Ecuador is located on the west coast of South America, sharing borders with Peru on the east and south, and Colombia on the north, and is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, which includes the Galápagos Islands.
The country is composed of four major geographic regions: La Sierra, encompassing the highlands, such as the Andean Mountains; La Amazonía, containing vast Amazon national parks and pristine landscapes; La Costa, which includes fertile plain lands and the Pacific coastline; and La Región Insular, comprising the Galápagos Islands.
Quito is the country's capital and is located within Pichincha Province, in the region of La Sierra. At an elevation of 2,850 metres (9,350 feet) above sea level, Quito is the world's second-highest official capital. The city is best known for its historic centre, considered the best preserved in America and declared a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1978.
The largely Spanish colonial centre contains approximately 130 historical buildings, including elaborated 16th and 17th century palaces and churches. Cuenca also has an impressive historical downtown that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The live cameras will take you on a tour of Ecuador, a megadiverse country with many endemic animals and plants, particularly on the islands. It is a significant nature destination with rich forests and unique ecosystems.
The Galapagos Islands, known as an inspiration for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, are a premier destination for wildlife viewing, including underwater wildlife in a vast marine reserve.
Population: estimated 17,7 million people
Capital: Quito
Other major cities: Ambato, Cuenca (Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca), Machala, Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo de los Colorados), Manta, Portoviejo
Religion: mainly Roman Catholicism
Climate: tropical or humid subtropical in coastal areas and rainforest in lowlands), temperate and try (Andean mountains and highlands)
Main attractions: Galápagos Islands, Historic Centre of Quito, Historic centre of Cuenca, Guayaquil, Cotopaxi National Park, Cajas National Park, The Devil's Nose (La Nariz del Diablo), Yasuni National Park, beaches
