Cotopaxi Province

Cotopaxi (pronounced [ko.toˈpak.si]) is one of the twenty-four provinces that make up the Republic of Ecuador, located in the center of the country, in the inter-Andean region or Sierra, mainly on the Patate basin in the east and on the external flanks of the western mountain range in the west. Its administrative capital is the city of Latacunga, which is also its largest and most populated city. It occupies a territory of about 6108.23 km², being the sixteenth province of the country by area. It limits to the north with Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, to the south with Tungurahua and Bolívar, to the west with Los Ríos and to the east with Napo.

In the Cotopaxense territory, there are 470,210 people, according to the last census (2022), making it the twelfth most populated province in the country. The province of Cotopaxi is made up of seven cantons, from which their respective urban and rural parishes are derived. According to the latest territorial order, the province of Cotopaxi will belong to a region also included by the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua and Pastaza, although it is not officially formed, called the Central Region.

It is one of the most important administrative, economic, financial and commercial centers in central Ecuador. The development of industry in the province, in general, was based on the manual skills of its inhabitants. The main activities of the province are commerce, livestock, industry and agriculture.

It had different migratory periods coming from the mountains such as the panzaleos. Later, it was conquered by the Incas under the command of Huayna Cápac. Spanish colonization occurred with the Spanish founding of the Seat of San Vicente Mártir de Latacunga by the first Spanish encomendero in 1534. During that period, the maximum entity and precursor of the province would be the township of Latacunga. After the independence war and the annexation of Ecuador to Greater Colombia, the province of Pichincha was created on June 25, 1824, within its limits the current Cotopaxense territory was located. On April 1, 1851, the country's ninth province was created: the province of Cotopaxi.

Toponymy

The province takes its name from the largest and most important volcano in its territory, the Cotopaxi volcano. Cotopaxi, Cutugphaxsi or Kutupaxi; They come from kutu, which means neck in the Cha'palaachi language, kutuq, which means swollen throat in Quechua, and phashi which means moon in Aymara. Therefore, Cotopaxi means Moon Neck, where the letter x represents the phoneme /ʃ/.

History

The Spanish foundation of Latacunga was carried out by the first Spanish encomendero in 1534 with the name of "Asiento de San Vicente Mártir de Latacunga". In 1539 Gonzalo Pizarro ordered an increase in the number of inhabitants, and it was in 1584 that the definitive and formal foundation was carried out by Cap. Antonio de Clavijo with the name of 'San Vicente Mártir de Latacunga and his corregidors'. Then on November 11, 1811 it was elevated to the category of Villa. After the foundation, the distribution of lands and Indians began from Quito, through encomiendas, mitas and forced labor in the workshops. The marquisates were established: Maenza, Miraflores and Villa Orellana.

The Jesuits founded the first school in 1643. Subsequent education was carried out by Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians. Due to its proximity to Quito, the nobles reinforced the training of their children there. In 1745, Fernando Sánchez de Orellana, Marquis of Solanda, of Latacunga, assumed the presidency of the Royal Court of Quito.

In December 1808, the marquises met in Tilipulo and Salache to prepare the cry for independence on August 10, 1809. Luis Fernando Vivero was chosen on October 9, 1820 to be secretary of the Government Board of Guayaquil.. On November 11, 1811, the Superior Board of Quito elevated Latacunga to the category of Villa. After having supported the Independence of Guayaquil; the patriots of Latacunga organized themselves during the first days of November; This is how Fernando Sáenz de Viteri and Felipe Barba attacked the royalist barracks; while Lizardo Ruiz and Calixto González del Pino with young Latacungueños, take the gunpowder factory and then arrive at the Santo Domingo convent, where Commander Miguel Morales was with a part of the Los Andes Battalion.

The royalists were on the roof, from there they could shoot the patriots, but Juan José Linares killed the commander, achieving the surrender of the Spanish. Among some of the patriots of that day are: Antonio Tapia, Francisco Salazar, José María Alvear, Josefa Calixto, María Rosa Vela de Páez. Miguel Baca, Francisco Flor, Vicente Viteri Lomas, Luis Pérez de Anda and Mariano Jácome, 16 years old, who proclaimed the Independence of Latacunga, which was consolidated with the battle of Pichincha. On November 29, 1822, the Liberator Simón Bolívar arrived in Latacunga.

With opposition from the people of Quito, on March 6, 1851, the legislators approved the creation of the Province of León, in tribute to Vicente León with the cantons of Latacunga and Ambato. Objected by President Diego Noboa, the decree returned to Congress, which confirmed it on March 18, published on May 26, 1851. Doctor Miguel Carrión was the First Governor. Thus named, it was strengthened with the constitution in 1852 of the Pujilí canton with its Zapotal and Quevedo parishes.

Government and politics

Politics

The political structure of Cotopaxi is made up of the Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government commonly known as "Prefecture", which is a legal entity under public law that enjoys political, administrative and financial autonomy, and exercises executive, legislative and control within the territorial district of the province. The headquarters of this sectional government is in the city of Latacunga, as the provincial capital.

