What are the main features of avalanche?

Ah, Avalanche indeed offers some intriguing features in the realm of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Could you elaborate on its scalability? How does Avalanche achieve such high transaction speeds while maintaining security? I'm also curious about its consensus mechanism. What makes it unique compared to other blockchains? Additionally, could you discuss Avalanche's ecosystem? Are there any notable projects or applications built on its platform? I'm eager to understand the potential it holds for decentralized finance and beyond. Thank you for your insights.