Ecuador (Discovering South America: History, Politics, and Culture Series)

Named for the equator, which passes through it, the Republic of Ecuador sits on the western coast of South America. One of the smallest countries of the continent, Ecuador nevertheless features Andean summits, tropical forests and savannas, snow-edged volcanoes, and glacial lakes. About 600 miles to the west lie Ecuador's renowned Galápagos Islands, home to more than 5,000 species of plants and animals.