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 ECT (UTC-5)
Vehicle registration T
Website www.tungurahua.gob.ec

Tungurahua (Spanish: Provincia del Tungurahua, literally Province of the Tungurahua) 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]

Canton Pop. (2011) Area (km²) Seat/Capital
Ambato 387,282 1,009 Ambato (San Juan de Ambato)
Baños 19,112 1,065 Baños (Baños de Agua Santa)
Cevallos 8,873 19 Cevallos
Mocha 8,371 86 Mocha
Patate 16,771 315 Patate
Pelileo 58,988 202 Pelileo (San Pedro de Pelileo)
Píllaro 44,925 443 Píllaro (Santiago de Píllaro)
Quero 23,187 173 Quero (Santiago de Quero)
Tisaleo 14,525 59 Tisaleo

Places of interest

See also

References

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