Trivia in Ecuador

National symbols

Flag: A tricolor flag (yellow, blue, red from top) with the national coat of arms at the center. Yellow represents wealth and crops, blue represents the sky and sea, and red represents blood shed for freedom.

Emblem: A shield depicting the Guayas River, Chimborazo Mountain, and the sun, with an Andean condor spreading its wings atop, clutching a fascia with red and blue ribbons.

Trivia & facts

• The country name Ecuador means "equator" in Spanish.
• The first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978 were the Galápagos Islands and Quito Old Town.
• Chimborazo Mountain's summit is the farthest point from Earth's center.
• The Panama hat actually originates from Montecristi, Ecuador.
• Ecuador's unique "ecuavolley" uses three players with a high net.
• The currency sucre was abolished in 2000, fully adopting the U.S. dollar.
• Galápagos marine iguanas are the only lizards that dive into the sea.
• The "Middle of the World" monument is actually about 240 meters off the true equator.
• Ecuador is a major producer of fragrant "Arriba" cacao.
• Banana export volume is among the world's top, about 6 million tons annually.