are based on religious celebrations, many incorporating a mixture of rites and icons.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ecuador

Ecuador's mainstream culture is defined by its mestizo majority and, like their ancestry, is a mixture of European and Amerindian influences infused with African elements inherited from enslaved ancestors. The majority of the Ecuadorian population is Mestizo, a mixture of both European and Amerindian ancestry and much like their ancestry the national culture is also Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic Mestizo is a Spanish term that was coined during the Spanish Empire to refer to people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another Ecuador's indigenous communities are integrated into that mainstream culture to varying degrees, but some may also practice their own autochthonous cultures, particularly the more remote indigenous communities of the Amazon basin.

The Panama hat is of Ecuadorian origin, and is known there as "Sombrero de paja toquilla", or a Jipijapa. A Panama hat or just Panama is a traditional brimmed Hat of Ecuadorian origin that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant ( It is made principally in Montecristi (Pile, Pampas, Cruces) in the Province of Manabi. Montecristi is a town in the Manabí province of Ecuador and the capital of the canton by the same name Its manufacture (particularly that of the Montecristi superfino) is considered a great craft.

Notable people born in Ecuador include painters Tábara, Guayasamín, Kingman, Rendón, Arauz, Constanté, Viteri, Molinari, Maldonado, Gutierrez, Endara Crow, Villacís, Egas, Villafuerte and Faini; animator Mike Judge; poet and statesman José Joaquín de Olmedo y Maruri, scholar Benjamín Urrutia, and tennis player Pancho Segura. Enrique Tábara (born 1930 Guayaquil, Ecuador) (Luis Enrique Tábara is a master Ecuadorian painter and teacher representing a whole Hispanic pictorial and Oswaldo Guayasamín ( July 6, 1919 &ndash March 10, 1999, Quito, Ecuador) was an Eduardo Kingman ( February 3, 1913 - 1998 was one of Ecuador 's greatest artists Manuel Rendón Seminario (b Paris 1894 - dPortugal 1982 (Also known by Manuel Rendón) was a master Latin American painter Félix Arauz (born 1935 Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a very important Latin American painter from Ecuador. Theo Constanté (born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1934) is a master Latin American painter who Oswaldo Viteri (b Ambato, Ecuador, 1931) is a Neo-figurative artist Molinari is a Family name that may refer to any of several people Estuardo Maldonado (born 1930 Pintag, Ecuador) a master Latin American sculptor and painter inspired by the Constructivist Movement. Judith Gutiérrez ( Babahoyo, Ecuador,1927 - Guadalajara Gonzalo Endara Crow (1936-1996 Bucay, Ecuador) was a master Latin American painter Camilo Egas (1889 Quito, Ecuador - September 18, 1962, New York) Caesar Andrade Faini (b 1913 Quito, Ecuador) is a master Ecuadorian painter and teacher who studied Michael Craig Judge (born October 17 1962) is an American Animator, Actor, Voice actor, Writer, director José Joaquín de Olmedo y Maruri ( Guayaquil, March 20, 1780 - February 19, 1847) A patriot and a poet son of the Spaniard Captain Benjamin Urrutia (born January 24 1950 in Guayaquil, Ecuador) is an Author and Scholar. Pancho Segura, born Francisco Olegario Segura ( June 20, 1921, known as "Segoo") was a leading

Sports

The most popular sport in Ecuador, as in most South American countries, is soccer (fútbol/football). Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Its best known professional teams include Barcelona S.C. and C.S. Emelec, from Guayaquil, Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito, Deportivo Quito and El Nacional (the Ecuadorian Armed Forces team) from Quito, Olmedo from Riobamba, and Deportivo Cuenca, from Cuenca. Barcelona Sporting Club is an Ecuadorian football team located in the country's most populous city Guayaquil. Club Sport Emelec is a Sports club from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Emelec has won the highest total number of Ecuadorian championship cups if you take into Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port Sociedad Deportivo Quito is a soccer club based in Quito, Ecuador. Club Deportivo El Nacional is a sports club from Quito, Ecuador that is best known for its professional football team Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Centro Deportivo Olmedo is a soccer club based in Riobamba, Ecuador. Riobamba (full name San Pedro de Riobamba) is the capital of the Chimborazo Province in central Ecuador, which is located at the Chambo River Club Deportivo Cuenca is a soccer club based in Cuenca, Ecuador.

