Cotopaxi Province

The Cotopaxi Province is a province in Ecuador. It is located in the central Andean region of the country and has an area of ​​5287 km ² approximately 385,000 inhabitants. The provincial capital is Latacunga. The province is named after the Cotopaxi volcano.

Location and geography

The Cotopaxi province is located south of the capital Quito and the Equator in the Sierra mentioned Ecuadorian Andes region. It is bordered on the north by the province of Pichincha, on the east by the province of Napo, to the south by the provinces of Tungurahua and Bolívar and to the west by the provinces of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Los Ríos.

From the mountain range of the Andes, the 5897 m high volcano Cotopaxi stands out. The province is characterized scenic in their altitudes by the ecosystem of the Páramo. This also determines the landscape around the Laguna de Quilotoa, a crater lake in extinct volcano in the center of the homonymous province. Even the volcano Illiniza lies partly in the province of Cotopaxi: The 5248 m high south peak Illiniza Sur is located in the province of Cotopaxi, the 5126 m high north summit Illiniza Norte on the border with the province of Pichincha.

The complex situated 2850 meters above sea level, designed by colonial pattern capital Latacunga was a sub-center between Quito, Tomebamba (Cuenca ) and the present-day Peru before the Conquest. She has preserved colonial flair despite repeated severe destruction caused by eruptions of Cotopaxi in parts and has some Republican representative buildings from the 19th century, including City Hall and the Cathedral. In the near Latacunga is the former monastery Tilipulo, which was founded by the Jesuits in the 18th century and the building played as a planning center in the Revolutionary War a significant role.

The Cotopaxi province is also known for the "Mama Negra " celebrations in which the fertility of the earth is celebrated.

History

The Cotopaxi province was created on 1 April 1851 the name of the province of León. Previously, she was part of the Departamento de Quito of Gran Colombia and now the province of Pichincha. Since 1938, the Cotopaxi province takes its present name.

Since the 1960s, the province whose economic structure is characterized primarily by agriculture and in some cities through arts and crafts, high emigration rates. These walks go partly to the capital of Latacunga, but especially in the larger cities of Quito and Guayaquil and abroad. Reason it is especially in the rural communities often still inadequate infrastructure in terms of energy and water supply, education and health.

Policy

Prefect of the province since 2001 César Umaginga. He belongs to the Pachakutik, the political movement of the Ecuadorian indigenous umbrella organization CONAIE. Mayor of the capital is Latacunga Rafael Maya on PRIAN, the party of Álvaro Noboa multimillionaire.

The governor appointed by President Rómulo called Caceres and is a supporter of the political movement of the President, Movimiento País.

Cantons

The Cotopaxi province currently consists of seven cantons. These are ( in order of establishment ):