Nathan+Rodney

Ecuador

http://flagspot.net/flags/ec.html

Map Of Ecuador

Nathan Rodney Climate and Geography Ecuador is divided into 3 parts, the Coast, the Highland and the Amazon. In Ecuador the coastal and eastern lowlands are hot and humid around 75º most of the time. The Highlands, in Ecuador, range from 57º-68º, which is the coldest area of Ecuador, where as in the Amazon the temperature averages between 72º and 80º. Ecuador has one of the most active volcanoes, in the world. It is called Cotopaxi and is still active today. Ecuador also has some other volcanoes, such as the Chimborazo the Sanagay and the Licto, that are either still active today or are extinct. The country of Ecuador has many rivers running throughout the areas. Four of these rivers are the Esmeraldas, the Napo, the Guayas and the Toachi Rivers. The Esmeraldas River leads into the Pacific Ocean and the Napo River is about 1075km running through the middle of the country. The Guayas River is about 389 km long and is the most important river in South America. The Guayas River acts as the main river system of the coastal lowlands of Ecuador. Its eastern tributaries rise on the western slopes of the Andes and descend to drain the wet lowlands. The Guayas River is located just above Guayaquil and the Toachi River is known for being the most popular river for people to go rafting on. The rivers of Ecuador are very useful for the people. Not only are the rivers popular for recreation like, kayaking, but also they help provide food like fish for the Ecuadorians. The Coast, the Highland and the Amazon impact the Ecuadorians very similar, but also very different because of the differences in the climate and some of the geography.

The Napo River.

http://www.larc1.com/ecuador/manatee/index.html

History and Historical Figures

The very first people to live in Ecuador were different Indian tribes. In 1524 the Spanish took control of Ecuador. The Spanish enslaved the local people. About 300 years later the French led a military campaign against the Spaniards. Ecuador gained its independence in 1822 and became part of Gran Columbia. In 1830 they declared themselves a republic. In 1941 Peru and Ecuador battled over ownership of the Southern Amazon. The following year, in 1942 Ecuador proposed a treaty to Peru to gain most of the territory. The treaty was denied. Ecuador and Peru exchanged hostilities, over the denial of the treaty. In January 1995 a bunch of international observers helped negotiate a settlement. A final treaty was signed in October 1998. Ecuador retained a small portion of the land that was being fought over. Between 1830 and 1948 Ecuador had 62 presidents, dictators and military leaders. Galo Plaza Laso became the first freely elected president to serve a full term. Abdala Bucaram won the president election in 1996. He promised to help stop the poverty in Ecuador, but that was far from what he did. In 1997 the congress voted to remove Bucaram because of mental incapacity and corruption. Three years later, in 2000 Lucio Gutierrez was elected president and began to rebuild Ecuador’s economy. Then in 2006 congress voted the unpopular Gutierrez from office for his firing of several Supreme Court judges who did not support him. Then vice president Alfredo Palacio served as interim president until the 2006 elections when independent Rafael Correa was elected and came to power. He is currently president today.

This is the current president of ecuador today, Rafael Correa.

http://www.google.com/imgres?

Food

Ecuador is known for its fabulous exotic fruits and high quality fish and seafood. Some typical foods found in Ecuador are shrimp, toasted corn, and pastries stuffed with spicy meats or roasted coy (pig). The Ecuadorians get most of their foods from farms, plantations and the Andes highland. Fish or chicken dishes maybe fried, boiled or breaded, but the fruits are enjoyed fresh. One of the most delicious fruits the Ecuadorians enjoy is the mango slightly ripened. Another fruit that is enjoyed, by the people of Ecuador are bananas. Bananas are Ecuador’s most important crop economically, which is eaten locally and exported. Food varies between the different regions of the country. Ecuadorians eat three meals a day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast in Ecuador is a very light meal where as the midday lunch and dinner are a bit heavier. A typical breakfast, in the Andean region, usually consists of coffee and a bread pastry. Also a very common breakfast or a snack, through out the day is the empanadas. In the highlands, the sweet tamale is very common. Lunch is the biggest meal, of the day but also the cheapest meal of the day. This is because restaurants prepare the meal in bulk. Ecuador has many restaurants and the Ecuadorians eat their lunch in one of those restaurants. For lunch there will always be a bowl of soup and a main meal. This main dish will always have rice and usually will be some kind of beef stew. Dinner for Ecuadorians is very similar to lunch. Lunch and dinner are eaten a large group setting. In the county of Ecuador the foods may very across the regions of the country, but the foods give the Ecuadorians pleasure and are enjoyed in larger groups with family and friends. This is a picture of meat fish and potatoes.

http://www.google.com/imgres?

Religion, Holidays, and Festivals. Over 90% of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic religion was brought over to Ecuador by the colonization of the Spaniards, in the 1800. The Catholic Church still has a big influence on the Ecuadorian society and their government. Today Catholicism is represented through out the country in old and new churches and though the holidays the Ecuadorians celebrate. Other religions and beliefs are also welcomed now, since the government respecting all religions and the freedom of religious choice passed a law in 1899. The other 5% of Ecuadorians are either Latter-day Saints of Mormons. In other religions of Ecuador like Quito, Cuenca, Amabato, and Guayaquil are home to a small population of Jews and Islams. In Ecuador each city will celebrate their own festivals each celebration is either in honor of a Saint or that particular cities festival. Ecuador has plenty of celebrations though out the country and the year. There are many main celebrations and festivals, though out the country and a few of them are New Years Day, Christmas, Cuenca Independence and All Saints Day. Each celebration is very festive and enjoyed by all. Ecuadorians are very sensitive and try not to offend anyone there will always be politeness and respect though out the celebration. With all that said, each celebration consists of lots of dancing, food and a whole lot to drink. Ecuadorians love to drink. Though out Ecuador Ecuadorians are found to be religious individuals and ones that are respectful polite and really enjoy their celebrations. This is a picture of a festival on the street. http://www.google.com/imgres?

These are my sources

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