Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. Straddling the equator, Ecuador boasts rich biodiversity, including the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its unique wildlife. Ecuador has three main geographic regions: La Costa (the coast), La Sierra (the highlands), and La Amazonía (the east). La Costa features fertile and productive land, home to large banana export plantations operated by companies like Dole and Chiquita. La Sierra consists of Andean and Interandean highland provinces, with most of Ecuador's volcanoes and snow-capped peaks. Agriculture in this region focuses on traditional crops such as potatoes, maize, and quinoa, and the population is predominantly Amerindian Kichua. La Amazonía, or El Oriente, comprises the Amazon jungle, national parks, and Amerindian untouchable zones—vast stretches of land set aside for Amazonian tribes to continue their traditional lifestyles. Ecuador's fertile volcanic soil, particularly in the coastal and Amazon regions, supports a thriving agricultural sector, including cocoa production. While Ecuador accounts for only 4% of the world's cocoa production, it is responsible for 70% of the world's fine-flavor cocoa. The country is especially famed for its Arriba Nacional variety, prized for its floral and fruity notes.