Ambato, Ecuador
Ambato | |
---|---|
City | |
San Juan de Ambato | |
ECT) | |
Area code | (+593) 3 |
Climate | Cfb |
Website | www |
Ambato (Spanish pronunciation: [amˈbato]; full form, San Juan de Ambato; Quechua: Ampatu Llaqta) is a city located in the central Andean valley of Ecuador.[2] Lying on the banks of the Ambato River, the city also sits beneath several tall mountains. It is the capital city of the Tungurahua Province, situated at an elevation of 2,577 meters above sea level. It is variously nicknamed "City of Flowers and Fruits", "Land of the Three Juan's", and "Garden of Ecuador." Ambato's inhabitants are called Ambateños or Guaytambos (after a type of native peach that the valley is famous for producing). The current mayor of Ambato is Diana Caiza.
The city has been fully or partially destroyed by earthquakes several times in its history, most recently on 5 August 1949, when the city and its cathedral were almost completely devastated. The city was rebuilt in the following two years. In honour of the tenacity of their residents, Ambato celebrates "The Festival of Fruits and Flowers" during Carnival in February. Today, the Festival of Fruits and Flowers is one of the most important festivities in Ecuador.
The city is referred to as "Land of the Three Juan's" as it was the birthplace of three notable Ecuadorians: Juan Montalvo, a noted essay writer of the 19th century, Juan León Mera, the author of the country's national anthem, and Juan Benigno Vela, a key figure in the Ecuadorian independence movement. The city is well known for its production of fruit, tanneries, food products and textiles.[3] It also serves as a major transportation hub, especially for travelers moving south on the Pan-American Highway.
History
The city of Ambato was founded in its present location on December 6, 1698 as the Seat of Ambato, on the request of Ambateños to the
After liberating Ambato, the Junta de Guayaquil then turned their attention to
A year later, the reformed patriots, under Antonio José de Sucre, left their position in Babahoyo to retake the highlands. In September 1821, the forces left the city, marching to reconquer Guaranda. On 12 September 1821, Sucre met the same fate as Urdeneta in the Second Battle of Huachi. Aymerich's forces defeated Sucre in the same plains that now form the neighborhood of Huachi, just southeast of downtown Ambato. Sucre returned to Guayaquil once more.
In 1822, the tide began to turn for Ambato and the rest of the towns in the central mountains. After two attempts to take the highlands, Sucre and the revolutionaries had built a network of spies and a dedicated spirit of liberation. They had also had some luck; in 1821, the Spanish monarch,
During the early years of the
On 5 August 1949, the city was struck by a
Geography
The Ambato River cuts through the north end of the city. It is not a very wide or deep river, but can cause significant flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Throughout the years, the river has cut a deep basin into the land, creating the need for better bridges. In October 2008, the City of Ambato finished the long-awaited Juan Leon Mera bridge, connecting downtown Ambato to the neighborhoods of Ficoa and Atocha. The span of the Ambato River cost the city $5.5 million.[9]
Climate
Ambato features an Oceanic climate (Cfb) under Köppen climate classification.
Climate data for Ambato | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.9 (69.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
20.6 (69.1) |
20.5 (68.9) |
20.1 (68.2) |
19.1 (66.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
19.1 (66.4) |
20.1 (68.2) |
21.4 (70.5) |
22.2 (72.0) |
21.4 (70.5) |
20.4 (68.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.3 (48.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
9.5 (49.1) |
9.6 (49.3) |
9.4 (48.9) |
8.4 (47.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
7.7 (45.9) |
8.1 (46.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
8.6 (47.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
8.8 (47.8) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 35 (1.4) |
48 (1.9) |
58 (2.3) |
63 (2.5) |
52 (2.0) |
39 (1.5) |
26 (1.0) |
26 (1.0) |
32 (1.3) |
50 (2.0) |
38 (1.5) |
37 (1.5) |
504 (19.9) |
Source: [10] |
Economy
Given its central location, Ambato is an important industrial hub for Ecuador. Vehicle bodywork, especially for large transport vehicles is one of the largest employers in the city. In 2010, it was announced that Venezuela will overhaul the metal frames of almost 65% of their transportations and much of that work is to be done in Ambato.[11] Leather tanning also makes up a significant portion of Ambato's economic output. Many of the leather goods are sold in nearby Quisapincha or exported. Other areas of economic development include textiles, glass fabrication, foodstuffs, and shoes.
