Introduction
The representative democratic republic of Ecuador is located in South America. On the east and south it is bordered by Peru, on the North is Colombia and on the west it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Galapagos Island located 965 kilometers in the pacific is part of Ecuador. The country covers an area of 276,830 kilometers square. The Name Ecuador comes from the fact that the country lies on the Equator.
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Ecuador’s climate is largely influenced by altitude. The coastal Areas has tropical climate with harsh rainy seasons. In the highlands, the climate is relatively dry and temperate. There is small variation in daytime hours due to the location of Ecuador on the equator
The capital city of Ecuador is Quito, located in the Pichincha province in the sierra region. This city is home to over 1.4 million people and the political base of Ecuador. On the Guayas coast is the city of Guayaquil, which is the biggest city in Ecuador. This city of Guayaquil has its importance as the port city of Ecuador with major export and imports taking place in this city. This city is home to over 1.9 million people. Cotopaxi is another important city found south of the capital city, Quito. This city is the home to the world’s most active and the highest volcanoes. Other important major cities in Ecuador are Cuenca, Manta, Machala and Santo Domingo de los Colorados.
The coastal city of Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador
The population of Ecuador currently stands at 13.9 million people of diverse ethnicity. Mestizos are the largest ethnic group. This group constitutes over 62% of the population and is made up of descendants of indigenous Indians and of Spanish origin. 25% of the population is composed of Amerindian ethnic groups. The rest of the population is composed of white of Spanish colonist descendants and immigrants mainly from European countries.
Ecuador dropped the Sucre as its currency and adopted the US dollar as it principal currency in 2000. This was occasioned by the 1999 recession and the banking crisis. Ecuador’s economy is based on petroleum production and Agriculture. Oil, bananas, flowers, shrimps, canned fish and other agricultural products are major exports of Ecuador. Major international markets for Ecuador export include United States, Latin America, Asia, European Union and Andean community. Ecuador’s imports market is worth the US $12.2 billion of industrial materials, lubricants and fuels, electronics and consumer goods. Most of the imports come from Latin America accounting for 40%, Andean community 24%, United States 21% and European Union accounting for 10%.
Ecuador gained it independence from its colonizer Spain in the early 1820s. The city of Guayaquil gained its independence first in October 1820 with the rest of Ecuador gaining independence two years later in May 1822. Eight years down the line after independence, Ecuador became a republic when it joined Simon Bolivar Republic of Gran Colombia.
The Mestizo has a great influence on the culture of Ecuador, which is infused with some African aspects from the slave’s ancestors. One notable element of Ecuadorian culture is the Sombrero de paja, or Panama hat. It’s made from piles and pampas and it’s considered one of the best crafts in the Latin America.
Ecuador has a diverse variety of food. In the mountain region, chicken, pork or guinea pig served with rice, potatoes or corn is the main menu. Varieties of fruits are found in the lower attitudes area, this includes banana, passion fruits, granadilla and tomato. In the coastal region, the main dish is composed of sea products like shrimp, lobster and prawns.
Like many Latin American countries, over 70% of the population of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholics. Other religions include Muslims, Protestants, Mormons and Christians. There are less than a thousand Jews in Ecuador composed mainly of German and Italian immigrants.
Summary
Writing and painting form the main Ecuadorian art. This country is home to world-renowned master painters like Camilo Egas, Enrique Tabara and Oswaldo Guayasamin. Novelists Jorge Icaza and Jorge Enrique have their roots in Ecuador. Carrion de Fierro and Jorge Carrera are famous poet from Ecuador.
Reference
Dennis Michael (1991) Ecuador: A Country Study, Library of Congress Research Publishers, United States.
Ecuador, 2008, Web.
Ecuador: Culture, People and History, 2008, Web.