The National Geographic Bee Ultimate Fact Book: Countries A to Z

Product Description In this easy-to-use fact book, kids will find all the facts they need to know to be a geography expert. Created by a National Geographic Bee winner, this is the perfect tool for kids to use to help them prepare for a competition, study for a test, or fill their hunger for learning facts and figures about the countries of the world. This book is also the perfect companion to the National Geographic Bee Official Study Guide. The National Geographic Ultimate Fact Book provides the building blocks to geographic knowledge and will change the way kids look at the world. About the Author Andrew Wojtanik was the 2004 winner of the National Geographic Bee and the 2005 winner of the National Geographic World Championship. He is currently a student Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. ECUADOR   Ecuador: Country name: Republic of Ecuador Continent: South America Area: 109,483 sq mi / 283,560 sq km Population: 14,666,000 Population Density: 134 people per sq mi / 52 people per sq km (most dense in South America) Capital: Quito   Physical Highest Point: Chimborazo 20,561 ft / 6,267 m Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0 ft / 0 m (sea level) Mountain ranges:      Andes:             •cover much of Ecuador             •extend into Colombia and Peru Peaks (minimum elevation of 8,000 ft / 2,400 m):      Chimborazo:             •located in the Andes             •highest point in Ecuador Rain Forests:      Amazon:             •located in eastern Ecuador             •extends into Colombia and Peru             •largest rain forest in the world Oceans:      Pacific:             •forms most of the western coast of Ecuador Gulfs:             Gulf of Guayaquil:             •forms the southwestern coast of Ecuador Rivers:      Pastaza:             •has its source in the Andes             •extends into Peru Putumayo:             •forms part of the Ecuador-Colombia border             •extends into Colombia   Political: Independence: May 24, 1822 (from Spain) Bordering Countries: Peru, Colombia (2) Administrative Divisions: Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe (24 provinces) Ethnic/Racial Groups: mestizo, Amerindian, black Religion: Christianity (Roman Catholic) Languages: Spanish, Quechua Currency: U.S. dollar Current President: Rafael Correa Delgado Cities (capital, largest, or with at least a million people):      Guayaquil:             •located in western Ecuador             •city in the Guayas province of Ecuador             •most populated city in Ecuador (2,690,000 people)             •chief port on the Gulf of Guayaquil      Quito:             •located in northern Ecuador             •city in the Pichincha province of Ecuador             •capital of Ecuador (1,801,000 people)             •located in a valley in the Andes   Environmental/Economic: Climate: tropical along the coasts and in the rain forest; cooler in the highlands Natural Resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower Agricultural Products: bananas, coffee, cacao, rice, cattle major exports: petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cacao Natural Hazards: earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, floods, droughts