Ecuador - EC - ECU - ECU - South America

Daphne Island, a small island close to Baltra Island in the Galapagos, is a small volcanic cone that is home to cacti and birds.

Quito's altitude is approximately 2,800 meters (9,200 ft), making it the second-highest administrative capital city in the world, after La Paz, Bolivia.

Ecuador's capital, Quito (San Francisco de Quito), is built in a valley and on the eastern slope of an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains.

The Monument to the Equator, located at San Antonio parish in the canton of Quito, 26 km (16 mi) north of the center of Quito, highlights the exact location of the Equator (from which the country takes its name). The 30-m (98-ft) tall monument was constructed between 1979 and 1982 of iron and concrete, and then faced with cut and polished andesite stone.

Although the actual equator is 100 yards to the north, this monument outside of Quito, Ecuador, commemorates the equatorial line as surveyed by the French Geodesic Mission in the late 1700s. The location is known as Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World).

Another view of Quito from El Panecillo (Bread Loaf Hill).

The Virgin of the Apocalypse statue overlooking historic Quito from El Panecillo hill.

A statue of the Virgin of the Apocalypse on El Panecillo (Bread Loaf Hill) overlooking Quito. The 45 m- (148 ft-) tall aluminum statue depicts the Virgin Mary with wings.

The Palacio de Carondelet (Carondelet Palace) on Independence Square in Quito. The building serves as the seat of government and is the presidential residence. The luxury Hotel Plaza Grande on the right takes its name from the original appellation for the square. Historic Independence Square and its surrounding buildings have all been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Palacio de Carondelet (Carondelet Palace) on Plaza Grande in the heart of the historic center of Quito serves as the residence of Ecuador's president. The plaza is surrounded by government buildings and historic churches.

The front facade of the Basilica of the National Vow (Basílica del Voto Nacional) in Quito. The Catholic church is meant to serve as a perpetual reminder of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart. Groundbreaking took place in 1892 and the formal consecration occurred in 1988. Technically the basilica remains unfinished, since, according to local legend, its completion would signal the end of the world. The edifice is the largest Neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas.

Inside the Basilica of the National Vow (Basilica del Voto Nacional) in Quito.

The Basilica of the National Vow in Quito, Ecuador, is the largest Neo-Gothic church in the Americas. Begun in the late 1800s, it remains technically unfinished. The stained-glass windows lining the central nave provide colorful light to the sanctuary. Outside, the gargoyles on the facade all represent animals endemic to Ecuador.

Animal-shaped gargoyles depicting native animals of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands highlight the side of the Basilica of the National Vow in Quito. Seen from left to right are two armadillos, two monkeys, and two jaguars.

A close-up of two turtle-shaped gargoyles on the side of the Basilica of the National Vow in Quito.

The Plaza de San Francisco, built atop an Incan town's market place, is one of Quito's greatest squares. Bordered on three sides by two-story colonial mansions, the fourth side consists of the huge Monastery of San Francisco, the largest colonial building and oldest church in the city.

The Quito Metropolitan Cathedral was first built between 1535 and 1545 but was subsequently reconstructed and enhanced over the centuries; it is the seniormost Catholic church in the country. The photo shows the "Arch of Carondelet" entrance (built in 1797) and its staircase.

The distinctive and elaborately decorated bell tower of the Quito Metropolitan Cathedral under a threatening sky.

Overlooking the Church of La Merced (built 1736) in Quito's historic neighborhood. Constructed in a Moorish style, the structure incorporates a monastery as well as the oldest clock in Quito.

Located 28 km (17 mi) from Quito is snow-capped Cotopaxi, a volcano that last erupted in the 1940s. It is the second highest peak in the country, reaching a height of 5,897 m (19, 347 ft).

Guayaquil, founded in 1538 on the Guayas River, is today Ecuador's main port. It is also the largest and most populous city in the country.

At the end of Calle Diez de Agosto is the Torre Morisca, an octagon clock tower built in the 1930s. This tower is a picturesque waypoint along the Malecon 2000 riverwalk in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

In the heart of downtown Guayaquil, Ecuador, is Parque Seminario, better known as Iguana Park for the dozens of iguanas that call it home. The picture shows the park's statue of Simon Bolivar and, in the background, adjacent to the park is Metropolitan Cathedral. The cathedral is the successor to the church that was located here when the city was originally founded in the 16th century.

At the north end of the Guayaquil, Ecuador, river walk is the neighborhood of Las Penas. Visitors can climb the 444 steps to the summit to visit the Iglesia del Cerro Santa Ana and a lighthouse. Along the way, there are countless places to eat and enjoy the views of the city center.

