Our country has great natural resources located in its soil, vegetation, and

fauna, mineral and energetic resources. Its geography is extremely diverse and rich.

Its territory is located on the equator line and has large extensions of tropical

vegetation on the coast, as well as green and extensive Amazonian plains. The

tropical regions are complemented by the presence of the Andes mountains, which

extends from the north to the south.

Ecuador has great forest resources, especially primary forests. Some are

protected and have been declared "national parks" or "nature reserves". Forests are

threatened by indiscriminate logging and illegal marketing. They must be preserved

to protect the future of the people. The country is attractive for tourism because in

relatively small territory there is a great diversity of landscapes that can be traveled

in a short time. This does not happen in other countries where you need to travel

long distances, in a very long time, to visit different places.

Ecuador's mining resources are very valuable. The country has large

mineral reserves located above all in the southern region of the Andes mountain

range. Although the production of these minerals is still reduced, the artisanal

exploitation of gold is highlighted in the provinces of El Oro, Azuay and Zamora

Chinchipe. In this region deposits of copper, silver, iron and other metals have been

detected. Oil is another of Ecuador's great natural resources.