Ecuador is a country that is small in size, only 283,560 km2,, but
large in diversity. Divided into four geographical zones, each one
of them having the most diverse flora and fauna of the planet. It
is a country blessed by its geographical location, in the "middle
of the world", which provides a mild climate throughout the year
due to the existence of the Andes mountains. Because it is crossed
by the second highest mountain range on Earth, it possesses majestic
mountains like the highest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi.
It also has the world famous Galapagos Islands and part of the Amazon
rainforest that are unique and unforgettable tourist destinations.
Geographical location
Ecuador is located in western South America. To the south and east,
Ecuador is bordered by Peru, to the north with Colombia and to the
west by the Pacific Ocean. The equator passes just a few kilometers
to the north of its capital. The border with Colombia is 590 km in
length and that with Peru is 1,420 km, the coast covers 2,237 km.
Comparatively, Ecuador is slightly smaller than the state of Nevada
in the United States.
Provinces of Ecuador
Ecuador is divided into 22 provinces. On the coast the provinces are:
Esmeraldas (Esmeraldas), Manabí (Portoviejo), Los Ríos
(Babahoyo), Guayas (Guayaquil) and El Oro (Machala). In the mountains
they are: Carchi (Tulcán), Imbabura (Ibarra), Pichincha (Quito),
Cotopaxi (Latacunga), Tungurahua (Ambato), Chimborazo (Riobamba),
Bolivar (Guaranda), Cañar (Azogues), Azuay (Cuenca) and Loja
(Loja). In the Amazon or “Oriente the provinces are: Sucumbíos
(Nueva Loja), Napo (Tena), Pastaza (Puyo), Orellana (Orellana), Morona
Santiago (Macas) and Zamora Chinchipe (Zamora) and in the island region,
the Galapagos Islands (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno).
