The Oriente
The Oriente represents Ecuador's own piece of the Amazon rainforest , the largest tropical rainforest habitat in the world. It also has the greatest diversity of plants and animals on the planet - its unidentified species of beetles and insects alone are thought to outnumber all of Earth's known animal species. One study has even found that a single hectare of Amazonian forest can contain up to 250 tree species, whereas in Europe and North America the vegetation is considerably more uniform, and only ten different tree species would occupy the same space. Another study has identified more species of ant living on a single tree stump than there are in the whole of the British Isles. The rivers and their banks, too, are home to a fantastic diversity of animals, including nearly 2000 species of fish, plus freshwater dolphins, giant otters, anacondas, alligator-like caimans and many unique birds. One reason for this extraordinary diversity is its climate , as it never suffers from a lack of heat or a lack of water, with high levels of precipitation all year round, particularly from April to July. Yearly averages are frequently above 2500mm, while in some areas, rainfall passes above 4000mm. Temperatures are pretty consistent, hovering at around 23-26°C (73-79°F) all year.
Your Tip for Ecuador
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