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Location Overview |
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| Ecuador is a republic in northwestern South America. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands (Archipiélago de Colón) in the Pacific. Quito is the country's capital. Ecuador has a wide range of climates because of the varying elevations. The Costa is generally hot and humid. In the Sierra the temperatures range between about 7° C and 21° C (about 45° and 70° F), depending on the elevation. Quito has an average annual temperature of 12.8° C (55° F), while the Oriente is warmer and more humid than the Costa.
Ecuador is a country of contrasting cultural patterns. The Native Americans of the highlands are the descendants of tribes conquered by the Inca. The Oriente is populated almost entirely by Native Americans whose customs resemble those of Native Americans of the Amazon Basin. Along the coast, descendants of Spanish settlers and black African slaves have intermingled to produce a culture that is a combination of Spanish and African characteristics. Many museums in Ecuador preserve artifacts and records of historic interest. Several historical and archaeological museums are in Quito. Near Cuenca, a private museum has a display of Inca and pre-Inca objects. |
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