Ecuador Ecuador

The tribes in the northern highlands of Ecuador formed the Kingdom of Quito around 1000. It was absorbed, by conquest and marriage, into the Inca Empire. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro conquered the land in 1532, and throughout the 17th century a Spanish colony thrived by exploitation of the Indians. The first revolt against Spain occurred in 1809. In 1819, Ecuador joined Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama in a confederacy known as Greater Colombia.

When Greater Colombia collapsed in 1830, Ecuador became independent. Revolts and dictatorships followed; it had 48 presidents during the first 131 years of the republic. Conservatives ruled until the revolution of 1895 ushered in nearly a half century of Radical Liberal rule, during which the church was disestablished and freedom of worship, speech, and press was introduced. Although it was under military rule in the 1970s, the country did not experience the violence and repression characteristic of other Latin American military regimes. Its last 30 years of democracy, however, have been largely ineffectual because of a weak executive branch and a strong, fractious Congress.

Peru invaded Ecuador in 1941 and seized a large tract of Ecuadoran territory in the disputed Amazon region. In 1981 and 1995 war broke out again. In May 1999, Ecuador and Peru signed a treaty ending the nearly 60-year border dispute.

Ecuador, about equal in area to Nevada, is in the northwest part of South America fronting on the Pacific. To the north is Colombia and to the east and south is Peru. Two high and parallel ranges of the Andes, traversing the country from north to south, are topped by tall volcanic peaks. The highest is Chimborazo at 20,577 ft (6,272 m). The Galápagos Islands (or Colón Archipelago: 3,029 sq mi; 7,845 sq km), in the Pacific Ocean about 600 mi (966 km) west of the South American mainland, became part of Ecuador in 1832.

Places to Visit in Ecuador
 
  • Quito attractions
  • Cuenca attractions
  • Banos attractions
  • Santa Cruz attractions
  • Guayaquil attractions


Popular cities in Ecuador

Saquisili, El Angel, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Gualaquiza, Sangolqui, Celica, San Miguel, Pedernales, San Cristobal, Alamor, Palora, Coronel Mariduena, Archidona, Pimampiro, Sucua, Pillaro, Lomas de Sargentillo, Cotacachi, Puerto Ayora, Palenque, Junin, Pajan, Palestina, Colimes, Banos, Portovelo, Catarama, Canar, Yantzaza, Rocafuerte, Puebloviejo, Catacocha, Valdez, Balao, Zaruma, Santa Lucia, Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno, Guano, Santa Ana, Macara, Muisne, Alausi, Tosagua, San Gabriel, Zamora, Sucre, Montalvo, Arenillas, Pujili, La Mana, Pelileo, Cariamanga, Pinas, Gualaceo, Tena, Calceta, Atuntaqui, Montecristi, Catamayo, San Lorenzo, Guaranda, Pedro Carbo, Macas, Samborondon, Nueva Loja, Puyo, Machachi, Cayambe, Yaguachi, Playas, Naranjal, El Triunfo, Otavalo, Vinces, Naranjito, Azogues, Jipijapa, La Troncal, Bahia De Caraquez, Huaquillas, Santa Rosa, Rosa Zarate, Santa Elena, Salinas, Chone, Pasaje, Ventanas, Puerto Francisco de Orell, Daule, Velasco Ibarra, Latacunga, El Carmen, La Libertad, Babahoyo, Tulcan, Esmeraldas, Ibarra, Milagro, Loja, Quevedo,

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