Tungurahua Province

Tungurahua
Province
Province of Tungurahua
Landscape near Baños

Flag

Tungurahua Province in Ecuador

Cantons of Tungurahua Province
Coordinates: 1°14′S 78°37′W / 1.233°S 78.617°W / -1.233; -78.617
Country Ecuador
Capital Ambato
Cantons
Government
 • Provincial Prefect Fernando Naranjo (Unidad Intercultural)
Area
 • Total 3,386.25 km2 (1,307.44 sq mi)
Elevation 2,600 m (8,500 ft)
Highest elevation 5,016 m (16,457 ft)
Lowest elevation 900 m (3,000 ft)
Population (2011)INEC decadal national census
 • Total 581,389
 • Density 170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (ECT)
Vehicle registration T
Website www.tungurahua.gob.ec

Tungurahua (Spanish: Provincia del Tungurahua, literally Province of the Tungurahua; pronounced [tuŋɡuˈɾawa]) is one of the twenty-four provinces of Ecuador. Its capital is Ambato. The province takes its name from the Tungurahua volcano, which is located within the boundaries of the provinces.

Population

In 2011, Tungurahua had an estimated population of 581,389.[1] Approximately 10% of that population is made up of indigenous peoples, while another 70% are of mestizo or mixed race heritage. The final 20% is made up of peoples of African, Asian, and European ancestry.

Climate

The province has a dry, temperate climate. Like all mountainous areas, the region experiences the phenomenon known as microclimates in which small portions of the province receive drastically different conditions from others due to winds and area pressure. Generally though, Tungurahua experiences temperatures in-between 14 and 17 degree Celsius in the day-time with cooler nights. At higher altitudes, conditions are obviously much colder. Despite being near the Equator, mountains like Carihuayrazo and Chimborazo are covered in snow for much of the year.[2]

Geography

The province is very mountainous, containing the Tungurahua volcano near Baños as well as bordering the Carihuayrazo and Chimborazo volcanoes to the south. Baños is the biggest tourist destination. The principal river of the province is the Patate River which flows to the east toward the Amazon Region.[3]

Political division

The province is divided into nine cantons which stretch from Ambato in the west to Baños in the east. The following table lists each with its population at the 2001 census, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.[4]

CantonPop. (2011)Area (km²)Seat/Capital
Ambato387,2821,009Ambato (San Juan de Ambato)
Baños19,1121,065Baños (Baños de Agua Santa)
Cevallos8,87319Cevallos
Mocha8,37186Mocha
Patate16,771315Patate
Pelileo58,988202Pelileo (San Pedro de Pelileo)
Píllaro44,925443Píllaro (Santiago de Píllaro)
Quero23,187173Quero (Santiago de Quero)
Tisaleo14,52559Tisaleo

Places of interest

See also

References

  1. ↑ Population of the Honorable Consejo Provincial de Tungurahua Archived 2009-04-12 at the Wayback Machine.. 21 July 2009.
  2. ↑ Territory of the Honorable Consejo Provincial de Tungurahua Archived 2009-08-28 at the Wayback Machine.. 21 July 2009.
  3. ↑ Population of the Honorable Consejo Provincial de Tungurahua Archived 2009-04-12 at the Wayback Machine.. 21 July 2009.
  4. ↑ Cantons of Ecuador. Statoids.com. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
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