The greatest events in Ecuadorian History

1. 1941 - Ecuador, World War II. It was the only South American country to declare war on the United States during World War II.

2. 1960 - Ecuador became a member of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and the oil industry began to play an important role in the country's economic growth.

3. 1972 - Ecuador declared the Galapagos Islands a national park and wildlife sanctuary. The islands were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978.

4. 1999 - Ecuador adopted the US dollar as its official currency. This was a step taken to increase the economic stability of the country.

5. 2000 - Ecuador ended a 10-year period of political instability and reestablished democracy by adopting a new constitution.

6. 2008 - Ecuador elected Rafael Correa, a man of indigenous origin, as president for the first time. Correa became one of the longest-serving presidents in the country's history.

7. 2010 - Ecuador participated in the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Although the country could not pass the group stage of the tournament held in South Africa, it took an important step in its football history.

8. 2016 - Ecuador was shaken by an earthquake. The earthquake that occurred on April 16 caused great damage and loss of life in the coastal regions of the country.

9. 2019 - Ecuador was shaken by protests that started in response to the increase in fuel prices. The protests grew into popular movements criticizing the government's policies and demanding greater social justice.

10. 2020 - Ecuador was affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and the government decided to take precautions and shut down the country. The epidemic had a huge economic and social impact and deeply affected people's lives.