Ecuador's compact size belies its extraordinary geographical diversity, containing four distinct regions: the Pacific coastal lowlands with tropical beaches and mangrove forests; the Andean highlands (Sierra) with over 20 snow-capped volcanoes along the "Avenue of the Volcanoes"; the Amazon rainforest (Oriente) covering nearly half the country; and the Galápagos Islands' unique volcanic landscapes. The Andes feature high-altitude paramo grasslands and crater lakes, while coastal areas transition from dry forests in the south to humid rainforests near Colombia. Cotopaxi (5,897m) is the world's highest active volcano.