Ecuador

Ecuador is a nation in South America bordering the Pacific Ocean. Ecuador shares land borders with two other South American nations: Colombia to the north and Peru to the east and south.

Brief History

Ecuador derives its name from the Earth's equator, which runs through the center of the country. Prior to European contact, what is now Ecuador formed the northern part of the Inca Empire. After the Spanish territories of New Granada became independent in the 1820s, they formed an alliance known as Gran Colombia. In 1830, Quito withdrew from the alliance and renamed the nation Ecuador, although the capital city retained the name of the original territory. In the 20th century Ecuador lost territory in periodic wars with Colombia and Peru.

Climate and Terrain

Ecuador has a wide diversity of climate regions, including parts of the westernmost stretches of the Amazon Rainforest, some of the highest peaks in the Andes Mountains, and a slim, flat coastal plain along the Pacific. One of the highest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi, is located in the country.