Sheep in a pasture south of Riobamba, Ecuador

Two sheep graze in a small pasture on the outskirts of Riobamba. A few houses dot the foreground, while rolling pasture land rises in the background. A solitary man watches the sheep.

While new oil reserves are located daily, Ecuador remains an agricultural and pastoral nation. On the outskirts of every village, town, and city you're likely to find residents raising their own livestock for consumption and to supply products for sale. In this photo, you can see two sheep that are likely kept for their wool.

Riobamba has a long and storied history. Its convenient location in the highlands between the coast and the jungle has made it an important crossroads in the development of Ecuador. It first was home to several indigenous communities before the arrival of the Inca empire. The town was an important outpost for the empire until the conquest of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. In fact, Riobamba was the first Spanish settlement in Ecuador.

In more recent days, Riobamba boasts of one of Ecuador's largest railway junctions and dozens of roads join at the town. Indeed, many residents claim "all roads lead to Riobamba." Because of its close proximity to the volcano of Chimborazo, Ecuador's tallest peak, the town is a popular jumping-off point for ecotourists. It is also an important city for domestic trade, since it is midway between Ecuador's two larges cities: Quito and Quayaquil. For all these reasons, Riobamba is a bustling city with a growing population. Even so, the city has managed to retain its wide streets, colonial architecture, and colorful flora.