2.  Location: Northwest in South America  Capital city: Quito  Weather: Tropical and moderate (Andes mountain range).  Flora and fauna: One of the most diverse countries in the world.

3.  Population: 15.761.731  Ethnic Diversity and multiple cultures:  Indigenous  Montubio  Cholo  Mestizo  Afroecuadorian  Language:  Spanish  Quechua  Shuar  And others  Area: 283.561 Km (Including Galapagos)

4.  Natural resources and Export Products:  Oil  Fish  Flowers  Shrimp  Bananas  Minerals  Cacao  Eco-turism

5.  Insular region: Galapagos Islands  Cost region  Andes region  Amazon Region

6.  Galapagos National Park.  19 major islands, 17 islets and 47 rocks.  Unique biological wealth.  Worldwide Natural Heritage Site.  Charles Darwin Scientific Station.

7.  Warm, tropical weather  Beaches  Plantations: banana, rice, cocoa, sugar cane.  Sea food (and “sweet sea food – rivers)  Ports and commerce  Cattle  Manglares

8.  Cold and temperate weather.  High mountains and snowcapped mountains.  Paramo  Plantations: corn, potatoes, flowers  Bovines  Natural reserves  Indigenous people

9.  Tropical and humid weather  Rainforest  Rivers  Exotic animals and plants  Natural reserves  Indigenous people  Oil

10.  24 Provinces  9 provinces represented by the 2013 Youth Ambassadors:  Manabi  Los Rios  Guayas  El Oro  Imbabura  Pichincha  Cotopaxi  Loja  Morona Santiago

11.  1.369.680 inhabitants  Tourist attractions:  Beaches  Rivers  Ranches, Haciendas  Museums  Machalilla National Park  Gastronomy: based on sea food, chicken, peanuts, platain, and fresh fruits.  60% of people work in agriculture and cattle.  Local festivities:  San Pedro and San Pablo  “Panama Hat” is from Montecristi.  Tropical humid and subtropical dry weather.

12.  778.115 inhabitants.  Gastronomy based on rice, corn, bananas, cacao, soy, tropical fruits, fresh water sea food.  Traditions mainly based on the Montubio people: rodeo and horse taming.  Tourist attractions:  Rivers  Tropical fields  Ancient colonial homes and haciendas.  Most people work in agriculture. It is one of the most fertile and productive lands of Ecuador.  Humid and tropical weather between 22-30 degrees.

13.  3.645.483 inhabitants.  Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador.  Tourist attractions:  Historical park.  Malecon 2000 and Malecon del Salado.  Pantanal Zoo  Santa Ana hill.  Gastronomy based on sea food, vegetables, tropical fruits.  Most people work in businesses and do commerce.  Local festivities to celebrate the founding and the independence of Guayaquil.

14.  600.659 inhabitants  Humid and semi-humid tropical weather.  Broad banana and cacao plantations.  Gastronomy based on plantain, sea food, tropical fruits, biscuits.  Tourist attractions:  Archaeological museum.  Churches  Maritime Ports  Cascades.  People work mainly in mining and agriculture.

15.  398.244 inhabitants.  Dry weather between 18-20 degrees.  Most representative ethnic group is Quichua.  Otavalo is the intercultural capital of Ecuador.  Local festivities like the “Inti Raymi” (Sun festivity).  Tourist attractions:  Plaza de los Ponchos (indigenous market)  Peguche waterfall.  Lakes  Bolivar Park  Most people work in commerce and handcrafts producing and exporting.  Gastronomy based mainly on corn, chicha, and pork.

16.  2.576.287 inhabitants  Quito is located in Pichincha.  Paramo cold weather, between 4- 8 degrees in the high altitudes and 18-22 degrees.  Tourist attractions:  Colonial architecture.  Churches  Middle of the World monument.  Museums.  Local traditional festivities, both indigenous and mestizo.  Gastronomy based on pork, corn, beans, fruits, chocolate and biscuits with “leaf” cheese.  Most people work in the flower growing, agriculture, commerce, tourism and government related industry.

17.  409.205 inhabitants.  Paramo cold weather, between 4-8 degrees in the high altitudes and 12-17 degrees in lower altitudes.  Tourist Attractions:  Cotopaxi volcano  Quilotoa Lake  Handcrafts  Gastronomy based pork, potatoes, corn, plantain, fruits. Famous ice-creams.  Local festivities like Mama Negra, Corpus Christi and the Paseo del Chagra.  Most people work in agriculture and cattle.

18.  448.996 inhabitants.  Dry tropical and cold Andean weather, 18 degrees average.  Tourist attractions:  City Gates  Jipiro Park  Cathedral  Vilcabamba  El Cisne  Saraguro  Gastronomy based on pork, corn, chicken, fruits.  People work mainly in agriculture and cattle, and in public institutions

19.  147.940 inhabitants.  Tropical and subtropical weather, an average of 18-20 degrees.  Tourist attractions:  Waterfalls  Flora and fauna  Rivers and caverns.  Most people work in agriculture, handcrafts and commerce.  Gastronomy is based on fish, meat, corn, chonta and rice.

20.  National Park, natural reserve.  25.124 inhabitants  Sub-tropical weather with 18-24 degrees.  Similar gastronomy as other regions: meat, potatoes, fish, sea food.  Agricultural fairs, civic events.