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Republik Ecuador |
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Republic on the western coast of South
America. Ecuador was the site of a number of early Indian cultures and was
the center of the northern Inca empire at the time of its conquest by
Spain (1533). In 1822, Ecuador became independent as part of Bolivar's
Great Colombia. In 1830, it withdrew to form a separate nation. Despite
substantial petroleum deposits (it is an OPEC member), Ecuador remains an
underdeveloped nation. A series of military and civilian regimes have
alternated control in recent years. Since 1979, a democratic civilian
government has ruled the country. A long-standing border dispute between
Ecuador and Peru remains unresolved. Armed hostilities occasionally erupt
between the two countries, most recently in January 1995. |
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