Ecuador

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What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito -- the traditional name for the area -- became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty -- New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito -- gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name was changed to the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador has had nearly 50 years of civilian governance, the period has been marked by political instability.

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Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

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2 00 S, 77 30 W

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South America

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<strong>note:</strong> includes Galapagos Islands

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slightly smaller than Nevada

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2,237 km

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<strong>note:</strong> Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm, measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago

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tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

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coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

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<strong>note:</strong> because the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet farthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea level

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petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

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12,520 sq km (2022)

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nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated

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frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m) is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago

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Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world

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Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 77.5%, Montubio 7.7%, Indigenous 7.7%, White 2.2%, Afroecuadorian 2%, Mulatto 1.4%, Black 1.3%, other 0.1% (2022 est.)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit

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Roman Catholic 68.2%, Protestant 19% (Evangelical 18.3%, Adventist 0.6%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other 2.3%, none 8.2% don't know/no response 1% (2023 est.)

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0.91% (2025 est.)

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17.42 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated

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3.142 million Guayaquil, 1.957 million QUITO (capital) (2023)

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55 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.06 (2025 est.)

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2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

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1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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19.9% (2016)

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4.9% (2024 est.)

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45.3% (2022 est.)

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deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

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tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

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17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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442.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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presidential republic

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24 provinces (<em>provincias</em>, singular - <em>provincia</em>); Azuay, Bolivar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabí, Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora Chinchipe

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civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; voluntary for 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters

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<strong>note 1:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> though eligible for a second term, former president Guillermo LASSO announced that he would not run in the 2023 election; President Daniel NOBOA Azin is serving out the remainder of the presidential term (2021–2025)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> on 18 May 2023, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council announced that the legislative and presidential elections - originally scheduled for February 2025 - would be held on 20 August 2023 after President Guillermo LASSO dissolved the National Assembly by decree on 17 May 2023; a return to a regular election cycle will occur in February 2025

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Actuemos Ecuador or Actuemos<br>AMIGO movement, Independent Mobilizing Action Generating Opportunities (Movimiento AMIGO (Acción Movilizadora Independiente Generando Oportunidades)) or AM16O<br>Avanza Party or AVANZA<br>Central Democratic Movement or CD<br>Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC or RC5<br>Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO<br>Democratic Left or ID<br>Democracy Yes Movement (Movimiento Democracia Si)<br>For A Country Without Fear (Por Un País Sin Miedo) (an alliance including PSC, CD, and PSP)<br>Green Movement (Movimiento Verde)<br>Movimiento Construye or Construye<br>National Democratic Action (Acción Democrática Nacional) or ADN<br>Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP<br>Patriotic Society Party or PSP<br>People, Equality, and Democracy Party (Partido Pueblo, Igualdad y Democracia) or PID<br>Popular Unity Party (Partido Unidad Popular) or UP<br>Revolutionary and Democratic Ethical Green Movement (Movimiento Verde Ético Revolucionario y Democrático) or MOVER<strong><br></strong>Social Christian Party or PSC<br>Socialist Party<br>Society United for More Action or SUMA<br>Total Renovation Movement (Movimiento Renovacion Total) or RETO

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CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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24 May 1822 (from Spain)

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Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

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<strong>description:</strong> three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; red for patriots' blood spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice

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<strong>note:</strong> similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not have a coat of arms

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Andean condor

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yellow, blue, red

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highly informal South American economy; USD currency user; major banana exporter; hard hit by COVID-19; macroeconomic fragility from oil dependency; successful debt restructuring; China funding budget deficits; social unrest hampering economic activity

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$124.676 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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bananas, sugarcane, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, chicken, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

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-3.7% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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8.821 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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26% (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 22%, China 21%, Panama 12%, Japan 3%, Peru 3% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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crude petroleum, shellfish, bananas, fish, gold (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 27%, China 20%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 4%, Peru 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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<p>the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001</p>

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956 media outlets, of which 89% are private, 5% are public, and 6% belong to small communities; government controls most of the 44 public media stations, including national media and multiple local radio stations; most media outlets are concentrated in Guayas and Pichincha (2022)

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.ec

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according to 2021 statistics from Ecuador's Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50% of homes do not have access to fixed internet

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HC

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317 (2025)

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28 (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> passenger service limited to certain sections of track, mostly for tourist trains

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Ecuadorian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador): Ground Force (Fuerza Terrestre), Naval Force (Fuerza Naval; includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the National Police of Ecuador (Policía Nacional del Ecuador) is under the Ministry of Government/Interior

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approximately 40,000 active Ecuadorian Armed Forces (2025)

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the military's inventory includes a mix of mostly older and limited quantities of more modern equipment from a variety of sources such as Brazil, Chile, China, France, Italy, Germany, Russia/Soviet-Union, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)

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18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month service obligation; conscription abolished in 2008 (2025)

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<strong>note: </strong>in 2024, women made up about 5% of the active military

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the military is responsible for preserving Ecuador’s national sovereignty and defending the integrity of the state; it also has some domestic security responsibilities and may complement police operations in maintaining public order if required; the military shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police; it participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises and has sent troops on UN peacekeeping missions; the military has defense ties to regional countries, such as Chile, Colombia, and Peru<br><br>border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s and border security remains a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have included counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, have spilled over the border; the military has established a joint service task force for counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations and boosted troop deployments along those borders; other missions include countering illegal mining, smuggling, and maritime piracy; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has expanded the military’s role in general public security and domestic crime operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectiveness; in 2024, Ecuador passed a constitutional amendment formally authorizing the military to participate in complementary security roles such as supporting law enforcement in high-risk areas, conducting joint operations against organized crime, and providing logistical assistance in maintaining public order <br><br>the military ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010 (2025)

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Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA; a civilian independent research and development institution in charge of the administration and execution of Ecuador&rsquo;s space program, established 2007) (2025)

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has a small program focused on acquiring and manufacturing satellites; builds scientific satellites; conducts research and develops some space-related technologies; has relationships with China and Russia's space agencies and industries, as well as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and its member states (2025)

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2007 - an Ecuadorian completed a suborbital astronaut training program provided by Russia<br><br>2013 - first two domestically designed and built scientific/technology demonstrator satellites (NEE-01/Pegasus, NEE-02/Krysaor) launched by China and Russia <br><br>2021 - signed accords for the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency<br><br>2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

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Los Choneros; Los Lobos