Introduction - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 18

The world's highest active volcano is
Cotopaxi , which reaches 19,283 feet above sea
level.

On the eastern slopes of the Andes, melting snowand captured clouds
from immense mountain volcanoes breathe life into the rivers that
support the Amazon region. Better known in Ecuador as the
Oriente , the Amazon region begins on these eastern slopes and cov-
ers the land with rainforest - sometimes referred to as the “green
wall” - and some of the greatest biological diversity on earth.

The Napo River , a tributary of the Amazon
River, is the longest in the country.

More than 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador are the Galápagos Is-
lands , a protected and isolated archipelago. With 13 major islands,
six smaller islands, and over 40 islets, the Galápagos Islands remain
as fascinating to adventure travelers as they were to Charles Darwin
in 1835. The Galápagos flora and fauna continue to evolve in unique
surroundings on islands born of fire, separate from the rest of the
world. Besides providing the most fascinating testimony to Darwin's
theory of evolution, the Galápagos offer the experience of a lifetime
for scientists, environmentalists, adventure travelers, and photogra-
phers alike.

Climate
Ecuador has four distinct geographic regions, each with a
unique climate and environment. In fact, numerous micro-
climates are formed due to major weather patterns inter-
acting with the extremely varied topography. However,
Ecuador is generally cooler than most people would expect, consider-
ing it lies on and near the equator. Cold ocean currents and the high
altitude of the Andes make temperatures pleasant throughout much
of the year (though downright cold in the higher altitudes!).

The climate on the coast (e.g. Guayaquil) is warm, with temperatures
averaging 76

F. The rainy season (December toMay) is hot and
very humid, with intense - though often brief - showers that typically
occur in the afternoon. During El Niño years, December to January,
rains can last for days and wreak havoc throughout the countryside,
particularly along the coast. The dry season, from around June to
early December, is less humid, though extremely foggy along the
coast, with cooler temperatures and rougher seas. The north coast ex-

° to 90 °