Ecuador – Ecuador's capital is Quito

(Pronounced ek-wuh-dawr and kee-toe)

To remember the capital of Ecuador, use the following mnemonic:

That was one heck of a door (Equador), so big the key had to be towed to it (Quito).

Interesting facts about Quito:

- Equator Proximity: Quito is the closest capital city to the equator in the entire world, located just about 25 kilometers south of the imaginary line, meaning daylight hours stay remarkably consistent year-round.

- Volcanic Background: The city is uniquely flanked by active volcanoes, most notably Pichincha, which towers directly over the western edge of the urban area and dusted the streets in ash as recently as the late twentieth century.

- Historic Preservation: Quito boasts the largest, best-preserved, and least altered historic center in all of South America, earning it the distinction of being named the very first UNESCO World Heritage site alongside Krakow in 1978.