Ecuador is named “Ecuador” because it is located on the equator. The president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, was elected on April 2, 2017, after having served as the Vice President from 2007 to 2013. He is a paraplegic.
The geography includes the coast of the Pacific ocean including the Galapagos Islands, jungles and mountainous regions. The capital is Quito, Ecuador.
The government of Ecuador is a democratic republic and it uses the US dollar as it’s currency. The population is about 17 million, including Europeans, Native Americans and Africans, with the majority being Mestizos. Spanish is the official language although there are 13 Native languages recognized.
Agriculture and Petroleum are the main commodities.
Ecuador is known for its many animals and ecological heritage. In 2008, the new constitution recognized legally enforceable Rights of Nature (ecosystem rights).