The matches of the Ecuador national football team are the most watched sports events in the country. The Ecuador national football team is the national team of Ecuador and is governed by the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol. In June 2007, FIFA adopted a resolution prohibiting international soccer games at or higher than 2,500 meters above sea level. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (French for International Federation of Association Football) Rafael Correa, and his presidential counterparts in Peru, Bolivia and Colombia, issued a joint letter of protest against this ruling. Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado (born 6 April 1963 in Guayaquil) is the President of the Republic of Ecuador. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. ^[5] Ecuador qualified for the final rounds of both the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament The FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international Association football Ecuador finished ahead of Poland and Costa Rica to come in second to Germany in Group A in the 2006 World Cup. Futsal, often referred to as índor, is particularly popular for mass participation. Futsal is an indoor version of Association football. Its name is derived from the Portuguese fut ebol de sal ão and the Spanish

There is considerable interest in tennis in the middle and upper classes in Ecuadorian society, and several Ecuadorian professional players have attained considerable international fame, including Francisco Segura and Andrés Gómez. Tennis is a sport played between two players ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles) Pancho Segura, born Francisco Olegario Segura ( June 20, 1921, known as "Segoo") was a leading Andrés Gómez (born February 27 1960, in Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a former professional Tennis player from Ecuador Basketball also has a high profile, while Ecuador's specialties include Ecuavolley, a three-person variation of volleyball. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m There are numerous variations of the basic rules of Volleyball. Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 active players (5 normal players and one 'libero' are separated by a net that is usually four feet Bullfighting is practiced at a professional level in Quito, during the annual festivities that commemorate the Spanish founding of the city. Bullfighting or Tauromachy (from Greek ταυρομαχία - tauromachia, "bull-fight" is a traditional spectacle of Spain Bullfighting is found in smaller towns, notably El Chaco (east of Quito).

Rugby union is also found to some extent in Ecuador, and Quito has its own club [5]

Ecuador obtained its first Olympic gold medal in Atlanta's 1996 Olympic Games, through Jefferson Pérez, on the 20 km race-walk. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Jefferson Leonardo Pérez Quezada (born July 1, 1974 in Cuenca) is an Ecuadorian Race walker. There is flourishing activity in nontraditional sports such as mountain biking, motorbiking, surfing, and paintball. Paintball is a sport in which players eliminate opponents from play by hitting them with dye-filled breakable oil and gelatin paintballs usually shot from a carbon dioxide or compressed-gas Since 2005, Ecuador has held the Guayaquil Marathon, which is an international foot race. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Guayaquil Marathon is an annual Marathon road race which takes place in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on the first Sunday of October

Some costal resorts, particularly Montañita and Ayampe, have been developed as surfing centres. Surfing is a surface water sport in which the participant is carried along the face of a breaking wave, most commonly using a Surfboard, although wave-riders Ecuador also hosted the 2007 Youth World Championship for Rock Climbing, held in Ibarra, becoming the first country outside of Europe or Asia to host the event. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Rock climbing is a Sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls with the goal of reaching the . ^[6]

Food

The food in Ecuador is diverse, varying with altitude and associated agricultural conditions. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an Pork, chicken, beef, and “cuy” (guinea pig) are popular in the mountain regions and are served with a variety of grains (especially rice and corn) or potatoes. Pork' is the Culinary name for Meat from the domestic Pig ( Sus scrofa) often specifically the fresh meat but can be used as an all-inclusive The chicken ( Gallus gallus, sometimes G gallus domesticus) is a domesticated Fowl which is traditionally believed to have descended from The Guinea pig (also commonly called the cavy after its scientific name Cavia porcellus) is a species of Rodent belonging to the family Caviidae Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica A popular street food in mountain regions of Ecuador consists of potatoes served with roasted pig (hornado). Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an Fanesca, a fish soup including several types of bean, is often eaten during Lent and Easter. Fanesca is a Soup traditional to Ecuador. Its components and Preparation vary from one region to other of the country if not from one family to another Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. During the week before the commemoration of the deceased or "día de los muertos", the fruit beverage "Colada Morada" is typical, accompanied by "Guaguas de Pan", which is stuffed bread shaped like children.

The food is somewhat different in the southern mountain area, featuring typical Loja food such as "repe", a soup prepared with green bananas; "cecina", roasted pork; and "miel con quesillo" or "cuajada" as dessert.

