|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, August 10.
|RNature and climate:|N Ecuador can be divided in three natural regions. The hilly coastal areas in west, the eastern lowland, a part of the Amazonarea and the mountainarea in between.
The mountainarea consists of two chains of the Andes, stretching from north to south with a highland plateau in between. Highest peak of 6 310 m.a.s.l. is an extinct volcano. There are several active volcanoes in the area.
The Ecuadorean lowlands are covered by rainforests, except for a 50 km coastal strip in the south with savannah and steppe. Percipitation in this coastal strip less than 100 mm, while the rest of the country gets between 1000 and 3000 mm.
Average temperature in the lowlands 25°C and in the mountains 13°C throughout the year.
|RPeople:|N Original Indians and a mix between these Indians and immigrants dominate. Less than 10% each of "pure" whites and negroes. Most of the people live in the highlands.
|REconomy:|N By the end of the 1960:ies oil was found in the eastern lowlands. A pipeline for oil was built through the Andes in the early 70:ies and since then oil have dominated the economy accounting for more than 50% of exportincomes. Before that agriculture was the most important industry with export of bananas, coffee, cacao and sugar.
Fishing has gained in importance and export have started.
Ecuador is one of the leading exporters of Balsa-wood. The inaccessible nature and poorly developed transportationsystem makes it difficult to make benefit from the rich forest resources.
Ecuador have gold, silver, zink, lead, copper and great possibilities for hydroelectric power.
Manufacturing is in fast development. Biggest is yet textile- and agricultural manufacturing, as well as cement and pharmaceuticals. Heavy industry is being developed.
|RHistory:|N 10 000 years ago big game hunters lived in Ecuador, which was situated between two ancient highly developed cultures: the northern Aztecs and Mayas and the southern Incas.
The people of Ecuador received influencies from both sides.
It was conquered by the Incawarrior Topa Inca 1471 - 1493 AD. When the Incarealm fell in Spanish hands 1532 it included Ecuador. It was a Spanish colony until 1822 when it founded an independent union with Colombia. In 1830 this union was dissolved and Ecuador was proclaimed an independent nation.
After independence there were severe political antagonism between different powerful groups, especially the church and its opponents.
The international depression in the 1930:ies had a big influence on Ecuadorean export of agricultural goods. Domestically this led to anarchy that lasted until World War II.
Military and civilian dictators have succeeded each others under the greater part of the 20th century, until 1979 when a democratic constitution was passed and a popularly elected congress and president was installed.
In 1987 a fierce earthquake left over 20 000 people without homes and damaged parts of the important pipeline for oil between the interior and the coast.
Ecuador then stopped paying interests and mortgages on the huge foreign debt.
In 1904 Ecuador was forced to cede a part of the Amazonarea to Brazil. In 1922 another part of that area was ceded to Colombia and in 1941 Peru started a war about another part of the area. Neighbouring nations proposed a settlement in 1942 that recognized Peruan sovereignty over the area.
In 1961 Ecuador unilaterally cancelled this settlement and in 1981 a short war was fought about the area.
Up till now no agreements have been reached, except armistice.
