The Andes mountains or Cordillera, in Ecuador is dominated by a range of towering volcanoes and highland valleys, reaching to nearly 18,000 feet (6000 meters). People around the world who had never been in Ecuador often think that this country is a land of steamy jungles astride the Equatorial Line.

The Cordillera is geologically young and volcanic activity still occurs, at present times the are two volcanoes in close proximity that are very active, one of them is Guagua Pichincha  an stratovolcano located at only 7 miles (11Km) from Ecuador's capital city of Quito,  and the other volcano Tungurahua at only 104 miles (165 km) to the south of Quito and directly above the city of Baņos.

This city lies in the heart of Ecuador and is particularly known for its perpetually mild climate and is a gateway to both the Oriente and the high peaks of the Andes. Baņos is a place with breathtaking waterfalls, unspoiled green surroundings and therapeutic hot springs.

            

Volcano Guagua Pichincha

Volcano Tungurahua

Five million years ago, at the beginning of the Pliocene period, the Andes started to form. The mountain range divides the country in three sections, one low forested plain at each side of the Eastern and Western Cordilleras and in the middle of the interandean ranges a narrow band  of basins and valleys. These valleys are semi-arid ecosystems with eucalyptus and pine trees.

The Northern Cordillera is split, with two chains of mountains running parallel from north to south. These valleys bordered by the "Avenue of the Volcanoes" are a distinct habitat for many of the cities of Ecuador. This area developed flora and fauna adapted to low temperatures, strong winds, rain, hail, snow and the high altitudes.

The Southern Cordillera is a single chain of mountains which are older and lower than the northern Andes, there are no active volcanoes in this area and the soil has been badly worn with erosion.

The rainy season in this area lasts from October to May, with an annual temperature range of 53° to 64°F (12° a 18°C). A lush forest is found along the outer flanks of the Andes mountains, between 8,400 and 9,900 feet (2800 and 3300 meters) of altitude. This ecosystem exists because of the clouds that bathe the sides of the Andes range. As the clouds are forced up to greater altitude, the air grows cooler. Since cool air holds less moisture than warm air, most of the moisture in the clouds is dropped along the flanks as mist or precipitation, resulting in the lush clouds forest ecosystem. This phenomenon is known as the "Rain Shadow Effect". The air that passes over the mountains and into the valleys is dry resulting in an arid habitat for this zone.

  The Andean paramo is found at altitudes of 11,500 - 14,750 feet (3600 - 4800 meters), ecosystem characterized by low precipitation, high winds and low temperatures. The Andean paramos are covered with gramineous plants, creepers, spongy herbs, paramo grasses and rose-like flowers. One tenth (9,652sq. miles) of the Ecuadorian land is covered with paramos, this is a habitat ideal for condors, caracaras, deer, llamas, tapir, vicuņas, multicolored flowers and the most beautiful hummingbirds.

This is a rigorous habitat and the organisms that have evolved here have by necessity, adapted to living under relatively harsh conditions. For example plants in the paramo are pollinated by wind, hummingbirds, or beetles because the winds are too strong and constant for flying insects to carry out the job that they do elsewhere.