A wide variety of fresh fruit is available, particularly at lower altitudes, including granadilla, passionfruit, naranjilla, several types of bananas, uvilla, taxo, and tree tomato. A granadilla is any of several species of plants of the genus Passiflora, including the Giant granadilla, also known as badea ( For the German pop group see Passion Fruit (band. Passiflora edulis or passion fruit is a plant cultivated commercially for Solanum quitoense, known as naranjilla ( "little orange " in Ecuador and as lulo ( from For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. The tamarillo, tree tomato, or tomate de árbol is the edible Fruit of Solanum betaceum, a species of small Tree or

Seafood is very popular at the coast, where prawns, shrimp and lobster are key parts of the diet. Prawns are Crustaceans belonging to the sub-order Dendrobranchiata   Plantain- and peanut-based dishes are the basis of most coastal meals, which are usually served in two courses. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the The peanut, or Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the Legume family Fabaceae native to South America, Mexico The first course is caldo soup, which may be aguado (a thin soup, usually with meat) or caldo de leche, a cream vegetable soup. Soup is a Food that is made by combining ingredients such as Meat and Vegetables in stock or hot/boiling Water, until the flavor The second course might include rice, a little meat or fish with a menestra (stew), and salad or vegetables. Patacones are popular side dishes with coastal meals. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the

Some of the typical dishes in the coastal region are: ceviche, pan de almidón, corviche, guatita, encebollado and empanadas; in the mountain region: hornado, fritada, humitas, tamales, llapingachos, lomo saltado, and churrasco. Ceviche (also spelled as cebiche or seviche) is a form of citrus- Marinated Seafood Salad, popular in mainly Latin American countries Encebollado is a popular dish from Ecuador. While it originates from the coast it is popular around the whole country due to restaurants featuring the region's cuisine An empanada (not to be confused with the Portuguese empada, which is a different dish is essentially a stuffed Pastry. A tamale ( Spanish tamal, from Nahuatl tamalli) is a traditional indigenous American food consisting of steam-cooked corn Llapingacho is a famous dish in Ecuador Llapingacho's History Llapingacho originated in Ecuador’s Highlands Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world and is on par with French Chinese and Indian cuisine Churrasco is a Portuguese (IPA-pt /ʃuhasko/ and Spanish (IPA-sp /tʃurˈrɑskɔ/ term referring to Beef or grilled meat more generally

In the rainforest, a dietary staple is the yuca, elsewhere called cassava. The cassava, yuca, manioc, or mandioca ( Manihot esculenta) is a woody Shrub of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family native The starchy root is peeled and boiled, fried, or used in a variety of other dishes. Many fruits are available in this region, including bananas, tree grapes, and peach palms.

Aguardiente, a sugar cane-based spirit, is probably the most popular national alcohol. Aguardiente ( Spanish) aguardente ( Portuguese) or augardente ( Galician) is the generic name for alcoholic drinks between 29 and 45 Sugarcane ( Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae tribe Andropogoneae Drinkable yogurt, available in many fruit flavors, is extremely popular and is often consumed with pan de yuca, which is a light bread filled with cheese and eaten warm.

Art

The best known art tendencies from Ecuador belonged to the Escuela Quiteña, which developed from the XVI to XVIII centuries.

There are many contemporary Ecuadorian writers, including the novelist Jorge Enrique Adoum; the poet Jorge Carrera Andrade; the essayist Benjamín Carrión; the poet Fanny Carrión de Fierro; the novelist Enrique Gil Gilbert; the novelist Jorge Icaza (author of the novel Huasipungo, translated to many languages); the short story author Pablo Palacio; the novelist Alicia Yanez Cossio; the novelist Jorge Queirolo B.; the prominent author and essayist, Juan Montalvo, and U. Jorge Enrique Adoum (1926 in Ambato, Ecuador) is an Ecuadorian Poet and writer of Lebanese ancestry Jorge Carrera Andrade was an Ecuadorian poet historian author and diplomat during the 20th century Manuel Benjamín Carrión Mora (1897&ndash1979 was an Ecuadorian writer and cultural promoter Fanny Carrión de Fierro is a Poet, Literary critic, Essayist and university professor Jorge Icaza Coronel (1906 – 1978 is a Writer from Ecuador, best known for his novel Huasipungo, which brought attention to the exploitation of Ecuador's Juan María Montalvo Fiallos ( April 13, 1832 &ndash January 17, 1889) was an Ecuadorian Author and Essayist S. -based, half Ecuadorian poet Emanuel Xavier. Emanuel Xavier Granja (born May 3 1971 known as Emanuel Xavier, is an American poet spoken word artist Author, editor events producer and actor born

