Ecuador

Ecuador

Archeologists say that Ecuador had its first people going as far back as 10,000 B.C. In 3,200 BC it had produced some of the world's oldest known pottery. In 500 BC there were already cities in Ecuador. The people of Ecuador were known for metal working and navigation. They also traded with the Maya's. In the year 1460 AD three tribes fought with the Inca ruler. They were called the Canari, the Quitu, and the Caras. They were able to keep him away from ruling Ecuador, but his son Huayna Capac took over the country. He made them all learn the language Quechua. This language is still used today throughout Ecuador. He was the first ruler of this country. Even recently Ecuador has had arguments in the country. Mainly over the conservative city of Quito and the liberal Guayaqui. When both of there leaders were assassinated, military dictators had ruled for a while. That is up until 1979 when it returned to democracy. Now they have free elections.

Ecuador has a total of four regions. These regions are Amazonica, Costa, Sierra, and Insular. Within these four regions there are a total of twenty two provinces. They have a republic government. There capital is Quito, and the longer name of Ecuador is "the Republic of Ecuador." Ecuador gained independence from Spain on May 24, 1822. They celebrate the independence of Quito on August 10. Ecuador's flag is three horizontal bands of yellow, blue, and red with the coat of arms in the center of the flag.

Ecuador is located in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru. As of the census from July 2005, there are approximately 13,363,593 people living in Ecuador. Out of that population, 61.5% of the people range from age 15-64. The average life expectancy is 76 years old. The language they mainly speak is Spanish, but they also speak Amerindian languages; one of them being Quechua. As far as religion, over 95% are Roman Catholic. There is a mixture in the variety of population. There is a total of 55% Mestizo, 25% Indigenous, 10% Caucasian, 9% African, and 1% other. The currency they use is the U.S. dollar.

As for some interesting facts about Ecuador, Panama hats come from Ecuador not Panama. In the capital, Quito, the nights are freezing cold but during the day the temperature is usually around an average of 71 degrees all year round. Cotopaxi in the Andes is the highest active volcano in the world. However, more than half of Ecuadors population is living in poverty. There are very few people that have a lot of money and are doing well for themselves. For example on average, children 15 and older can read and write not any younger than that though.

In Ecuador bullfights and soccer games are very important to them, even though they are not festivals. Psuedo bullfights occur all through the year. This one the bull is not killed and everyone is allowed to enter the ring. The bullfights that take place in December are the more important ones. They take place in Quito, and a lot of the most famous fighters come to this fight.

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