Ecuador: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Ecuador

Ecuador is a country on the west coast of South America, crossed by the equator that gives it its name. It has Pacific beaches, snowy Andes volcanoes and a slice of the Amazon rainforest. It also owns the Galápagos Islands, famous for their unusual animals.

About Quito

Quito sits high in the Andes, about 2,850 metres above sea level, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano. Its historic centre was among the very first places in the world named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1978.

Fun facts about Ecuador

1. The country is named after the equator, the imaginary line that runs right across it.
2. The Galápagos Islands, about 1,000 km offshore, have giant tortoises and marine iguanas that inspired Charles Darwin.
3. The summit of Chimborazo is the farthest point on Earth from the planet's centre.
4. The famous 'Panama hat' is actually woven in Ecuador from toquilla straw.
5. Ecuador uses the US dollar as its national currency.
6. Ecuador is one of the world's biggest exporters of bananas.