Located in northwestern South America, Ecuador has a varied geography that includes coastal lowlands, the towering Andes Mountains and even a portion of the Amazon Rainforest. The country has had a tumultuous political history, which has included authoritarian governments and swings in economic fortunes (related to petroleum) which have contributed to instability. The near total collapse of the economy at the turn of the century was an additional shock, and while Ecuador has made significant progress since then, it still continues to struggle with high levels of corruption, rampant un- and under-employment, and violence from drug related criminal activity.