Andean Highlands, Mountain region in Ecuador.
This region runs through central Ecuador and covers several provinces with peaks, valleys and high plateaus above 2,200 meters (7,200 feet). The terrain shifts between wide páramo grasslands, deep gorges and snow-capped volcanic cones.
Communities in these mountains have farmed fields at different elevations for thousands of years, using the changing climate for maize, quinoa and potatoes. Later, colonial routes between coast and Amazon basin ran through here.
Markets in towns like Otavalo display traditional textiles, where indigenous artisans maintain centuries-old weaving techniques passed down through generations.
Several layers of clothing help against changing temperatures, which can be mild during the day and cool at night. Slow movement during the first days reduces headaches or tiredness from the elevation.
Some mountain lakes change color depending on light and mineral content, shifting between green, turquoise and gray. These craters formed through eruptions and filled with rainwater over time.
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