and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 965 kilometers (600 miles) west of the mainland. Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name. Ecuador's capital is Quito, which is in the province of Pichincha in the Sierra region. Its largest city is Guayaquil, in the province of Guayas on the Coast. Cotopaxi, which is just south of Quito, features one of the world's highest active volcanoes. The top of Mount Chimborazo (6,310-m above sea level) is considered to be the most distant point from the center of the earth.
Ecuador is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world according to Conservation International, with 1600 bird species (15 percent of the world's known bird species) in the continental area, and 38 more endemic in the Galápagos. In addition to 25,000 species of plants, the country has 106 endemic reptiles, 138 endemic amphibians, and 6,000 species of butterfly. The Galápagos Islands are well known as a region of distinct fauna, famous as the place of birth of Darwin's Theory of Evolution, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite being on the UNESCO list, the Galapagos islands are endangered by a range of negative environmental effects, threatening the existence of this exotic ecosystem.
The most popular areas to visit are Quito, Baños- the adventure capital of Ecuador, Cuenca- listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site and Otavalo – a small town only two hours north of Quito famous for its indigenous craft market. There are also the beach cities of Esmeraldas and Bahía de Caraquez. To experience the outskirts of the Amazon jungle visit Puyo or Tena. Tena is a popular launching point for jungle, kayaking and rafting tours in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest region.
