Loja (canton)

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This article is about the canton of Loja. For the Province of Loja, see Loja province and for the city, see Loja, Ecuador.

The canton of Loja is located in the southeast of the Province of Loja bordering the Podocarpus National Park and Porvince of Zamora-Chinchipe in the east, Peru in the south, and the cantons of Saraguro, Catamayo, Gonzanama, and Quilanga in the north and west. The principal city is Loja which is also the provincial capital. It is also home to Vilcabamba, the "Valley of Longevity."

Sights include:

• City of Loja
• Cathedral of El Cisne
• Reynaldo Espinoza Botanical Gardens (one of the world's highest-altitude botanical gardens, at 2100m)
• The Incan ruins of de Ciudadela, Quinara, Taranza, and Llano Grande.

Traditional celebrations include:

• Border Integration Fair, September 8
• Province Day, September 18
• Independence of Loja, November 18
• Founding of Loja, December 8