Loja Province
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Loja is a province in Ecuador. The capital is the city of Loja, which is a very old city. The original colonial city having been destroyed by an earthquake, the city was rebuilt at higher elevation by 1548 by Spanish Captain Alonso de Mercadillo.
Loja is located at 2100 meters (6,890 ft) in elevation in the Cuxibamba valley in the Andes Mountains of southern Ecuador.
Even though close to the equator, the elevation gives Loja a pleasantly cool climate, with a brief rainy season from February to May.
Loja has become a touristic attraction because of the beautiful architecture of its historic downtown, with narrow streets, houses, which facades have been painted with strong colors that call the attention of visitors.
Just south of the city, but located within the province is the village of Vilcabamba, at 1.400 meters above sea level (4.500 feet), with temperatures between 18 and 22 ºC (64 and 72°F) all year round.
The attractiveness of this village is its great quietness, its houses made of adobe and wood, and in particular its people who are reputed to be over 100 years of age, with all their vital faculties in good shape.
This is the reason why people call this valley, the longevity island, that surprise scientists and tourists.
Also southtern Loja city (province) we can find the Stoned Forest of Puyango (Bosque Petrificado de Puyango).
Loja was the first city to have electricity (from a hydrolectric dam), which was built in 1897.
It is known as, "Capital Musical del Ecuador" (the music capital of Ecuador) and "Ciudad doblemente universitaria" (Double universitary city).
Loja city is a source of culture, most of its inhabitants enjoy playing the guitar, sing romantic songs, write verses, read books. Culture is one of the characteristics of Lojan people.
The province is divided in 16 cantons.
Canton (Capital)
- Calvas (Cariamanga)
- Catamayo Canton (Catamayo)
- Celicia (Celica)
- Chaguarpamba (Chaguarpamba)
- Espíndola (Espíndola)
- Gonzanamá (Gonzanamá)
- Loja (Loja, Ecuador)
- Macará (Macará)
- Olmedo (Olmedo)
- Paltas(Catacocha)
- Pindal (Pindal)
- Puyango (Alamor)
- Quilanga (Quilanga)
- Saraguro (Saraguro)
- Sozoranga (Sozoranga)
- Zapotillo (Zapotillo)
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| Provinces of Ecuador |  |
|---|---|
| Azuay | Bolívar | Cañar | Carchi | Chimborazo | Cotopaxi | Esmeraldas | Galápagos | Guayas | Imbabura | Loja | Los Ríos | Manabí | Morona-Santiago | Napo | Orellana | El Oro | Pastaza | Pichincha | Sucumbíos | Tungurahua | Zamora-Chinchipe |
