Avenue of the Volcanoes, the Andes, Ecuador

The Andes in Ecuador consist of a long, narrow plateau running north-south bordered by two mountain chains containing numerous high volcanoes. To the west, in the geologically recent and relatively low Cordillera Occidental, stands a line of 19 volcanoes, 7 of them over 15,000 feet in elevation. The eastern border is the higher and older Cordillera Central, capped by 20 volcanoes, some with permanent snowcaps. Lava flows from these volcanoes have divided the central plateau into 10 major basins strung in beadlike fashion between the two cordilleras. These basins and their adjacent slopes, which are intensively cultivated, contain roughly half of Ecuador's population.     [- Encyclopedia Britannica, 2004]

Below are scenes from the towns of Latacunga, Pujili, Zimbahua, Tigua, Laguna Quilotoa, Saquisili, Riobamba, and Alausi:

Local man	Mother & child	Mother & child	Elderly man
Local boys			Woman with children
Highland women			Women in Pujili
Traditional dwelling	Andes landscape	Andes landscape	Laguna Quilotoa - crater lake
Quilotoa artist with child			Boy with Llamas
Local market ...			... ropes in travelers
Mother & child	Woman in Saquisili	Woman in Saquisili	Spinning a yarn
Animal market, Saquisili	Packing pigs	Oferta?	Brand new acquisition
Amorous couple	Nariz del Diablo train	Alausí	Local boy