As a transportation hub, Ambato also depends on small tourist sector. Though not as charming or cosmopolitan as larger cities like
The Festival of Fruits and Flowers
The Festival of Fruits and Flowers is held every year in Ambato to commemorate the anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed the city on August 5, 1949, where 6000 people died. The festival was created on 29 June 1950.
Points of interest
Parque Juan Montalvo
In the center of the city is the emblematic Montalvo Park. Named after the Ambato-born writer, Juan Montalvo, the park was built in 1905 and has served as a social gathering spot for the people of Ambato since. The park was designed by local architect Pedro Durini.[13] It lies at the meeting point of four important streets in Ambato: Montalvo, Sucre, Bolivar, and Castillo. It also sits in the shadow of the modern cathedral which has served as a symbol of the new Ambato. The statue of Juan Montalvo at the center of the park was built in Italy by Pietro Capurro. It was inaugurated in 1911. The mausoleum where Juan Montalvo is buried is just down the street. The park is currently undergoing a $450,000 renovation to restore the gates and walkways that surround the park.[14]
Quinta Juan León Mera
Home to one of Ambato's most famous residents, the Quinta Juan León Mera was the villa-style house of writer Juan León Mera. Located on the north bank of the Ambato River in the neighborhood of Atocha, the house was built in 1874. It is now open to the public. Famous for its gardens, which are supposed to contain over 257 species of flowers, the house also posts well-maintained colonial furniture and paintings. The properties surrounding the Quinta hold now a new Botanic Garden with native and foreign species. Gardens were created inspired on the continents.
La Catedral
The very modern, white cathedral is downtown Ambato is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the city. The cathedral is built on the site of the original chapel that was constructed in 1689. This was destroyed in an earthquake later and a much larger church was built only to be destroyed again in the 1797 Riobamba earthquake. A new church was built of the same design but again, an earthquake claimed the structure in the 1949 Ambato earthquake. The new cathedral was inaugurated in 1954 and sits across the street from Parque Juan Montalvo.
Central Library
Located right next to the Casa de Portal is the city's newest and largest library. The three-story library is part of the city's plan to rejuvenate the downtown area around Parque Montalvo.[15] The library contains over 70,000 titles and has many computer stations for users.[16] The official name is the "Library of the City and Province", as it serves both the city of Ambato and the larger province of Tungurahua.
Parque Cevallos
Within walking distance of Parque Montavlo, Parque Pedro Fermín Cevallos is a leafy space located on one of downtown Ambato's main thoroughfares, Calle Cevallos. Two of Ambato's most well-known schools are located on the edges of the park: a high school, Colegio Bolivar, and an elementary school, Escuela de la Providencia. In the last few years, concerns about security in the park have led city leaders to re-think the space. In July 2010, plans were made to replace many of the trees and lawns with an open plaza.[17] The plans also called for the building of an underground parking lot beneath the square to alleviate some of Ambato's downtown parking woes. In August 2010, Mayor Barona announced that those plans had not been met with sufficient enough public support and appeared to be dead.[18]
Parque de la Familia
Parque Provincial de la Familia, or "Provincial Park of the Family", is a large gathering spot located about 7 miles above Ambato. Though the park itself is not within city limits, Ambateños pack the park on weekends. Maintained by the provincial government of Tungurahua, the park is actually just outside the community of Quisapincha. In addition to walking paths, there are open fields, basketball and volley courts, as well as a large garden features an impressive amount of native species.[19] On clear days, the park also affords the visitor excellent views of the city of Ambato and the constantly smoking Tungurahua volcano.
