The Flag of Ecuador
The flag of Ecuador consists of three horizontal stripes: yellow at the top, blue in the middle, and red at the bottom, with the national coat of arms placed in the center of the flag. The yellow stripe is wider than the blue and red stripes, which are of equal size. This vibrant tricolor design symbolizes various aspects of Ecuador's environment, history, and people.
History of The Flag of Ecuador
Ecuador's flag was officially adopted on September 26, 1860, but its origins trace back to the early 19th century during the struggle for independence from Spanish rule. The design was inspired by the flag of the Gran Colombia, a short-lived republic that included what is now Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. The colors were chosen by General Francisco de Miranda, a precursor to Simon Bolivar and a key figure in Latin American independence. The yellow represents the country's gold, agriculture, and riches, blue symbolizes the sea and sky, and red stands for the blood shed by the heroes of independence. The inclusion of the coat of arms, added in 1900, distinguishes Ecuador's flag from those of Colombia and Venezuela, which share the same tricolor design but without a coat of arms.