From the top of the Las Penas overlook in Guayaquil, Ecuador, you can see the Babahayo River as it flows to the Pacific Ocean. The colonial center of Guayaquil sits along the river. A cable car system was built to ferry commuters and tourists across the river. The newly constructed river walk provides a strip of parkland along the river with shops and museums.

The two westernmost islands of the Galapagos archipelago. The largest of the group, Isabela, stretches across most of the frame. It was created from the merger of six shield volcanoes, several of which are visible in this view. The northernmost and highest, Volcano Wolf (1,707 m or 5,600 ft), lies directly on the equator. The smaller island of Fernandina displays a single volcanic cone. Image courtesy of NASA.

A beach view on the volcanic Galapagos Islands. In all there are 15 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and over 100 rocks and islets composing the archipelago, which is an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve.

Fernandina Volcano on Fernandina Island is the archipelago's most active volcano.

A side view of Fernandina Volcano.

Marine iguanas and a lava lizard on Fernandina Island.

Marine iguanas and lava lizards live in harmony with each other, like most Galapagos species.

A flightless cormorant with Sally Lightfoot crabs in Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island.

Marine iguanas are unique to the Galapagos archipelago, where they inhabit almost all of the islands; the largest colonies may be found in Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island.

Marine iguanas camouflaged against lava rocks.

Marine iguanas are excellent swimmers capable of diving up to half an hour at depths of 10 m (32 ft) or more. The males grow to approximately 1.7 m (5.6 ft) long.

Lonesome George, a male Pinta Island tortoise, was the last of his species when he passed away on 24 June 2012 at the age of approximately 101-102 years old.

Sign about the famous Lonesome George.

A brown pelican on San Cristobal Island with volcanic rocks in the background.

A magnificent frigate takes flight at dusk.

A banana tree about to bloom at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island.

Low-growing flora on a beach at Wizard Hill on San Cristobal Island.

The prickly pear cactus is the most common of all cacti on the Galapagos Islands; it will grow trunks as high as 1.5 m (5 ft) tall on islands where herbivores are a threat.

The Galapagos archipelago has seven subspecies of the ubiquitous lava lizards, which are endemic to the archipelago. This one at Wizard Hill on San Cristobal Island is approximately 30 cm (1 ft), the typical length for these critters who live up to 10 years.

This Galapagos orange foot giant centipede at Wizard Hill (Cerro Brujo) on San Cristobal Island is a full-grown adult at approximately 45 cm (18 in).

Bartholomew Island's Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sights on the Galapagos Islands.

Another view of distinctive Pinnacle Rock on Bartholomew Island.

A view of Bartholomew Island with the top of Pinnacle Rock showing to the right.

A beach on Bartholomew Island with a crater in the foreground and Pinnacle Rock in the background.

A clearly outlined crater near Pinnacle Rock Overlook on Bartholomew Island.

A colorful lava rock on Bartholomew (Bartolome) Island.

The colorful Sally Lightfoot crab is solid black when it is young.

A land iguana that is approximately 35 years old, half the species lifespan.

Galapagos sea lions are frequently seen soaking up sun rays on most of the islands' beaches or rocks near the water.

A Galapagos sea lion and her pup calling to each other.

A Galapagos fur seal relaxing in clear water.

A cruise ship beside a color-streaked cliff in Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island.

Santa Cruz Island's beach at Dragon Hill.

One of Santa Cruz Island's numerous lava tubes.

Diego, an Espanola tortoise at the Charles Darwin research station on Santa Cruz Island, was returned to the Galapagos in 1977 from the San Diego Zoo in California, where he had lived since the 1930s.

A lifelong pair of waved albatrosses begin a mating dance.

Closeup of a Galapagos tortoise.

The blue-footed booby, here standing on a lava rock, is a marine bird native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its diet consists mainly of fish, which it catches by diving and sometimes swimming underwater.

The fearless blue-footed booby is unfazed by humans, even while caring for its young. Approximately one half of all blue-footed booby breeding pairs in the Pacific nest on the Galapagos Islands.

This close up of a blue-footed booby reveals the bird's deep blue bill and rich plumage.

The younger a blue-footed booby, the brighter its feet. Blue feet play a key role in courtship, with the male displaying (raising) its feet to attract females.

A Galapagos Island blue-footed booby.

The Galapagos Islands, which are part of Ecuador, are home to some unique indigenous animals, including the Nazca booby.

A Nazca booby with two chicks in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

The red-footed booby, pictured with a chick, is native to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The red-footed booby is the smallest member of the booby and gannet family.

A red-footed booby in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

The swallow-tailed gull, found in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, is an equatorial seabird.

A male magnificent frigatebird on North Seymour Island inflates his scarlet pouch during the breeding season.

