The "Sierra" region encompasses all of central Ecuador from north to south, bordering the coastal region to the west and the Amazon region to the east. I live in the Sierra and will share a little about how the environment shapes life here.
The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world. They run (in part) from north to south through Ecuador and are home to incredible biodiversity, ancient civilizations and diverse cultures. There is a history dating back millennia of the land's inhabitants, and the environment continues to shape the region's livelihoods. The inhabitants of the Ecuadorian Andes are primarily Kichwa (one of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador) and mestizo (a broad term encompassing those with mixed heritage from the Spanish and indigenous). Agriculture, including the production of corn, potatoes, and beans, is a main occupation; a lot of the culture revolves around that.
The volcanoes make the Ecuadorian Andes especially unique. Ecuador has the third-largest number of volcanoes in the world, at 84 volcanoes - and 27 of which are active. I am fortunate to live within sight of Chimborazo, which, due to its proximity to the equator and its astonishing height of 6,263 m (20,548 ft), is the point on Earth closest to the sun.
