ercial sex acts with children through criminal prosecutions
(2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the
Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial
money laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the
Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions; significant
amphetamine consumption

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Ecuador

Introduction
Ecuador

Background:

What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until
the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New
Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada
(Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between
1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When
Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of
the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost
territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border
war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although
Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period
has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have
contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three
democratically elected Presidents. In 2007, a Constituent Assembly
was elected to draft a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since
gaining independence.

Geography
Ecuador

Location:

Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator,
between Colombia and Peru

Geographic coordinates:

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 283,560 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries:

total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,237 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations;
tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Terrain:

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and
flat to ro