Guatemala
Guatemala is located on the north of Central America having a civilization of over 1500 years old.
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Half of the population of Ecuador is mixed European and Indian.
Ecuador
Ecuador, in north-western South America, is crossed by the Equator. Its name is Spanish for equator. In the Pacific Ocean, about 600 miles off Ecuador's coast, lie the Galapagos Islands, which belong to Ecuador.
The Andes Mountains run from north to south in Ecuador. Plains lie on both sides of the mountains. The mountains contain about 30 active volcanoes. Much of Ecuador lies high above sea level, and so it has a pleasantly cool climate. More than half of the people of Ecuador are Indians who live in the cool mountain valleys, where sheep and llamas graze. Most of the other people live in the coastal lowlands. They are largely of European descent or mestizos. Few people live on the hot wet plains east of the Andes.
Ecuador exports more bananas than any other country, and most people work on farms or in forestry. Other important exports include cinchona trees, which are used to make the anti-malaria drug quinine, and balsa wood.
After winning freedom from Spanish rule in 1822, Ecuador became part of Greater Colombia for eight years. It then became an independent republic but, over the years, it has lost territory to its stronger neighbors. Many rebellions occurred in the 1900's. After a revolution in 1963, a military government ruled the country. In 1967, an elected congress and president took office.
