Fun Facts about Ecuador

1. Panama Hats aren’t from Panama

Well, they became popular in Panama when they were constructing the Panama canal. So popular in fact millions of hats were imported from Ecuador for the constructors. Their popularity rose in the US when Theodore Roosevelt visited the canal in 1906 and wore one of the hats. There are still some Panameños that claim panama hats were made before that, and they would be right, but only because many Ecuadorian hat makers immigrated to Panama in the 1850s to sell their hats in a better market and make more money. After a while, they became known in english as “Panama hats”. Never the less, in spanish they were never called this way, in Central and South America they were always known as “sombreros de paja toquilla”. If you’re a fan and want a genuine sombrero de paja toquilla, I recommend making a stop in Montecristi, where they have been making them for centuries now.

2. Nothing is closer to the sun than Chimborazo

Even though Mount Everest still is the highest mountain in the world, the highest point in the earth is here, in Ecuador. The Chimborazo volcano rises with 6 263.47 MASL (meter above sea level). This volcano is said to be the closest point to outer space thanks to the fact that the Equator sits on top of a bulge, making it higher than other places on Earth. Although it is the highest point on earth, beating Mount Everest by about two kilometres, this is measured from the center of the Earth. Which means Mount Everest is still higher when we’re talking about meters above sea level, with 8,848 of them. The Chimborazo volcano is also available for hiking and rock climbing for the more adventurous crowd, but try to remember the altitude is very high and so, it can cause you to feel very ill if you’re not careful.

3. Ecuador recognized nature’s rights

Ecuador was the first country to recognize Rights of Nature in their constitution. What does this mean? It means nature is no longer recognized as property under the law, instead it’s recognized that nature in all its life forms has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles.  This is a great step in the road of a change of paradigm, in which we treat nature with the respect it deserves. Considering that nature has given us quite literally everything it’s about time other countries follow Ecuador’s lead.