(CNN Spanish) -
Ecuador is an Andean country, located in southern America, rich in biodiversity, volcanoes, and beaches, many lush beaches.
These are some facts you should know about Ecuador.
Key facts
Ecuador is located in western South America.
It borders the Pacific Ocean, as well as Colombia and Peru.
Capital:
Quito.
Currency:
US dollar.
Population:
17,093,159 inhabitants.
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Ethnic groups:
71.9% of the population of Ecuador is mestizo (a mixture of Amerindians and whites), 7.4% is Montubio, which is the name given to the peasant from the Ecuadorian coast.
7% are Amerindian.
6.1% are white, 4.3% are black, 1.9% are mulatto, 1% are black and other races are 0.4%.
Language:
93% speak Spanish.
4.1% speak Quechua and 0.7% other indigenous languages.
These indigenous languages are in official use among the peoples that inhabit some areas.
Religion:
Roman Catholic (74%), Evangelical (10.4%), Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other 6.4% (includes Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Pentecostals, etc).
Average age:
28.8 years in general.
Men: 28 years old.
Women: 29.6 years.
Area:
283,561 km2.
It is slightly smaller than the US state of Nevada. And it ranks 75th in the world in size.
Other data of interest
Ecuador, land of volcanoes
Ecuador is located in the so-called "Ring of Fire", on the edge of a very active tectonic plate.
Just south of Quito, two parallel chains of the Andes that cross Ecuador from north to south rise in spectacular peaks.
This stretch of peaks is known as "The Avenue of the Volcanoes" and it is worth taking a seat by the plane window as it takes off from the capital to witness the spectacle of snow-capped volcanoes.
Tungurahua, south of Quito, has been one of the most active volcanoes on the planet in recent years.
In Kichwa its name translates as "Gorge of Fire" and it has been erupting since 1999. The last time was in April 2020, when it let a spectacular ash column tear several kilometers high.
Half the world"….
is in the wrong place
Ecuador is named after the Ecuador line that runs through the country.
One of the must-see tourist attractions is taking a picture of yourself standing with one leg on each side of the line that marks the middle of the world.
Just make sure you pick the right place.
The «Middle of the World» monument was built in 1979.
It is an impressive statue of about 30 meters, which stands about 24 kilometers from Quito and has a bold yellow line that supposedly marks the zero-degree latitude line.
The only problem is that it is actually 240m away from there.
We know this thanks to the accurate GPS readings that many of us carry in our pockets.
A new tourist site has been created, this time with a red line marking where the planet is divided in two and a sign that proudly declares: «Latitude: 00º 00 '00» calculated with GPS.
Coca leaves are a great cure for altitude sickness
Quito is 2,800 meters above sea level and it is not uncommon for you to feel short of breath or a slight headache when you first arrive.
Altitude sickness symptoms can worsen if you venture into the Andean mountains without acclimatizing.
Drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeine would ease symptoms.
And the Diamox works fine, but it takes two days to work.
However, coca leaves, sold at small neighborhood stalls, are a quick and useful solution, as is coca tea.
Just remember to get rid of the coca leaves before you fly home;
it is illegal to bring them to the United States and many other countries.
It is the world's largest exporter of fine cocoa beans
Like wine, chocolate reflects the terroir or flavors of the region where it is grown.
Ecuador's diverse terrain, rich volcanic soil, and location on the equator create excellent growing conditions.
Plant the same Arriba bean in Ecuador and in Africa ... and with Ecuadorian cocoa you will surely have a more complex and refined flavor.
As demand for more flavored chocolate has increased, Ecuador has become a hot destination for chocolatiers and tour operators are springing into action.
Some parents pay to have their children hit with nettles
It is not a form of child abuse, but a traditional healing practice that is said to purify the soul.
A kind of detox that is available for both adults and children.
The folk remedy involves being left alone in your underwear and getting hit with nasty nettles to expel negative energy.
Next, the healer uses a handful of herbs, including bay leaf and peppermint, to help soothe the itch.
Finally, it is rubbed with rose petals.
Sharks are friendly
What you should know if you want to go to Galapagos 2:06
Seriously.
Sharks in the Galapagos are so well fed that there is no need for a cage to swim alongside them, and that's really exciting.
This includes all sharks, not just the Galapagos native reef shark that can reach three meters in length, but also whitetip reef sharks, common throughout the archipelago.
Even with hammerhead sharks you will be safe.
Apparently they are not interested in a human lunch because there are abundant crops in the crystal clear waters.
While Galapagos sharks eat mostly fish, the most powerful ones are known to eat other sharks, sea lions, turtles, and iguanas.
The Panama hat is actually from Ecuador
So why is a traditional toquilla straw hat from Ecuador called a Panama hat?
The straw came from Manabí on the west coast of Ecuador, where Eloy Alfaro was born.
Alfaro was president of Ecuador from 1842 to 1912 and made his fortune making toquilla hats.
He exported them to Panama, where lightweight hats were ideal under the tropical sun and were purchased by American workers and engineers building the Panama Canal.
When the then President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was photographed with one during a visit to the canal, the image went viral and the demand for a "Panama hat" increased.
Hats are still a classic summer accessory, but unfortunately for Ecuadorian producers, the name has remained and even in Quito they are advertised as a Panama hat.
Voting for the majority is mandatory
Ecuador introduced mandatory voting for all citizens aged 18 to 65 in 1936. Only the illiterate are excused.
Voters receive a certificate to show that they have fulfilled their civil duty;
Without it, they cannot get married or buy property unless they have a very good excuse or pay a fine.
- With information from Kate Whitehead of CNN Travel
Ecuador