Interesting Facts about Ecuador

Did You Know?

19 curious facts about Ecuador.

The world's most active volcano is Sangay. Since 1937, it has erupted once every twenty four hours on average. It once erupted more than 400 times in a single day.
Abdalá Bucaram, president of Ecuador 1996-97, has performed as a pop singer and released albums of his music.
Maps sold in Ecuador show different boundaries from those sold in Peru. This is because of the long dispute between the countries as to who really owns the Amazon headwater area.
Although Ecuador is a Catholic country, common-law marriages are accepted as legal marriages.

In Ecuador it is considered polite to say hello and goodbye to every person at a party or a social gathering. Those who do not are seen as not placing enough value on relationships.
Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of bananas.
The straw hat known as the Panama hat is actually an Ecuadorian creation. It is made of fine palm fronds, woven so tightly that the hat can hold water. The town of Montecristi produces the best hats. The hats got their name because workers on the Panama canal wore them.
In December, there is a festival in Quito at which bullfighting takes place.
Jefferson Pérez was the first Ecuadorian to win a gold medal at the Olympics. He won for race-walking at the Atlanta Games in 1996.
In 1630 an Indian named Loja discovered that the sap from the quina tree (called quinine) could be used to treat people with malaria. This drug was used by British troops in India. Most people do not know that this drug is found in Ecuador and think it is from Asia.