Straddling the equator, Ecuador is home to two Andes mountain ranges that split the country into three zones. The lowlands are hot and humid and the highlands temperate. To the east are tropical rain forests and river valleys.
The Ecuadorian population is more urban than rural, and mostly Indian or of mixed ancestry. Spanish is the official language, but many Indians speak Quechua, the language of the Incas, and practice traditional religions.
Spanish conquistador Pizarro invaded Ecuador in 1532 and soon controlled it. In 1830, the county won sole independence and is now one of the continent's more stable democracies. In 1972, oil exports began providing foreign exchange funds, which fueled inflation and widened the gap between rich and poor. With the decline of oil production, Ecuador has increased tourism and mining ventures. In the 1990s, governmental and social reforms were attempted but lacked popular support. A border dispute with Peru broke out into skirmishes in 1995; a cease-fire was signed, but tensions still remain.