Ecuador is a microcosm of South America: a country that has it all: from snow-capped mountains, smoking volcanoes, lush tropical coastal plains and dense Amazon rainforest. If it isn’t enough to tempt you, then 1000km of the coast lie the world famous Galapagos Islands. Geography: Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W Area: total: 283,560 sq km land: 276,840 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands Area – comparative: slightly smaller than the state of Nevada in the United States. Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km Coastline: 2,237 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 NM Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m Geography – note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in the world.