Omar Martinez

 Welcome to Natural Hazards: Ecuador Introduction Ecuador  is a country in northwestern  South America , bordered by  Colombia  on the north,  Peru  on the east and south, and the  Pacific Ocean  on the west. Ecuador also includes the  Galápagos Islands  in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometers (621 mi) west of the mainland.  The territories of modern-day Ecuador were once home to a variety of  Amerindian  groups that were gradually incorporated into the  Inca Empire  during the 15th century. The territory was  colonized by Spain  during the 16th century, achieving independence in 1820 as part of  Gran Colombia , from which it emerged as its own sovereign state in 1830. The legacy of both empires is reflected in Ecuador's ethnically diverse population, with most of its 17.8 million people being  mestizos , followed by large minorities of European,  Native American , and  Afri...