Neighborhoods
Ficoa
- Colegio Instituto Tecnológico Superior Bolivar
- Instituto Superior Tecnologico Docente Guayaquil
- Centro Educativo Diosesano San Pio X
- Colegio de La Inmaculada
- Colegio Técnico Rumiñahui
- Colegio Menor Indoamerica
- Colegio Santo Domingo de Guzmán
- Unidad Educativa Mayor Ambato
- Colegio Técnico Atahualpa
- Colegio Universitario Juan Montalvo
- Unidad Educativa Bilingüe Atenas
- Centro Educativo Bilingue Internacional CEBI
- Instituto Técnico Superior Hispano America
- Colegio Técnico Superior Tirso de Molina
- Liceo Policial Galo Miño
- Colegio Natalia Vaca
- Institulo Agropecuario Luis A. Martinez
- Unidad educativa Bolivar
- Unidad Educativa Celite
Sports
Ambateños enjoy a variety of sports, but none so much as
There are many other sports popular among Ambateños including
Basketball is also gaining popularity in Ambato. There is a very fierce rivalry in basketball between two of Ambato's largest high schools, Colegio Nacional Bolívar and Colegio Técnico Guayaquil. These games are usually hosted in the Coliseo Cerrado de Deportes, the large coliseum across the street from Estadio Bellavista. The Coliseo Cerrado is also the venue for the beauty pageant portion of the Festival of Fruits and Flowers.
Notable people
- Anita Velastegui (born 1942), Ecuadorian Army officer
- Juan Benigno Vela (born 1843), Politician, Writer, Journalist.
- Juan León Mera (born 1832), Novelist, Writer, Painter, Politician.
- Juan Montalvo (born 1832), Writer
See also
References
- ^ Citypopulation.de Population and area of Amboto
- ^ Columbia Gazetteer of the WorldNew York: Columbia University Press, 1998
- ^ Merriam Webster's Geographical Dictionary Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2001. Third Edition.
- .
- ^ Cevallos Garcia, Gabriel, Historia del Ecuador Cuenca, Ecuador: Editorial "Don Bosco" 1967, p241-2.
- ^ Cevallos Garcia, Gabriel, Historia del Ecuador Cuenca, Ecuador: Editorial "Don Bosco" 1967, p245.
- ^ Cevallos Garcia, Gabriel, Historia del Ecuador Cuenca, Ecuador: Editorial "Don Bosco" 1967, p250
- ^ Ilustre Municipalidad de Ambato ""Ilustre Municipalidad de Ambato". Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-04-28."
- ^ "Puente Juan León Mera habilitado al tránsito vehicular esta semana" El Universo 18 October 2008.
- ^ Climate Data
- ^ http://www.elcomercio.com/2010-09-22/Noticias/Pais/Noticias-Secundarias/EC100922P12BUSES3RA.as[permanent dead link]pxVenezuela renovará una parte de sus autobuses en el Ecuador. 22 September 2010.
- ^ Province of Tungurahua Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism 2008
- ^ http://www.ambato.gov.ec/sitio2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=93Ilustre Archived 2009-07-15 at the Wayback Machine Municipalidad de Ambato 14 julio 2009
- ^ "Los trabajos de regeneración avanzan en el parque Montalvo" El Comercio 2 July 2009.
- ^ "La recuperación del Parque Montalvo se ejecuta en las calles" [1] El Heraldo 17 March 2008
- ^ "Los libros estrenan nueva casa en la ciudad de los Tres Juanes" [2] El Comercio 21 May 2008
- ^ "Proyecto Plaza Civica, Cultural, y Parqueadero 'Pedro Fermín Cevallos'"[3][permanent dead link] Ilustre Municipio de Ambato 25 July 2010
- ^ ""El parque Cevallos no será una plaza cívica"".
- ^ http://www.tungurahua.gov.ec/ParquePro.php Archived 2009-07-05 at the Wayback Machine Honorable Consejo Provincial de Tungurahua 21 July 2009
- ^ "Municipio adquiere Terminal Terrestre para remodelación" [4] Archived 2010-03-24 at the Wayback Machine Ilustre Municipidad de Ambato
- ^ http://www.uta.edu.ec/v2.0/Universidad Técnica de Ambato. 15 July 2009
- ^ http://www.pucesa.edu.ec/Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador - Sede Ambato. 15 July 2009
- ^ ":: PUCESA :: Escuela de Lenguas y Linguistica". www.pucesa.edu.ec. Archived from the original on 18 May 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2022.