AMAZON

The Ecuadorian portion of the Amazon Basin, known to Ecuadorians as el Oriente, consists of the lowlands east of the Andes and contains about half the national territory.

Much of the Oriente is still covered with the pristine tropical rainforest, and many important rivers that flow to the Amazon river. Until fourty years ago, it was populated mostly by indigenous groups quite isolated from the rest of the country, when roads were opened and many settlers moved there. Since the 70´s, oil fields were discovered in the region, and significant deforestation and destruction of indigenous cultures have resulted.

Nonetheless, many areas of unspoiled rainforest still survive, with a degree of biodiversity unmatched anywhere else in the world.