Ecuador is bordered by Colombia (north), Peru (east and south), and by the Pacific Ocean (west) with an area of 272,046 km2 (105,038 sq mi).

Includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) west of the mainland.

Capital City: Quito

The elevation of Quito’s central square (Plaza de La Independencia or Plaza Grande is 2,800 metres (9,200 ft), making it the second-highest administrative capital city in the world (after La Paz, Bolivia), and the highest legal capital (ahead of Sucre, also in Bolivia, and Bogotá, Colombia).

Guagua Pichincha Volcano • Type: Stratovolcano (active)• Elevation: 4,784 m (15,696 ft)• Largest historical eruption: 1660 dropping 30 centimeters (12

inches) of ash on Quito • Last recorded eruptive activity: 1993

Tungurahua• Type: Stratovolcano (active)• Elevation: 5,023 m (16,479 ft)• Last major eruption: 1916-1918• Most recent eruption and evacuation: Dec. 4, 2010 with an ash

cloud reaching 2 km (1.21 mi) high.

CotopaxiType: Stratovolcano (active)Elevation: 5,897 m (19,347 ft)Second highest summit in the countrySince 1738, Cotopaxi has erupted more than 50 times, which created the numerous valleys formed by lahars (mudflows) around the volcano.In 1744 and 1768 an eruption destroyed the colonial town of Latacunga located in the south valley

August 28 2011

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Driving to the starting point where you park and then ascend on foot

Cotopaxi Elevation/ Alt. 5,897 m (19,347 ft)Shelter Elevation/ Alt. 4,800 m (15,780 ft)Parking lot Elevation/ Alt. 4,500 m (14,763 ft)

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Getting closer to the shelter

Shelter

The view looking down from the Refugio/shelter 15,780 ft (elevation)

The shelter/Refugio Elevation/Alt. 4,800 m (15,780 ft)

Elevation/Alt. - 16,400 ft

47% of Ecuador’s continental territory is made up of the Amazonia Region (rain forest) characterized by tropical jungle.

The region is made up of 5 provinces from North to South: Sucumbíos, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chichipe

There are 1600 species of birds, 415 species of amphibians and at least 3500 kinds of orchids, representing 17%, 10% and 18%-respectively- of the world total.

Selva Viva was founded in 1993, a rainforest preservation project aiming to save still existing areas of primary forest which otherwise would be in accute danger of deforestation, as well as, its people and

therefore consists of the following:

Protected forest Selva Viva Animal rescue centre amaZOOnicoCommunity-run lodge Runa Huasi

Local school Sacha Yachana Huasi Christina Liana Lodge

Direct financial help for the Indigenous community in cases of emergency

Quichua Indian Village along the Napo River

Butterfly sanctuary and its indigenous people