The 10 Amazing Facts About the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador, you will learn here.
The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador or “Oriente” is one of the most biodiverse places on the surface of our Planet!
In this post, you will learn 10 amazing facts about the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.
Animals in the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador
Before we sink into some facts about the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador, let’s watch a video filmed in Yasuni Biosphere Reserve ( National Park & Waorani Reserve ).
The Yasuni is said to be where Life exploded into millions of forms and shapes it is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
Watch on YouTube via Fernando Vaca
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Watch a Video of Yasuni National Park in Ecuador
Watch on YouTube via Fernando Vaca
Now, let’s learn more about the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador.
About the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador
The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador represents only 2% of the Amazon Basin which stretches across 9 countries, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana (Overseas France), Peru, and Suriname.
The Amazon Rainforest takes up only seven percent of the planet’s land mass, yet half the earth’s plant species are found in the Amazon Rainforest.
High net productivity is experienced in birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects, Life flourishes in every corner here.
The following facts focus on the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.
Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador: 10 Amazing Facts
1) There is an incredible number of tree species in the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador,
Just 62 acres (1/4 of a square kilometer) of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador supports over 1,100 species of trees.
That makes it among the highest of any region in the world.
Amazon Nature Trips in Ecuador
There are more species of trees and bushes in one hectare here than in all of North America!
2) The Amazon Rainforest is the largest region in Ecuador.
There are several Bioregions on mainland Ecuador, the Costa (Coastal lowlands), the Sierra (Andean highlands), and the Oriente (the Amazon).
The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador covers the eastern portion of the country. It includes six Ecuadorian provinces: Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbios, Morona Santiago, and Zamora-Chinchipe.
Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador Map
Image Credit – Foros Ecuador
3) The number of animal species found in Ecuador’s Amazon is outstanding.
The Amazon in Ecuador is boasting of animal species with no rivals.
In Yasuni Biosphere Reserve alone there are 150 amphibian species (more than the U.S. and Canada combined), 121 species of reptiles, over 200 species of mammals, over 596 birds, and 382 species of fish.
Animals in the Ecuador Amazon
Insects also love the Amazon. Over 70,000 species of insects can be found in one acre of rainforest.
In the following video, you’ll see some of the animals that call the Amazon home.
This video was filmed in Yasuni National Park.
Animals of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador Video
Watch on YouTube via National Geographic
4) The Ecuadorian Amazon is a bird watcher’s paradise<span
With over 587 species of birds, the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador is a birder’s paradise. Birdwatching trips are a huge draw for visitors to this area.
With a knowledgeable guide, you could see around 250 to 300 species during your trip.
Birdwatching in the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador
The following video highlights some of the bird species in the Ecuador Amazon.
Birds of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador Video
Watch on YouTube via Fernando Vaca
Learn more about Birds of the Amazon Rainforest.
5) There are 4 National Parks in Ecuador’s Amazon Jungle
There are 5 National Parks in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador to promote the Conservation of Nature:
- Yasuni
- Cayambe-Coca
- Llanganates
- Sumaco Napo-Galeras
- Río Negro-Sopladora
Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve are said to be the most biodiverse place on earth. It’s Ecuador’s largest National Park and is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Frogs in the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador
There are other areas such as Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Limoncocha, which provide safe areas for wildlife.
These areas help protect the Amazon and are wonderful places to visit.
The following video was filmed in Yasuni National Park and highlights 28 amazing mammal species in this area.
Mammals in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador
Watch on YouTube via Fernando Vaca
6) There are 7 major cities within the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador
The seven cities include:
- Coca
- Lago Agrio
- Tena
- Puyo
- Macas
- Zamora
The population in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest is over 739,000, including the cities and six provinces found within the rainforest. There are still large areas in the Amazon Jungle in Ecuador that are uninhabited.
7) There are 9 indigenous cultures in the Amazon
There are 9 indigenous nationalities in the Ecuadorian Amazon: Kichwas, Shuar, Achuar, Shiwiar, Cofán, Siona, Secoya, Zápara, Andoa, and Waorani.
Some of them welcome tourists which is wonderful for family cultural experiences in Ecuador.
Visiting the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador
Two tribes (the Tagaeri and Taromenane) who live within the Yasuni National Park choose to live in isolation.
8) The climate is the same year-round
The climate in the Ecuador Amazon is pretty much the same year-round, warm and rainy.
Animals in the Ecuadorian Amazon
The temperature averages around 28°C (82°F) in the daytime and drops to around 17°C (62°F) at night.
From February to May it experiences the highest rainfall while July through August are the drier months.
The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador usually receives around 3500 mm of rain every year, so even during the drier months, heavy rainfall can happen at any time.
9) The Amazon River was discovered in Ecuador
The Amazon River was discovered by a Spanish expedition started in Quito in 1541 by an explorer and conquistador named Francisco de Orellana.
He discovered the river in 1542 and initially named it Rio de Orellana.
Travel to the Amazon in Ecuador
As he explored he battled with a tribe of Tapuyas. The women of that tribe fought alongside the men. He later named the river after the Amazons – a tribe of women warriors in Greek mythology.
10) The Amazon in Ecuador is threatened. There is a lot of oil (around 800 million barrels) under the Ecuadorian Rainforest.
Extracting it puts the Amazon at risk, including the plants, animals, and way of life for the people that live there.
Deforestation and illegal logging also threaten the area.
Efforts are underway to protect the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador.
Will You Visit the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador?
The Amazon is an exciting place to visit. Are you planning a trip?
Have you already visited Amazon?
Please share your thoughts by commenting on this post.
We run all the Rivers in Ecuador.