The provincial government is made up of a prefect, a vice-prefect and the provincial council. The prefect is the highest authority and legal representative of the executive function within the province and is elected in tandem with the vice-prefect by popular vote at the polls. The provincial council is the legislative and oversight body of the provincial government, and is made up of by the prefect - who presides with a casting vote -, the vice-prefect, the mayors of the seven cantons and seven representatives of the governments of the rural parishes. Currently, the position of prefect is held by Lourdes Tibán, elected for the period 2023 - 2027.

Parallel to the Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government of Cotopaxi, the executive power of the President of the Republic is represented in the province by the governor. The position of governor is occupied by an individual appointed by the President of the Republic, and may remain in office indefinitely as long as the president of the country so decides. Currently the governor of the province is Tania Vásquez.

Administrative division

Cotopaxi is divided into seven cantons, which in turn are made up of urban and rural parishes. Each of the cantons are administered through a municipality and a cantonal council, which are elected by the population of their respective cantons. The responsibility of these cantons is to maintain roads, manage state government budgets for social and economic assistance programs, and manage infrastructure such as parks and basic sanitation systems.

	Canton	Pob. (2010)	Area (km2)	Cantonal head
	La Maná	42.216	663	La Maná
	Latacunga	170.489	1.377	Latacunga
	Pangua	21.965	721	The Heart
	Pujilí	69.055	1.308	Pujilí
	Balance	58.216	484	Balance
	Saquisil	25.320	208	Saquisil
	Sigchos	21.944	1.313	Sigchos

Hydrography

The hydrographic system is made up of the Cutuchi River that originates in Cotopaxi, and is in turn formed by the Manzanahuayco and Rumiñahui rivers; The system is complemented by Yanayacu, Nagsiche, Chalupas, Illuchi, Patoa, Pumacunchi and Quindigua.

Tourism

Latacunga

The Black Mom, symbolic party of Latacunga, along with her main characters.

Latacunga is the capital of the province of Cotopaxi and cantonal head of the canton of the same name. It is located in the central Sierra of the country, in the foothills of the Andes mountain range in Ecuador, near the Cotopaxi volcano in the Patate basin. It is located 2919 meters above sea level and has an average temperature of 12 degrees Celsius.

The city of Latacunga offers multiple tourist destinations of various kinds (nature, culture, gastronomy, history, etc.), within the city and in its surroundings.

• Cathedral: It began to build in the middle of the centuryXVII with a large ship and cruise with octogonal dome is of Romanesque style. By the end of the centuryXIX the Romanesque archery tower and an Islamic auction were built. At its altar of pumice stone you can see pieces of colonial imagery. It is located in the streets: Quito and General Mldonado.

• Church of El Salto: It has a ship and twin towers, settled from north to south, was made at the end of the centuryXIX and completed in the middle of XX.. It is located between the streets: Juan Abel Echeverría and Antonio Clavijo, next to Plaza de El Salto.

• Church of La Merced: It began as a chapel in 1640, it is built on a plane of Cruz Latina, of a ship with two cruises, enhances an artistic dome. In 1949, by the earthquake of Ambato, the tower fell on the front door, being reconstructed, but lost its original structure. It is among the streets: Juan Abel Echeverría, and Quijano and Ordóñez.

• Church of Saint Augustine: Neoclassical influence shows circular columns with jonic capital with its finished in cornice. The pómez stone serves to report agility to the pilasters that support the arches on the two floors. In 1820, the convent was occupied by Spanish military forces, serving a fraction of the "Los Andes" Battalion. It is between the streets Sisters Páez and Quito.

• Church of San Francisco: Its construction began in 1600 and culminated in 1693, but in 1698 the church was ruined by the earthquake. It is located on Manuel Maldonado and Quijano and Ordóñez street.

• Church of San Sebastian: It is located on Josefa Calixto Street, between Juan Abel Echeverría and Isla San Bartolomé.
• Church of San Felipe
• Church of Santo Domingo

• Molinos de Monserrat: Built in 1756, as a colonial work, it is currently a multi-cultural center, in its facilities is the Archaeological Museum (with pre-include cultural relics) the Folkloric Museum (indumentary, instruments and sets concerning different manifestations of popular culture). And the installation of the Pinacoteca with works of Tabara, Guerrera, Guayasamin, Román

• Municipal Palace: official building, town hall, built between 1910 and 1936 in pumice stone with rhetoric influence and Corinthian elements with mural decorations that reflect patriotic events.

• Casa de los Marqueses de Miraflores: built in the first half of the centuryXVIII, among its several owners stands out the Latacungueño Ignacio Flores, Marqués de Miraflores and President of the Royal Audience of Charcas (now Bolivia) in 1782. In its construction are appreciated vaults carved in pumice stone with beautiful Arabesque and Mudejars. The Depto currently works. From Culture and Public Relations of the Cabildo, small folkloric, civic and historical museums and library “Simon Bolivar”.

• Treasury of Tilipulo: originally built as a community exploitation work in 1540 is currently an architectural facility with religious influences that summarizes various aspects of local history.

