Ecuador
Geography
Ecuador,
despite its small size, is considered one of the countries with the most
variety in the world. The country is divided into three distinct regions by the
narrowing points of the Andean range.
Towards the eastern part of Central Sierra, the tropical
rainforest Oriente is situated. To the
west lies the coastal lowlands, a hot and humid region but it is a more accessible
area.
About 200 kilometers from the western lowlands to the
eastern jungle stand two peaks of 6310 m that form the two mountain ranges or
cordilleras.
The two cordilleras lie 40 to 60 kilometers apart and run
north to south. The central valley, a
fertile region of about 400 kilometers long is situated between the two
mountain ranges. It holds Quito and the majority of Ecuador’s main cities and about
half of the country’s inhabitants.
Alexander von Humbolt, a famous German scientist and
explorer, once called this Central Valley “The Avenue of the Volcanoes” when he
visited Ecuador
in 1802.
Ecuador
Geology
Ecuador
is among the countries having the greatest concentration of volcanoes in the
world. At least eight of the more than
thirty volcanoes of Ecuador
are considered active.
The Cordillera Real, also
called the Easter Cordillera, is older, higher, and larger as compared to the
Western Cordillera.
These areas stand on a base of rock bedding of gneiss, mica
– schist, and a variety of crystalline rocks.
Heavy volcanic material resulting in some cone-shaped volcanoes of which
the 5897 meter Cotopaxi is particularly known
for.
On the Eastern slopes of this Cordillera are several peaks
that are not volcanic in origin. These are found outside the jungles of the
Oriente. Further to the east, set apart
from the Eastern Cordillera by a jungle are other isolated mountains.
Two significant active volcanoes situated on this area are
Reventador and Sumaco.
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| Chimborazo image via Wikipedia |
Ecuador’s
highest peak, Chimborazo, standing 6,310
meters high, is a part of the Western Cordillera range and is a dormant
volcano. This range is covered with more volcanic material than the Eastern
Cordillera.
Because of the active volcanic activity centuries ago, this
range has gathered large amounts of porphyritic eruptive rocks from the
Mesozoic age.
© 2012 Athena Goodlight
