Ecuador is located on the equator in South America, making it a unique country straddling both hemispheres. It shares borders with Colombia to the north and Peru to the south and east, while the Pacific Ocean lies to the west.
The country is divided into four natural regions:
- Coast
- Highlands (Sierra)
- Amazon
- Galápagos Islands
Ecuador was the first country in the world to recognize rights for nature, which are enshrined in its national constitution. Article 71 states that nature, or "Pacha Mama," has the right to exist and to maintain and regenerate its vital cycles.
While Spanish is the official language, several indigenous languages are also spoken, including Kichwa, Shuar, and Huaorani.
Ecuadorian cuisine is notable for its use of fish and fruits. Typical dishes include llapingachos, which are potato and cheese patties, and encebollado, a fish soup with onions, tomatoes, and yuca.
Historically, Ecuador used the Ecuadorian sucre as its currency, but since 2000, it has adopted the U.S. dollar, making it the only dollarized economy in South America.
The majority of Ecuador has a warm tropical equatorial climate, characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year. In the mountainous regions of the Andes, the climate is a subtropical highland type, with rainy weather but cooler average temperatures. At higher elevations, the climate shifts to a cold alpine tundra, marked by very low temperatures due to altitude.
