Orellana Province

Orellana is an inland province of Ecuador. The capital is Puerto Francisco de Orellana (also known as Coca). It was created on July 30, 1998, from part of Napo Province.

The name of the province derives from the explorer Francisco de Orellana who it is told to have sailed from somewhere near the town to the Atlantic Ocean. He did this trip several times looking for the gold city of El Dorado and in search of a rumored Nutmeg forest which at the time was a very expensive spice. During his voyages he met a ferocious tribe of Indians who attacked his ships and many among them were women. This led to the naming of the river as the Amazon river. The province is divided in four cantons.

Cantons

The province is divided into four cantons. The following table lists each with its population as of the 2001 census, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.^[2]

Economy

The jungle habitat that composes most of the territory, makes the province rely on exports of crude oil, and timber. its second most important source of income is tourism, offering jungle exploration, indigineous encounters, and rivers. Mining is placed as the third reliable source of income.

Places of interest

• Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

See also

• Provinces of Ecuador
• Cantons of Ecuador

References