Ecuador is situated exactly on the line that divides the northern and southern hemisphere, the Equator. The country is between Colombia (to the north) and Peru (to the South). A great variety of the contours and climates contribute to the impressive formations that make up the scenery and ecosystem.
Despite its small size, the country possesses one of the world¹s richest ecosystems. The flora and fauna have a wide diversity of species not found in any other location on the planet. The country is rich in mangrove-covered swamps, tropical forests, and is home to innumerable ecological reserves with samples of everything from birds to mammals (monkeys, bats, rabbits, squirrels, etc.), reptiles, as well as varied aquatic species.
Ecuador¹s coast is characterized by forests and tropical savannas where you are can admire the swamps and beaches with their curious rock formations.
The Andes mountain range, often referred to as the Sierra, stretches across the entire country dividing it from north to south. Here you can find the valleys and the volcanoes that characterize this unique and attractive landscape.
The Amazon area is home to more than 100 species of trees and extends across 120,000 square kilometers of exuberant vegetation native to humid and tropical forests. This region is characterized by its many rivers. The soil of the Amazon is blessed with rich mineral deposits that help the agriculture. Native plants to the region are cinnamon, the silk tree, jacaranda and many varieties of vegetables.
The Galapagos Islands are located 1,000 kilometers from Ecuador¹s coast. This fascinating archipelago is composed of 13 large islands, 6 smaller ones and more than 40 tiny ones. The islands were formed by volcanic eruptions in the Pacific Ocean.
The surviving organisms developed and formed new species thereby giving new characteristics to the island. Later, these become the object of the study of naturalist Charles Darwin who put his ideas into his book ³The Origin of the Species² which explains his belief about the evolution of the all life. Giant turtles, marine and land iguanas, lava lizards, multicolored fish, and more than 13 types of exotic birds such as the albatross, herons, pelicans, flamingos, and cormorants live in this free territory.
Galapagos is the second largest natural reserve in the world, following only after the Australian Barrier Reef.
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