ECUADOR

Tara Glass
English 6, Period 6

The country of Ecuador has many secrets. One of Ecuadors secrets is that they use U.S.
dollars as money. When Ecuadors secrets are known, Ecuador will be one of the top countries

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on a Latin American global awareness list. Three secrets to consider are the Galapagos Islands,
oil, and a famous Ecuador tennis player.
The first secret about Ecuador is the Galapagos Islands located 972 km west of
continental Ecuador.1 It is not only an island, but it is also an Ecuador province, a national park,
and a biological marine reserve. This special landform has 13 volcanic islands and rocks.2
Vegetation on the Galapagos Islands is very scant and the soil is poor, which means Ecuador
people are extra hard workers when they farm. Charles Darwin studied the Galapagos Islands.
Darwins research in Galapagos led to the groundbreaking theory of The Origin of Species. 3
The Galapagos Islands are very important because they are beautiful islands formed naturally. In
addition, the islands are important because they helped scientists discover new theories.
The second secret about Ecuador that should make it one of the top countries on a Latin
American global awareness list is that their main export is oil. Ecuador exports $1,300,000,000
of oil a year to the United States.4 The oil reserves of Ecuador are found in the Oriente Basin of
the rainforest. Crude oil is used to make gasoline for things with motors. In addition, crude oil is
used to make heating oil for kerosene heaters and lamps. Ecuador was the 11th largest supplier
of foreign oil to the United States, and was responsible for 2% of total U.S. crude oil imports. 5
So many things in the U.S. need gasoline to run, and crude oil is what makes gasoline. Without
Ecuadors oil, United State citizens would not have as much gasoline and cars would not be able

1 (Rascon)
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 (Ecuador Exports - Ecuador Agricultural Products and Exports, 2001)
5 Ibid.

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to run, planes could not fly, and some people would not have heat.
The final secret about Ecuador that should put it at the top of the Latin American global
awareness list is that they love tennis and have famous tennis players who have inspired United
States athletes. One famous Ecuador tennis player is named Andres Gomez. He is known to
inspire other tennis players. Gomez won two Grand Slam matches in the 1986 U.S. Open.6
Andres Gomez was so well known by Americans, that United States tennis player Jimmy
Connors nicknamed him Go-Go. Many of his great matches have been played in the United
States and he has been a source of inspiration to Ecuadoran Americans and all lovers of tennis. 7
Tennis is just as important and loved in Ecuador as it is in the United States. Ecuador and
American tennis players both respect each other.
In conclusion, there are many reasons Ecuador should be one of the top countries on a Latin
American global awareness list. The Galapagos Islands provide natural beauty and helped
scientists develop new theories. The oil found at the bottom of the Ecuador rainforests helps
countries make gasoline for motorized machinery and heat. Athletes from Ecuador and America
share a love and respect for tennis, and teach each other new things about the sport. Ecuador is a
place everyone should visit if the opportunity arises. There is a lot to do, a lot to see, and a lot to
learn in this amazing country!

6 (Andres Gomez Profile , 2014)

7 (Mumford, 2014)

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andres Gomez Profile . (2014). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from ATP World Tour:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Go/A/Andres-Gomez.aspx
Ecuador Exports - Ecuador Agricultural Products and Exports. (2001). Retrieved November 7,
2014, from Ecuador Exports - Ecuador Agricultural Products and Exports:
http://www.thebestofecuador.com/agricult.htm
Mumford, J. (2014). Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from
Ecuadorian Americans: http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Du-Ha/EcuadoranAmericans.html#ixzz31gt8ehwH
Rascon, R. (n.d.). [ppt] The Galapagos Islands . Retrieved November 6, 2014, from
www.colorado.edu/.../Ecuador.ppt: www.colorado.edu/.../Ecuador.ppt
U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2014,
January 16). Retrieved November 7, 2014, from Ecauador:
http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=EC

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