Waved albatross (Galapagos albatross) have a wingspan of at least 225 cm (7 ft), a lifespan up to 45 years, and live primarily on Espanola (Hood) Island.

A pair of blue-footed boobies engaged in a mating dance on Espanola Island.

A masked booby on Espanola Island.

Rabida Island, in the Galapagos, is one of the uninhabited islands in this isolated chain off the coast of Ecuador. A coastal lagoon is home to a large colony of Galapagos Flamingos, who feed on shrimp in the briny pond.

Rabida Island, in the Galapagos, is one of the uninhabited islands in this isolated chain off the coast of Ecuador. The iron-rich lava deposits prevent most things from growing here. However, a variety of prickly pear cactus flourishes in this harsh environment.

Rabida Island, in the Galapagos, is one of the uninhabited islands in this isolated chain off the coast of Ecuador. Along the rocky coastline, prickly pear cactus hang over the volcanic rocks.

The highlands of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, Ecuador, are home to a large population of indigenous giant tortoises. They can often be found gathering in mud bogs to help regulate their body temperature or grazing on grasses and plants.

One of the native giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island, the second largest island in the Galapagos chain, Ecuador.

Marine iguanas are unique to Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, with the largest colonies in Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island. They are the only lizards in the world that spend time in the ocean and can dive more than 20 m (65 feet) underwater. Unlike terrestrial lizards, marine iguanas have short, blunt snouts and small, razor-sharp teeth that help them scrape the algae off rocks and flattened tails that help them swim. Because they feed underwater, marine iguanas have glands that remove excess salt from the ingested ocean water to prevent dehydration. During times of food scarcity, the marine iguana can shrink as much 20%, requiring less food and regaining their size when algae restock.

Marine Iguanas in the tidal pools along Fernandina Island in the Galapagos. During their time on land, some male iguanas will fight for dominance among the colony.

Marine iguanas are unique to Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, with the largest colonies in Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island. They are the only lizards in the world that spend time in the ocean and can dive more than 20 m (65 feet) underwater. Unlike terrestrial lizards, marine iguanas have short, blunt snouts and small, razor-sharp teeth that help them scrape the algae off rocks and flattened tails that help them swim. Because they feed underwater, marine iguanas have glands that remove excess salt from the ingested ocean water to prevent dehydration. During times of food scarcity, the marine iguana can shrink as much 20%, requiring less food and regaining their size when algae restock.

Marine Iguana on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos.

Marine Iguanas on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos.

A sea lion, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs co-existing on a beach at Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island in the Galapagos. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Elizabeth Crapo.

Tagus Cove is located in the collapsed caldera of a Galapagos volcano. Inside the caldera is an inner caldera with an azure blue lake formed by the concentration of minerals in the water.

The average Galapagos penguin is 49 cm (19 in); this one resides in Elizabeth Bay on Isabela Island.

Marine iguanas are unique to Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, with the largest colonies in Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island. They are the only lizards in the world that spend time in the ocean and can dive more than 20 m (65 feet) underwater. Unlike terrestrial lizards, marine iguanas have short, blunt snouts and small, razor-sharp teeth that help them scrape the algae off rocks and flattened tails that help them swim. Because they feed underwater, marine iguanas have glands that remove excess salt from the ingested ocean water to prevent dehydration. During times of food scarcity, the marine iguana can shrink as much 20%, requiring less food and regaining their size when algae restock.

Isabela Island in the Galapagos is still an active volcanic system. Older lava flows can extend for over 25 kilometers (15.5 miles). This cactus has anchored itself near Tagus Cove, with a view of Cerro Azul in the background.

Land tortoises are native to Isabela Island. These tortoises can live to be over 100 years old.

A sea turtle at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island.

Blue-footed boobies are found only in the Galapagos Islands. These birds with striking blue feet live among the cliffs and hills of this remote island chain.

Santiago Island is an uninhabited island in the heart of the Galapagos Islands chain. Lava dominates the shoreline, creating tidal pools and narrow channels. Erosion has created some lava bridges which span waves sweeping through the inlets.

Santiago Island, one of the Galapagos Islands. The island was originally named James Island after King James II of England.

The western Galapagos Islands are home to the more recent lava flows. On Santiago Island, a late 1800s eruption covered significant areas in lava. Over 100 years later, the harsh environment remains hostile to most plant life. However, the appropriately named Lava Cactus has been able to gain a foothold in the midst of the flow.

Santiago Island, the second island in the Galapagos chain to be visited by Charles Darwin in 1835.

Daphne Island, a small island close to Baltra Island in the Galapagos, is a small volcanic cone that is home to cacti and birds.