The journey I undertook in the spring and summer of 1903 to the South American Republic of Ecuador had one main purpose: to investigate the snow and ice regions of the Ecuadorian high mountains. High-altitude research promised particularly interesting results there, as perhaps no other country in the world combines such a wealth of natural contrasts and presents such a large number of important geographical problems in close spatial proximity as the Andes of Ecuador, formed by immense mountain-building and particularly volcanic forces, rising from tropical hot lowlands to the regions of eternal snow. Hans Meyer describes in this wonderful work his study and research trip to Ecuador and the Andes. His account is illustrated with over 130 images. This book is a careful reprint of the original.