Fascinating Facts About Ecuador

">DID YOU KNOW THAT...Rosalía Arteaga
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Christina MaríaSerrano de Fernández de Cordova was
Aguilera, who is a famous American singer, haselected president of Ecuador for 3 days (February
Ecuadorian origin.His father was born in Guayaquil,9,1997-February 11, 1997).She was Ecuador´s
Ecuador.Only 26 years, she has already made a placefirst female president.
for herself in the world of American music. Over theDID YOU KNOW THAT...Without a doubt, the most
last eight years, Christina Aguilera has produced sixfamous sportsperson in Ecuadorian history is
albums, including "Christina Aguilera" (1999), "Mi Reflejo"Jefferson Leonardo Pérez
(2000), "My Kind of Christmas" (2000), "Just Be Free"Quesada.Surprisingly, he won the gold medal in
(2001), and "Back to Basics" (2006).20-kilometer walk at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Ecuador has many famousDID YOU KNOW THAT...With a total area of nearly
people:Oswaldo Guayasamín (painter), Jorge109,500 sq.km, Ecuador is bigger than the United
Icaza Coronel (writer), Jefferson Leonardo PerezKingdom, Israel, Luxembourg, Singapur, Bahrein and
Quesada ( olympic sportsperson), Betty PinoHong Kong combined.More than 13 million people live
(journalist), José Ayala Lasso (ambassador),there.
Diego Cordovez (ambassador), and Galo Plaza LassoDID YOU KNOW THAT...American first lady Eleanor
(former secretary of the Organization of AmericanRosalynn Smith Carter visited Ecuador in 1978.
States (O.A.S.).DID YOU KNOW THAT...Jorge Icaza (1906-1978) is
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Surprisingly,the small countryEcuador´s most famous contemporary
of Ecuador has produced two of the best tenniswriter.He wrote the widely acclaimed "Huasipungo"
players in the past century.Pancho Segura was one of(1934).
the best tennis player in the 1940s and 1950s.FranciscoDID YOU KNOW THAT...Ecuador is one of the oldest
Olegario Segura, best known as "Pancho Sgura", wasrepublics in the Third World.Ecuador became
born on June 20, 1921, in Guayaquil, Ecuador.Likeindependent country in 1822,
Guillermo Vilas or José Luis Clerc (Argentina),DID YOU KNOW THAT...Betty Pino, a distinguished
Raúl Ramírez (Mexico) and Alejandrojournalist, was born in Ecuador.
Olmedo (Peru),Andrés Gómez wasDID YOU KNOW THAT...Ecuadorian culture reflects
also one of the best tennis players in Latin America.an admixture of Spanish, African and native Indian
Losing only set in four rounds of play, Andrésinfluences, similar in many respects to the traditions of
Gómez eased into the 1990 French Open finalPeru and Colombia.
against Andre Agassi (United States).He was one ofDID YOU KNOW THAT...At least thirty percent of the
the Third World´s most famous athletes in thecountry´s natural land resources were
1980s and early 1990s.dedicated to conservation with laws prohibiting
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Different from Cubahunting,exploitation and trapping in park areas.
(communist dictatorship) and Venezuela (militaryDID YOU KNOW THAT...María Soledad Diab
dictatorship), Ecuador is a democratic state based onAguilar is one of the most beautiful Ecuadorian woman
a representative government and the three branchesof all time.She was named Miss Ecuador-Universe in
of national power...1992. Miss Ecuador won Miss Photogenic during the
DID YOU KNOW THAT...In 1972, Jorge DelgadoMiss Universe 1992 Beauty Pageant held in Bangkok,
Panchana, who was born in Guayaquil (Ecuador),Thailand.
became the first Ecuadorian to classify in the finals atDID YOU KNOW THAT...Between July 13 and July
the Olympic Games, where he ended fourth in the29,2007,Ecuadorian delegation participated in the Pan
world in the 200-meter butterfly style competition inAmerican Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, winning
Munich, West Germany (currently Germany). Jorge5 gold, 4 silver, and 10 bronze medals. Overall the
Delgado was one of the best athletes of LatinEcuadorian team ranked eleventh...