Ecuador has produced many world renowned master painters including: Oswaldo Guayasamín, Camilo Egas and Eduardo Kingman from the Indiginist Movement; and Manuel Rendon, Enrique Tábara, Aníbal Villacís and Estuardo Maldonado from the Informalist Movement. Oswaldo Guayasamín ( July 6, 1919 &ndash March 10, 1999, Quito, Ecuador) was an Camilo Egas (1889 Quito, Ecuador - September 18, 1962, New York) Eduardo Kingman ( February 3, 1913 - 1998 was one of Ecuador 's greatest artists Manuel Rendón Seminario (b Paris 1894 - dPortugal 1982 (Also known by Manuel Rendón) was a master Latin American painter Enrique Tábara (born 1930 Guayaquil, Ecuador) (Luis Enrique Tábara is a master Ecuadorian painter and teacher representing a whole Hispanic pictorial and Estuardo Maldonado (born 1930 Pintag, Ecuador) a master Latin American sculptor and painter inspired by the Constructivist Movement.

Further information: Ecuadorian painters

Film

The Ecuador Film Company was founded in Guayaquil, in 1924. Famous Ecuadorian painters include Luis Peñaherrera Bermeo (1936-present Cesar Augusto Villacrés Atahualpa Villacrés During early twenties to early thirties, Ecuador enjoyed its Cinema Golden Age Era. Unfortunately, the production of motion pictures declined with the coming of sound.

• The Waorani tribe of Ecuador is portrayed in the 2006 theatrical release of The End of the Spear, the story of five missionaries speared to death, as told through the eyes of Christian movie makers. The Huaorani, Waorani, or Waos are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador (in the Oriente region with some marked differences Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the film For the book of the same name see ''End of the Spear'' (book.

• The 2006 film Qué Tan Lejos, written and directed by Tania Hermida, takes place in the rural sierras and Pacific coast of southern Ecuador. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. A workers' strike delays a bus from Quito to Cuenca and the story unfolds as two young women decide to complete the journey on their own, hitchhiking the rest of the way. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Along the way they meet interesting characters who help them reevaluate the purpose of their journey. The movie contains beautiful scenic shots and Ecuadorian humor that sometimes gets lost in translation.

• The 2005 film Crónicas, written and directed by Ecuadorian Sebastián Cordero and starring John Leguizamo in his Spanish-language debut, is set and filmed entirely in Ecuador. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sebastián Cordero (born May 23, 1972 in Quito, Ecuador) is a Film director, Writer and Editor, often recognized John Leguizamo (born July 22, 1964) is an Emmy Award -winning and Golden Globe -nominated Colombian -American Comedian

• Although set in Colombia, the 2004 film Maria Full of Grace was partially shot in Ecuador. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Maria Full of Grace ( 2004, Spanish title María llena eres de gracia, lit

• The 2003 film The Dancer Upstairs, directed by John Malkovich and starring Javier Bardem, was filmed in Ecuador. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an Emmy Award -winning two-time Academy Award -nominated American Actor Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem (born 1 March 1969 is an Academy Award -winning and critically acclaimed Spanish Actor who has starred in over two dozen

• Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002), directed by Jim Hanon, is a documentary about five missionaries killed by the Huaorani Indians in the 1950s. The Huaorani, Waorani, or Waos are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador (in the Oriente region with some marked differences He recycles the story in the 2006 Hollywood production The End of the Spear. Most of this film was shot in Panama.

• The film Proof of Life (2000), starring Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe, was filmed in Ecuador, although the story takes place in a fictitious South American country named Tecala. Proof of Life is an American film released in 2000, directed by Taylor Hackford. Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra (born November 19, 1961) professionally known as Meg Ryan, is a Golden Globe-nominated American film Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964 is an Academy Award - BAFTA - Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning New Zealand and The guerrilla movement depicted in the film is reminiscent of Peru's Shining Path or Colombia's FARC. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Communist Party of Peru (Spanish Partido Comunista del Perú) more commonly known as the Shining Path ( Sendero Luminoso) is a Maoist Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo also known by the Acronym of

• Ratas, Ratones, Rateros (1999), written and directed by Sebastián Cordero, relates the story of an 18-year-old quiteño whose cousin, a thief from Ecuador's coastal city Guayaquil, embroils all those around him in his affairs. Sebastián Cordero (born May 23, 1972 in Quito, Ecuador) is a Film director, Writer and Editor, often recognized Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port The film has been accused by several critics of painting an extremely distorted contrast between the coast (Guayaquil) and the highlands (Quito), which stems from the ever-present feelings of regionalism. In Politics, regionalism is a Political ideology that focuses on the interests of a particular Region or group of regions whether traditional or formal

