Introduction - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 16

ences plays an enormous role, as do international influences. In 1999,
Ecuadorian currency devalued significantly against the US dollar be-
fore leveling off. All of this has led to uprisings, strikes, and states of
emergency throughout the country. Most recently, the spiraling Ec-
uadorian economy - with major bank collapses and instability lead-
ing to austerity measures - forced the government to adopt the US
dollar on the eve of the new century as a desperate attempt at stabil-
ity. This, of course, resulted in an uproar from the poor and dollarless
rural and indigenous masses, and another brief coup occurred in
early 2000. International pressures quickly intervened and the
dollarization was completed. Meanwhile, stability measures con-
tinue, with mixed results. The major effort is to maintain the real
value of the average Ecuadorian's purchasing power.
Despite the problems, the people of Ecuador remain hopeful and take
great pride in their country. Most citizens are underemployed, but
many of themwork at more than one business activity. Quito remains
safer than many Latin American and Western capitals and almost
everyone is friendly to foreigners. Overall, Ecuador's position - as
with most of Latin America - is precarious. It remains to be seen how
the many variables involved will shape the future of the country.
Geography/Land
Ecuador, El Centro del Mundo, the “center of the world,” is
home to a great number of the earth's life zones. The An-
des Mountain Range , which crosses the country from
north to south, provides a dramatic array of topography.
From the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, it is a short distance to Ecua-
dor's highest volcanic peak (20,634-foot Chimborazo). Within the
country's borders aremangrove swamps, coastal deserts, and tropical
dry, cloud, and rainforests. In the highlands, agricultural land and
cloud forests give way to páramo grassland and eventually volcanic
rock and glaciers in the highest elevations. The páramo of the Andes
is a unique ecosystem, a land of stunted growth, vast landscapes, and
harsh weather extremes. Shrubs, tall grasses, and spongy plants
complement fauna such as the Andean condor and “wolf” (actually, an
animal related to the coyote) to create a place of haunting beauty.
The Andes divide continental Ecuador into the coastal lowlands
(Costa), the highlands (Sierra), and the Amazon region (Oriente). The
Galápagos archipelago constitutes the fourth distinctive region.
The Costa is located in the west, between the Pacific Ocean and the
Andes Mountains, and consists of coastal lowlands and mountains.