19 interesting facts about Ecuador

19 interesting facts about Ecuador

A list of the most interesting facts about Ecuador that we learned during our time there

Despite its relatively small size compared to local giants Brazil and Argentina, Ecuador is home to an astonishing array of wonders, including picturesque colonial towns, Amazon rainforest, the spectacular peaks of the Andes and, of course, the fragile but fascinating Galápagos Islands.

What is Ecuador famous for? Be it nature, wildlife, culture, anthropology or language, this diverse country is sure to impress you.

Here are the most interesting facts about Ecuador that we picked up on our journey through its lands (and seas).

Interesting facts about Ecuador

1. Der Nationalbaum Ecuadors ist der Chinarindenbaum, der Chinin produziert, das erste Medikament zur Vorbeugung und Behandlung von Malaria. (Quelle: Britannica)
2. Ecuador ist eines von nur zwei Ländern in Südamerika, das nicht an Brasilien grenzt. (Quelle: Google Maps)
3. Am 12. April 2019 gewährte Ecuador dem WikiLeaks-Gründer Julian Assange politisches Asyl. Assange, der von der US-Regierung untersucht wird und der Auslieferung an Schweden droht, suchte Zuflucht bei der ecuadorianischen Botschaft in London. (Quelle: Telegraph)

alt="Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London">DreamtimeAssange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London

1. Im April 2019 sagte Lenin Moreno, das Land habe „seine Grenze in Bezug auf das Verhalten von Herrn Assange erreicht“ und lud die britische Polizei in die Botschaft in London ein, wo der Mitbegründer von Wikileaks schließlich festgenommen wurde. (Quelle: BBC)

2. In 2008, Ecuador became the first country to officially recognize the rights of nature. Rather than treating nature as property, Ecuador recognizes that nature has constitutional rights and the “right to exist, to continue, to maintain and regenerate its life cycles.” (Source: Rights of Nature)

3. The summit of Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest mountain, is the closest point on Earth to the sun. Due to the mountain's location along the equatorial bulge, its summit is the furthest point from the Earth's core. This also means that Ecuador is the closest to space. (Source: Smithsonian Institution)

alt="Mount Chimborazo is the highest mountain in Ecuador">DreamtimeMount Chimborazo is one of the most interesting facts in Ecuador

1. Ecuador ist eines von 17 megadiversen Ländern der Welt und hat die größte Biodiversität pro Quadratkilometer aller Nationen. (Quelle: Conservation International)

2. What is Ecuador named after? As is well known, Ecuador is named after the equator that runs through the country. It is actually the only country in the world officially named after a geographical feature. The official name, República del Ecuador, translates as “The Republic of the Equator.” (Source: Encyclopedia.com)

alt="Standing at the equator">Atlas & BootsStand on the equator… or not

1. Der Äquator wird in der Touristenattraktion Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (Stadt in der Mitte der Welt) 26 km nördlich der Hauptstadt Quito großflächig beworben. Hier soll man mit einem Fuß auf der Nordhalbkugel und einem auf der Südhalbkugel stehen können. Leider soll der genaue Äquator dank moderner Nachmessungen 240 Meter nördlich der markierten Linie und des Denkmals liegen. Doh!(Quelle: Weltgeodätisches System)

2. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is 2,850 m above sea level, making it the highest official capital in the world. La Paz in Bolivia is higher, but it cheats a bit since it is not the constitutional capital (that's Sucre), just the seat of government. Nothing is ever easy in Bolivia! (Source: Wikipedia)

3. Charles Darwin visited Ecuador's Galápagos Islands in 1835 and based his theory of evolution largely on the discoveries he made there. (Source: Darwin Online)

4. Guinea pig, known as “Cuy”, is considered a delicacy in Ecuador and its consumption is considered an ancient tradition. After Kia's reaction to me eating reindeer hearts in Finland, I thought it best not to... (Source: BBC)

alt="Guinea pigs in Ecuador">DreamtimeGuinea pig is a delicacy in Ecuador

1. Ecuador ist eines von drei Ländern, die 1830 nach dem Zusammenbruch Großkolumbiens gegründet wurden. Nach der Unabhängigkeit von der spanischen Kolonie, dem Vizekönigreich Neugranada, wurde die kurzlebige Republik Gran Colombia (1819–30) gegründet. Es umfasste die Gebiete des heutigen Kolumbien, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama sowie Teile von Nordperu, Westguayana und Nordwestbrasilien.(Quelle: Britannika)

2. The Panama hat actually comes from Ecuador. Straw hats woven along the Ecuadorian coast were first brought to Panama to be sold to canal workers and, after the canal opened, to wealthy Westerners passing through the Panama Canal. (Source: Montecristi Panama Hats)

alt="Panama hats in Ecuador">DreamtimeThe Panama hat actually comes from Ecuador

1. Ecuador ist der weltweit größte Bananenexporteur, auf den 2011 bis zu 29 % aller exportierten Bananen entfielen. (Quelle: FAOstat)

2. Ecuador was voted the best country for expats two years in a row in 2014 and 2015. It consistently ranks among the top ten countries and was ranked 8th in the most recent index of 2019. Quality of life, cost of living, and personal finances were all cited as excellent reasons to up sticks and head to the equator. (Source: InterNations)

3. One of the most interesting facts about Ecuador's culture is that there are at least 14 recognized languages ​​spoken in the country. Spanish is the official language, while 13 indigenous languages ​​are also recognized, including Quichua and Shuar (Source: CIA Factbook)

alt="unique geographical regions of Ecuador">Atlas & BootsInteresting facts about Ecuador are its geographical regions

1. Ecuador is divided into four large and unique geographical regions: La Costa or "the Coast", La Sierra or "the Highlands", La Amazonía, also known as El Oriente or "the East", and La Región Insular, the region that includes the Galápagos Islands. (Source: National Geographic)

2. Ecuador has the first and second UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. At the first UNESCO World Heritage Conference in 1978, 32 sites were initially designated. Each World Heritage site has a number - site #1 is the Galápagos Islands and #2 is the city of Quito. (Source: UNESCO)

Additional photos: Dreamstime, main image: Photos593/Shutterstock

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