America in the 20th century.At the 1975 Pan AmericanDID YOU KNOW THAT...Frederick Ashton, a
Games in Mexico City, Mexico, he won the gold medalworld-famous dancer and choreographer, was born on
in the 200-meter freestyle swimming competition. In theSeptember 17, 1904, in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
1970s, Jorge Delgado Panchana was coached byDID YOU KNOW THAT...Galapagos tortoise is a
Jack Nelson, who was born in the United States.national symbol of Ecuador.
DID YOU KNOW THAT...The South American countryDID YOU KNOW THAT...2004 was the second time
is a popular travel destination.It possesses anthe Miss Universe pageant was held in South America.
exceptionally rich and diverse plant life...Ecuador lendsThe site was mystical Quito, the capital city of
itself to mysticism.Ecuador.For the second time, Australia (Jennifer
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Ecuador has had manyHawkins) won the universal crown.There were a
famous sportsmen and women in the 20th century:number of big favorites among Ecuadorian journalists,
Andres Gómez (tennis), Francisco Seguraincluding Miss Ukraine (Okelsandra Nikolayenko), Miss
(tennis), Rolando Vera (track and field), Jorge DelgadoUSA (Shandi Ren Finnessey) and Miss Venezuela
Panchana (swimming), José Cedeño(Ana Karina Añez Delgado)....Maria Susana
(taekwondo), Duvan Langa (taekwondo), JacintaRivadeniera Simball became the second Ecuadorian
Sandinford (track and field),Nancy Vallecilla (track andwoman to reach the semi-finals in Miss Universe. Miss
field), Nicolas Lapentti Gómez(tennis), BorisEcuador 2004 impressed judges with her personality,
Burov (weightlifting),Galo Legarda (billiards), Mariuxibeauty and intelligence. One of the judges was
Febres (swimming) and Alberto Spencer HerreraJefferson Pérez (gold olympic medalist).
(soccer).DID YOU KNOW THAT...In 1996 Quito, the capital of
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Like Volcans National ParkEcuador, had a population of only 1,487,523.
(Rwanda), Tropical Rainforest Heritage of SumatraDID YOU KNOW THAT...The national sport in Ecuador
(Indonesia), Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)and Iguazuis soccer, called "fútbol"...Ecuador qualified for
Waterfalls (Argentina and Brazil), Galapagos Nationalthe 2006 FIFA World Cup...Edson Arantes do
Park is one of the nature wonders of the world.It is theNascimento,best known as "Pele", once said, "They
most important natural monument of Ecuador.play the most modern and surprising soccer in all Latin
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Ecuador is famous in LatinAmerica".
America as the birthplace of OswaldoDID YOU KNOW THAT...Pope John Paul II visited
Guayasamín, one of the best painters in theEcuador in 1985.
20th century.DID YOU KNOW THAT...Mike Judge, who is a famous
DID YOU KNOW THAT...The biodiversity of EcuadorAmerican animator and producer, was born in
is one of its greatest riches.Bird life is prolific... EcuadorGuayaquil,Ecuador.
ranks fifth in the world for the number of species itDID YOU KNOW THAT...Naturalist Charles Darwin
hosts.In Ecuador we can find more than 1.445 speciesvisited Ecuador (1835) and was delighted by the
of birds (compared to only 600 in the United States).botanical and entomological diversity, collecting plants
DID YOU KNOW THAT...The 5th Taekwondo Worldand animals from the Galapagos islands...
Championship was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador,inDID YOU KNOW THAT...The first largest city in
February 1982.National teams from 36 countries cameEcuador is Guayaquil.This city hosted the 4th
to Guayaquil for the competition.Swimming World Championship in August 1982.
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Ecuador was a foundingDID YOU KNOW THAT...first lady Martha Bucaram de
member of the United Nations in 1945...Roldós (1979-1981) led the Ecuadorian
DID YOU KNOW THAT...Ecuador is rich in resourcesdelegation to the United Nations Denmark Conference
such as shrimps, bananas, flowers,coffee andon Women in 1980.She was a woman that always
petroleum.worked with love for Ecuador.