Ambato, Ecuador

Ambato on the map of Ecuador

Ambato is a city in Ecuador. It is the capital of the province of Tungurahua, located in an Andean plateau at about 2570 m altitude, between the Eastern and Western Cordilleras. The city is located about 140 km south of Quito and 30 km northeast of Chimborazo, the highest mountain in the country. Through the city leads the Panamericana.

The city has about 221,000 inhabitants Ambato, with suburbs, there are 297,000 inhabitants ( as at 25 November 2001).

History

For over 1,000 years are settlements on the banks of the river Ambato detectable. Having already settled several indigenous tribes in the earlier Cashapamba designated region, conquered in the 15th century, the Inca armies the plateau. In the vicinity of Ambato won in 1530 the Inca king Atahualpa via the also the throne laying claim to half-brother Huascar. With the founding of the city by the Spanish conquistadors in 1535, Ambato gained a certain importance as a trading center. From the once dominant colonial architecture, the city is today hardly get anything because the town was practically razed to the ground by an earthquake and completely rebuilt since August 5, 1949.

Economy

The city is dominated by the many orchards in the area, the find by the temperate - tropical, rainy mountain climate favorable growing conditions. In addition, the city is known for a diverse production of handicrafts products, especially leather goods. The most important industry is the body, especially of coaches. However, this industry has experienced through the repeal of the vehicle import tariffs in Ecuador mid-1990s, considerable losses since they had nothing to counter international competition.

Sports

The most important sports club in the city is the Serie A football club CSD Macará.

Attractions

Due to the earthquake of 1949, there are few architectural attractions in Ambato. The main attractions of the city are:

  • Cathedral
  • Library and Museum Casa de Montalvo,
  • Casa de la Cultura at Parque Juan Montalvo with an exhibition to Ambatos history and

We should also mention three must-see garden haciendas from the 19th century on the northwest bank of the Rio Ambato, where writers and intellectuals Juan Montalvo, Juan León Mera and Juan Benigno Vela lived, which is why it is also called the city of three Juan.

Across the country well known is the annual carnival time in late February held Feria de las Frutas y las Flores ( fruit and flower show). But every Monday farmers market is worth seeing and one of the largest in the country. It is there mainly fruit and vegetables sold. The Indians come from various villages in the area and are usually dressed in local costume, each village has a slightly different costume.

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Juan Montalvo (1832-1889), Ecuadorian writer, essayist and journalist
  • Jorge Enrique Adoum (1926-2009), Ecuadorian writer
  • Iván Vallejo ( born 1959 ), Ecuadorian climber
  • Carlos Mortensen (born 1972 ), Spanish Poker players
  • Renata Salazar Ivancan (* 1975), German Filmeditorin
  • Jack Culcay (* 1985), German professional boxer
  • Nathaly Maza, (* 1991), Austrian football player
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