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BIODIVERSITY IN ECUADOR
Ecuador, the second smallest country in
South America tucked in between Colombia
and Peru, occupies a mere 0.19% of the
planet´s continental mass yet is one of the
world´s most mega diverse countries. It
hosts 18% of the world´s bird species, over
4,500 species of orchids, and 10% of the
world´s
THE ANDES
The eastern and western mountain ranges of the
Andes, running from north to south through the
center of the country, are punctuated by eight snowcapped volcanoes ranging from 16,000 to 21,000 ft.
above sea level and half of these can be sighted on a
clear day from Quito, Ecuador´s capital city. On the
slopes of the Andes minor changes in altitude can
produce major changes in temperature, cloud cover,
sunshine and rainfall.
The combination of these elements and
variations in altitude have created distinct
ecological niches for specific flora and fauna
adapting to each different environment. In
the cool highlands, mountains and snowcapped volcanoes tower over bustling cities,
towns and Indian communities of the inter
andean valleys
ECUADOR´S AMAZON BASIN
To the east of the Andes lies Ecuador´s
Amazon Basin, the Tropical Rain Forest, with
gargantuan trees and vegetation and the
most complex ecosystem on earth.
West of the Andes you find vast plantations
supplying the world with bananas, cocoa,
sugar cane, coffee, and a diversity of tropical
fruits.
ECUADOR´S PACIFIC COAST
Further west great stretches of warm, sandy
beaches adorn Ecuador´s Pacific Coast. A fourth
natural region lies 600 miles and a 90 minute
flight from the country´s coast: Ecuador´s
enchanted Galapagos Islands, which emerged
from the sea six million years ago and through
the ages became home to animal species not
found anywhere else on earth