Although it’s tiny, Ecuador is a very varied country. This article will provide unique and fascinating facts about Ecuador. These include culture, wildlife politics, nature, and much more.
Here, you’ll learn a few amazing facts about Ecuador that you might not yet know. If you’ve got more suggestions, I’d love to hear about them by leaving a comment!
Facts About Ecuador
1. Ecuador is the closest country to space.
You may think that the closest location on Earth to space is Mount Everest, but you’d be incorrect. The reason lies in the simple fact Earth isn’t a perfect globe. Due to its rotation, it expands slightly near the Equator. This means that if all things are equal, the Equator lies closer to space and further from the center of the Earth than any other place. The bulge is so large it is so large that Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is 1.5 miles “higher” than Mount Everest. Since the mountain peaks measure their height from sea levels, Mount Everest is considered higher due to the bulge of the Earth at the Equator signifies that the oceans are also higher.
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2. Ecuador is the one nation that has been named after a geographic characteristic.
The official title of Ecuador has been changed to Republica del Ecuador, which means “The Republic of the Equator.” The Equator is a part of the country. It is an enormous monument located about 45 minutes from Quito, in which you can stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
3. Ecuador is the first country to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At the first UNESCO World Heritage conference in 1978, 32 sites were on the initial list. Each World Heritage Site has a number. Site #1 includes located in the Galapagos Islands, and #2 is in the City of Quito.
4. Ecuador has a long-running border dispute with Peru.
Peru and Ecuador have fought over the location where the two nations’ border should be drawn for many years. In 1941 the fighting broke out and ended with the Rio Protocol. The fighting resurfaced in the years 1981 and 1995. The final delineation of the border and the war’s end took place in 1999. The oddity of the deal was that Ecuador has an unrenewable lease of 1 square kilometer in Peru, in which they have a military base. It’s Peruvian territory but is administered by Ecuador. (Keen to know something more about Peru?
5. Ecuador was at one time a part of Colombia as well as Venezuela.
From 1822 until 1830, Ecuador formed part of Gran Colombia, including Colombia and Venezuela. After the independence of Spain, Ecuador joined Gran Colombia. However, the plan was soon dissolved, and Ecuador was declared a republic in 1830.
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6. Charles Darwin developed his Theory of Coral Atolls in the Galapagos Islands.
You’ve probably heard about Darwin’s voyage aboard the HMS Beagle to the Galapagos and how he was able to come up with concepts that led to the concept of evolutionary theory. You may not be aware that Darwin also invented the current theory of coral atolls’ growth in the Galapagos Islands. He discovered that the islands in the eastern part were higher and larger, and as you moved to the west, they diminished until, eventually, you had atolls. Additionally, most active volcanic eruptions were located in the east, not the west. It’s the same as what you see been observed in Hawaii.
7. The iconic Panama Hat you love originated from Ecuador.
Panama Hats are woven hats made of toquilla palm trees known for their sturdy, long-lasting fibers. These hats are manufactured in Ecuador and come from small regions, contrasting the glamorous image nowadays. These renowned weaved hats were worn by the Andean or coastal parts of Ecuador in the mid-1600s. However, the advanced weaving techniques received acclaim during the 18th Century. The Montecristi region started producing straw-brimmed straw hats and shipping the hats across Panama toward the United States. The labels on the boxes typically stated the shipping address for the product was Panama, and then the rest is the story.
Additional Fact, The rising fashion of this toquilla hat throughout the U.S., is attributed by many to the Gold Rush (1848-1855)–just as Montecristi was increasing production and shipping it into America. The U.S., Americans were moving in large numbers into California and where they were working under the scorching temperatures of California’s Sun. Naturally, they required a quality hat for keeping cool and safe. Traditional Ecuadorian Toquilla Hat is unique enough to be included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2012.
8. Rosalia Arteaga, the first female President of Ecuador, was President for just two days.
The year 1996 saw her inaugurated as Vice-President in her election Abdala Bucaram. On February 6, 1997, the President was removed from Ecuador’s Congress. There was a disagreement over who would take over the presidency of the presidency. Congressional head Fabian Alarcon was sworn in on February 6. However, Arteaga claimed that her name should be the first in line as the VP. She was inaugurated on February 9. On February 11, Alarcon was once again inaugurated with the backing of Congress and the army. Arteaga was forced to resign. Arteaga ran for President in 1998, but she only got only 3% of the votes.
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Interesting Facts About Ecuador
Ecuador is a tiny country located in the northwestern part of South America. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Columbia, and Peru. It is officially referred to as”the Republic of Ecuador. Let’s discover fascinating details about Ecuador.
- Ecuador is the world’s biggest exporter of bananas.
- Ecuador was the first nation in 2008 to recognize natural rights.
- Ecuador abolished slavery and also freed black slaves in 1851.
- Ecuador was the first country on Earth to abolish death penalty laws in 1906.
- Mount Chimborazo is the point on Earth closest to the Sun.
- Ecuador is among the 17 mega-diverse nations in the world. It has the highest biodiversity per square km of any country.
- 40% of the adults in Ecuador do not have a bank account.
- Spanish is considered to be the national language in Ecuador.
- In Ecuador, it has more cell phones than there are people.
- Ecuador has used the American Dollar as its national currency since the year 2000.
- Lunch is the most important food item of the day for Ecuador.
- Ecuador is the one nation in the world named after a geographic characteristic.
- Ecuador is the first and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site: Galapagos Islands and Quito.
- Charles Darwin has largely based his theories on evolution on his discoveries on the Galapagos Island, which he visited in 1835.
- Guinea Pig, also known as ‘cuy,’ is a delicious delicacy from Ecuador.
- More than 25,000 species of plants have been discovered in Ecuador.
- The Panama cap originated from Ecuador.
- Due to altitude, the water at Quito has a boiling point of 90 degrees Celsius and not 100 degrees Celsius.
- Seventy-four percent of Ecuador’s population is Roman Catholic.
- The national flower is the rose of Ecuador.
- It is mandatory for all people aged 18-65 years old in Ecuador.
- The first female President, Rosalia Arteaga, was President for just two days.
- Two of the dialects spoken in Ecuador are Quechua as well as Shuar.
- Ecuador formed part of the Inca Empire until 1533 when the Spanish conquered them.
- 10% of the plant species in the world are grown in this region.