Ecuador interesting facts

• ...that Ecuador's biodiversity is amongst the highest in the world? For instance more than 16,000 species of plants, including 4,000 species of orchids.

• ...that Ecuadorians refer to New York City as being Ecuador's third largest City based on the assumption that more Ecuadorians live in the Tri-State Region than in Cuenca?

• ...that the fastest-growing cities, receiving the least media attention, Esmeraldas, Manta, Salinas, and Machala all being port cities have doubled their growth, and have the most stable economies in the country, leaving Nueva Loja, the only inland city to have equalled that growth?

• ...that Quito (the capital of Ecuador) has the highest cable car in the world?

• ...that Quito (the capital of Ecuador) has the most extensive colonial district of Latin America?

• ...that Guayaquil (Ecuador's largest city) has the most modern airport of the Latin American region... (see municipalidad de guayaquil in red)

• ...that Panama hats are not actually made in Panama but in Ecuador?

• ...that Guayaquil (Ecuador's largest city) became the first intelligent city in incorporating a global free internet access at the hot spots of the city?

• ...that Ecuador is the only place in the world where you can actually visualize that you are standing on the northern hemisphere as well as on the southern hemisphere?

• ... that Ecuadorian presidential candidate Ximena Peña previously represented the United States and Canada in the National Assembly?

• ...that Imbabura (pictured) is an inactive stratovolcano in northern Ecuador which is revered in local folklore as a protective parent?

  

• ...that on January 8 1956, five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States were speared to death after attempting to reach the Huaorani people of Ecuador in "Operation Auca"?

• ...that under the 2002 Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act the United States eliminated tariffs on 6,300 products from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru?

• ... that according to oral tradition, the Chachi people originated from the mountains near Ibarra, Ecuador?

• ... that Gabriela Rivadeneira, a 29-year old former local beauty queen, has been mentioned as a possible successor for President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa?

• ... that Ana Lucía Armijos, president of the Ecuadorian Monetary Board, went into hiding for a year after the Supreme Court of Ecuador called for her arrest in the case of a $200 million bank bailout?

• ... that 25 percent of the population of Ecuador is of indigenous heritage, while another 65 percent is of mixed indigenous and European heritage?

• ... that Carina Vance Mafla's campaign to shut down "torture clinics" that try to turn lesbians straight began years before she was appointed Ecuador's Minister for Public Health?

• ... that Sangay, a stratovolcano in Ecuador nicknamed The Frightener in Quechua, has been continuously erupting since 1934?