What Ecuador looked like in the late 1950s Through Fascinating Photos

Ecuador is the westernmost country on the continent of South America. The country is named after the Equator, the imaginary line around the Earth that splits it in two. Ecuador’s capital city Quito lies between the coastal and Andes mountains. There are approximately 10 percent Europeans in Ecuador. Twenty-five percent belong to indigenous or native cultures, while the remainder is mostly mixed races. Most natives are subsistence farmers and only grow enough food for their families. Climate-wise, Ecuador is mainly tropical, with a temperate highland climate in its center.

Ecuador is considered one of the most diverse countries in the world. There are approximately 25,000 plant species and more than 1,600 bird species. There has been a great deal of environmental destruction caused by oil leaks and the destruction of forests in the search for oil. Ecuador has nine national parks, including the Galápagos Islands. The Galápagos islands are home to some of the most amazing creatures, including the Galápagos tortoise, Galápagos penguin, blue-footed booby, and iguana. Charles Darwin discovered the diversity of species here and began studying evolution.

Here are some fascinating vintage photos that show Ecuador in 1959 by Bob McCleskey.

#1 Ecuador. Bus between Cuenca and Pasaje. People in front, cows in rear, chickens on top, 1959

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#2 Ecuador. Tulcan main street, 1959

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#3 Ecuador. Pasaje old saddles, 1959

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#4 Ecuador. Pasaje, 1959

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#5 Ecuador. Between Ibarra and San Antonio de Ibarra, 1959

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#6 Ecuador. Main road out of town to Pan Am Highway, 1959

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#7 Ecuador. Quito cathedrals. Quito still a small, beautiful city with no slums, 1959

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#8 Ecuador. Quito government building, 1959

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#9 Ecuador. Quito typical street scene, 1959

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#10 Ecuador. Tobacco and vegetable area. Each type of produce strictly assigned to own areas. Had to pay a city tax to set up shop here, 1959

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#11 Ecuador. Bitter cold at night, but most bare footed, 1959

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#12 Ecuador. Cajabamba hot peppers, food highly seasoned, 1959

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#13 Ecuador. Cajabamba market day, 1959

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#14 Ecuador. Chickens going to market, tied by feet in big bundle but all still alive, 1959

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#15 Ecuador. Ibarra sheep girls. Donkey used as “leader” of flock, 1959

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#16 Ecuador. Indians carrying wood, 1959

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#17 Ecuador. Old lady in black has just unloaded smoked pig from stooped back, children helping, 1959

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#18 Ecuador. Oxen pulling wood on Pan Am Highway just above Tulcan, 1959

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#19 Ecuador. People streaming into market in early morning. Many trot all the way (for miles) with loads on their backs, 1959

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#20 Ecuadorian children, 1959

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