Ecuador+Geography

=Geography = The country Ecuador is located in western South America. It borders the Pacific Ocean and the Equator, which it is named after. Ecuador is comprised of varying climates and natural geographical formations. It ranges from the flat plains of the Amazon basin to the snow-topped peaks of the Andes mountain range to the dry desert-like southern coast. Ecuador is comprised of several different regions: The Costa and The Galapagos Islands, The Sierra, and The Oriente.
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The Costa and The Galapagos Islands



 * The Costa** or western coastal area of Ecuador, bordering the Pacific Ocean is made up of a coastal plain, tropical dry and wet forests and farmlands, and the Andes Mountains in the east. There are many cacao, coffee, and banana plantations here. **The Galapagos Islands** are located 1,000 km west off the coast of Ecuador. The Galapagos consists of 18 islands and is home to quite a diverse population of creatures such as the Galapagos tortoise, Galapagos penguin, blue-footed booby, and iguana. The Galapagos Islands are most known for its association with Charles Darwin and his formation of the theory of natural selection. The Costa and Galapagos Islands have tropical climates. Temperatures for these regions remain fairly constant, ranging from 73.4 °F in the south to 78.8 °F in the north. The hottest period takes place during the rainy season, especially from February to April.

The Sierra


**The Sierra**, or central part of Ecuador includes the Andes Mountains has volcanoes and mountain peaks that are topped with snow all year long. The t emperatures in the Sierra do not vary greatly on a seasonal basis; the hottest month averages 60.8 °F and the coolest month, 55.4 °F in the upper elevations. Daily temperatures vary greatly, from cold mornings to hot afternoons.

The Oriente/Amazon Basin
=== ===  **The Oriente** is for the majority made up of tropical forest. It includes the east slopes of the Andes Mountains that descend in the Amazon Basin with noticeably different upland rain forest with steep, jagged ridges and cascading streams, and lowland rain forest. There are oil fields located in the Amazon basin that have resulted in deforestation and oil pollution in this area due to oil companies gaining access to this resource. Temperatures average 77 °F in the western parts of this region. The jungle-covered plains of the Eastern lowlands register high levels of rainfall and temperatures surpassing 82.4 °F. Rainfall is abundant, sometimes exceeding 196.9 inches per year.


 * 1. What are some of the natural resources found in the Costa region of Ecuador?**


 * 2. What is the source of pollution and cause of deforestation in the Amazon Basin?**

References Geography of Ecuador - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Ecuador "Ecuador Facts and Pictures -- National Geographic Kids." //Kids' Games, Animals, Photos, Stories, and More -- National Geographic Kids//. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. .