• Entre Marx y una Mujer Desnuda (Between Marx and a Nude Woman, 1995), by Ecuadorian Camilo Luzuriaga, provides a window into the life of young Ecuadorian leftists living in a country plagued by the remnants of feudal systems and coup d'etats. It is based on a novel by Jorge Enrique Adoum. Jorge Enrique Adoum (1926 in Ambato, Ecuador) is an Ecuadorian Poet and writer of Lebanese ancestry

• The 1991 film Sensaciones was shot in Ecuador and directed by Ecuadorian siblings Juan Esteban Cordero and Viviana Cordero. Viviana Cordero was subsequently involved in the production of Ratas, Ratones, y Rateros (see above) and later produced Un Titán en el Ring (2002).

• The 1980s film Vibes, starring Cyndi Lauper and Jeff Goldblum, was shot in Ecuador. Vibes is a Comedy film released in 1988 starring pop icon and Singer Cyndi Lauper, Actor Jeff Goldblum, Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper (born June 22 1953 is an American Grammy - and Emmy award winning Singer-songwriter and Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum (born October 22, 1952) is an Academy Award -nominated American actor Various Andean cities served as a backdrop for the film.

In addition to film, there are numerous books and novels based on Ecuador, including the science fiction novel by Rod Glenn, The King of America, and the science fiction novel Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut. Kurt Vonnegut Jr (November 11 1922 – April 11 2007 (ˈvɒnəgət was a prolific and genre-bending American Novelist known for works blending Satire, Black

Transportation

Ecuador has a network of national highways maintained by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones (Ministry of Public Works and Communication) government agency [6]. The primary highways of Ecuador are designated with both a name and an alphanumeric designation The Pan-American Highway connects the northern and southern portions of the country as well as connecting Ecuador with Colombia to the north and Peru to the south. The Pan-American Highway (see below for its name in other Western European languages is a network of Roads nearly 48000 kilometres (29800 miles in The quality of roads, even on truck routes, is highly variable. There is an extensive network of intercity buses that use these mountain roads and highways.

The most modern Ecuadorian Highway communicates Guayaquil with Salinas, in about two hours. Guayaquil´s airport Joaquin de Olmedo is the number one of Latin America. The Interandean Railroad communicates Quito and Cotopaxi in about two hours.

See also

Main list: List of basic Ecuador topics

References

External links

• President of Ecuador (Spanish)
• Ecuador at the Open Directory Project
• Wikia has a wiki on this subject: Ecuador
• Ecuador travel guide from Wikitravel
• Wikimedia Atlas of Ecuador

The Asociación de Scouts del Ecuador, the national Scouting organization of Ecuador, was founded in 1920 and became a member of the World Organization Telephones Telephones - main lines in use 1754000 (Mar 2006 Telephones - mobile cellular 9250000 (2007 The United States and Ecuador have maintained close ties based on mutual interests in maintaining democratic institutions combating Illegal drugs trade; building Famous Ecuadorian painters include Luis Peñaherrera Bermeo (1936-present Cesar Augusto Villacrés Atahualpa Villacrés Ecuador always has placed great emphasis on multilateral approaches to international problems This is a list of national parks in Ecuador. Parks and Reserves Limoncocha National Biological Reserve Manglares Churute Ecological Politics of Ecuador takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President of Ecuador is both This is a list of famous Ecuadorians. Arts Literature Demetrio Aguilera Malta - Writer Alejandro This is a list of Ecuadorian Universities (by location Ambato Universidad Técnica de Ambato ( UTA Cuenca High schools in Ecuador '''Centro de Estudios Espíritu Santo''' Guayaquil Colegio Torremar Guayaquil Colegio Delta Guayaquil Military branches Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana includes Marines Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana National Police (Policia Nacional Branches Pasillo- is a traditional genre of music in Ecuador Is a genre of indigenous Latin music Public holidays in Ecuador DateEnglish Railways total 812 km (single track narrow gauge: 812 km gauge Railway links with adjacent countries Access In 2004 water supply coverage (house connections stood at 82% in urban and 45% in rural areas while Sewer coverage in 2003 was 72% of urban and 53% of rural households Bloomberg LP is a financial software services news and data company The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory Wikia (originally Wikicities) is a selective Free web hosting service for Wikis (or Wiki farm) operated by Wikia Inc Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide.

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