History In 1532 Spanish Conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro invaded Ecuador. Until that time the country had been under the control of the Incas, the group of Indians who inhabited the area. Soon after the invasion, Spain took control over Ecuador. This invasion eventually allowed for the Spaniards to begin converting the Indians to Roman Catholicism. The Indians had previously been worshipping the gods of the Incas. In 1863, Roman Catholicism became the official state religion of Ecuador. Later, a decree in 1904 allowed for freedom of religion, yet still today the majority of Ecuadorians are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Geography The country of Ecuador is found on the northwestern tip of South America. The equator runs from the east to the west across the northern part of the country. The majestic Andes Mountain Range characterizes the center of Ecuador, from North to South. The highest mountain in Ecuador, the volcano known as Chimborazo, stands 20,560 feet. Riobamba is located in the province of Chimborazo.
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