Ecuador

Ecuador

Facts about Ecuador

Lesson 1

• Tradition in Ecuador is very important to Ecuadorians. They enjoy their culture and their food.

• I hope you enjoy this lesson

Capital of Ecuador

The capital of Ecuador is Quito. Quito, Ecuador's capital, sits high in the Andean foothills at an altitude of 2,850m. Constructed on the foundations of an ancient Incan city, it’s known for its well-preserved colonial center, rich with 16th- and 17th-century churches and other structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles. These include the cathedral, in the Plaza Grande square, and ultra-ornate Compañia de Jesús Church.

Boiling Water

The boiling temperature of water in Ecuador is not 100C, but around 90C. That's because the boiling temperature of any liquid is dependent on pressure. Ecuador is a high altitude country, so there's less atmospheric pressure and lower boiling temperatures.

Evolution

The Galapagos Islands are where Charles Darwin noticed the diversity of species and began to study evolution. When he compared the plants and animals on the islands with those on the continent, he began to see a pattern. After reviewing his notes and examining additional specimens, Darwin arrived at his theory of evolution.

Money

One surprising fact about Ecuador is that its official currency is the US Dollar. Following a banking crisis in 1999, Ecuador changed its currency from a Sucre to the US Dollar in 2000. This measure helped somewhat to avoid a financial crisis and maintain stability in the economy

Rights

In 2008, Ecuador was the first country to officially recognize the rights of nature in its constitution. Rather than treating nature as property, they recognize its right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles. The people have the authority to enforce these rights on behalf of ecosystems, which can be named as the defendant.

Near the sun

The summit of Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest mountain, is the point on Earth closest to the sun. Due to the mountain's location along the equatorial bulge, its summit is the farthest point from the Earth's core. With a peek elevation of 6,263m , Chimborazo is also the highest peek near the equator.