Ecuador Facts

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News Traces of Lost Society Found in 'Pristine' Cloud Forest

Deep in Ecuador’s lush Quijos Valley, a society thrived—and then disappeared. But a lake preserved its story.

News Striking Yellow-Black Rain Frog Found, Is Already Endangered

The rare amphibian lives in an overlooked region in Ecuador, scientists say.

News 3 New Snakes Found, One Named for Underworld Monster

The newfound species add to Earth's most diverse snake genus—and one of them is already critically endangered.

News Watch Silkhenge Spiders Hatch On Video For The First Time

There is finally footage of baby spiders hatching out of the spider egg sac known for its ‘picket fence’ enclosure.

About Ecuador Facts

Ecuador's name comes from the Equator, which divides it unequally, putting most of the country in the Southern Hemisphere. It may be the smallest Andean country, but it has four distinct and contrasting regions. The Costa, or coastal plain, grows enough bananas to make the country the world's largest exporter of the fruit. The Sierra, or Andean uplands, offers productive farmland. Oil from the Oriente, jungles east of the Andes, enriches the economy. The Galápagos Islands, volcanic islands 960 kilometers west of Ecuador, bring tourism revenue with its unique reptiles, birds, and plants.

Fast Facts

Population: 13,032,000

Capital: Quito; 1,451,000

Area: 283,560 square kilometers (109,483 square miles)

Language: Spanish, Quechua

Religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: U.S. dollar

Life Expectancy: 71

GDP per Capita: U.S. $3,200

Literacy Percent: 93

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