Size: Approximately 280,000 square kilometers.

Topography: Divided into three continental regions--the Costa, Sierra, and Oriente--and one insular region--the Galápagos Islands. Costa, located between Pacific Ocean and Andes Mountains, consists of coastal lowlands and mountaÍÍÍÍins. Sierra composed of two major chains of Andes Mountains--Cordillera Occidental (Western Chain) and Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Chain)--and intermontane basin or plateau between the two chains. Cordillera Occidental contains Ecuador's highest peak, 6,267-meter Mount Chimborazo. Oriente consists of Andean piedmont and eastern lowlands. Galápagos are islands of varied size located 1,000 kilometers west of Ecuadorian coast.

Climate: Tropical climate throughout Costa, although variations in temperature and rainfall result from proximity to warm or cool ocean currents. Sierra climate ranges from tropical to frozen, depending on altitude notable rainfall variations also occur. Tropical climate and abundant rainfall prevail in Oriente. Galápagos climate varies from tropical and desert-like at sea level to cold and wet at highest point.

Data as of 1989