Black Mother's Party

This festival takes place at the end of September, on the 23rd and 24th, the day of the autumn equinox, and the Catholic Church commemorates the Virgin of Mercy; It is also celebrated for the city's independence festivities, on November 11. It is a religious syncretism that enjoys a lot of color, joy and public disorder, since the thousands of national and foreign tourists who come to this great festival not only delight their senses with the music, costumes and dance of the troupes that make up this celebration., but of the liquor that is distributed to all who ask for it. Despite this detail, the festival is experienced as the representative of pure national folklore.

Latacunga, a city embedded in the middle of the Ecuadorian Andes, in South America, keeps within it a unique sociocultural and folkloric manifestation, the Comparsa de la Mama Negra, also called the Santísima Tragedia or the Feast of the Captaincy.

Its origin is lost in history, in a mixture of mestizo popular manifestations: pagan and religious, aboriginal, African and Spanish; the same ones that with their characters, rituals, outfits, music and dance give life and endure over time such a unique expression of the feelings of the people, remembered every year since the 17th century. In the 21st century, it is a celebration in which tribute is paid to the Virgin of Mercy, to whom, according to tradition, gratitude and recognition are granted for the protection of one of the eruptive processes of the highest active volcano on the planet, the Cotopaxi.

On October 31, 2005, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage agreed to "Declare the Mama Negra festival or Capitanía festival as property belonging to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the State."

Cotopaxi National Park

The Cotopaxi National Park is a protected area of Ecuador located on the border of the provinces of Pichincha, Cotopaxi and Napo in Ecuador, and which includes the Cotopaxi Volcano in its space.

Its ecosystem is home to several tree species, especially pine trees, which makes the place a unique place in South America since it is more reminiscent of an alpine forest than an Andean forest.

The Park is connected to Quito and Latacunga by the four-lane Pan-American Highway, which allows travel from Quito to the park's northern entrance in approximately one hour and a quarter. And from the south entrance via Lasso Latacunga entry is allowed in approximately forty minutes. An alternative is the train, which also departs from Quito, and takes an hour and a half to reach the 'El Boliche' station. from the park in Latacunga, another alternative would be entering the city of Machachi, heading to the Santa Ana del Pedregal neighborhood, where you can visit some inns.

Its altitude varies from 3400-5897 meters above sea level. Its temperature varies from 0 to 20 degrees Celsius; with an average annual rainfall of 500 to 1500 mm

There are many dense forests left since the rest has been destroyed by fires or to plant grasses. There are extensive moors with moor straw, which is the predominant grass in the region. As you ascend, representative plants appear such as chuquiragua, alchemila, colonies of plants in the form of pillows, mosses, lichens, romelio, quishuar or tree of god, mortiño. which is a hard fruit widely used; There is no vegetation in the perpetual snow.

Fauna: wolves, pumas, bears, deer, rabbits, condors, wild horses and foxes. Geology: natural lagoons, trails, snowy Cotopaxi. Infrastructure: cabins, high mountain center, camping center, traveler center, mountaineer shelters. Archaeology: Ruins of the Puruháes citadel. Astronomy: Center for Integrated Surveys of Natural Resources by Remote Sensing (CLIRSEN)

Quilotoa Volcano

Quilotoa is a water-filled caldera and the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The 3-kilometer-wide caldera was formed by the collapse of this dacite volcano after a catastrophic VEI-6 eruption about 800 years ago, which produced pyroclastic flows and lahars that reached the Pacific Ocean, and spread into the air a deposit of Volcanic ash along the Northern Andes. The caldera has accumulated a 250 m deep crater lake, which has a greenish color, as a result of dissolved minerals. Fumaroles are located at the bottom of the lake and hot springs occur on the eastern flank of the volcano.

Quilotoa is a tourist site of increasing popularity. The "summit" route (the small town of Quilotoa) is generally traveled by hired truck or bus from the town of Zumbahua 17 km to the south. Visitors must pay two dollars each to watch from the edge of the caldera. A number of simple hostels have developed in the immediate area, and offer services such as mules and guides for the five-hour walk around the caldera (whose diameter is about 9 km), a half-hour walk down (and hours of walking back up the 400 vertical meter ascent), and very basic accommodation in its bowl. Camping is allowed at the bottom of the crater, but there is no drinking water (except half-liter bottles sold at the lodge), and only one pit toilet, located at the lodge.

Other tourist places

• Laguna de Yambo
• Saquisilí Fair
• Cerro Callo
• The Ruins of Pachusala
• The Tambo Mulaló
• The typical Salcedo ice creams

Typical Foods

Chugchucaras dish: consists of fried pork, mote (boiled white corn), potatoes, fried plantains, empanadas, popcorn and pork rinds. It is accompanied by ají, a spicy sauce made with chili peppers, tomatoes, cilantro and onion.

Llapingachos: cooked potatoes, mashed around a cheese center usually served with baked or fried pork. It is usually served with avocado, chorizo, fried egg, tomato and lettuce salad on the side.

Allullas: they are prepared with wheat flour, which is cooked with pure pig lard and eggs are very crispy.

Salcedo Ice Cream: they are made from fresh fruit juice, especially coconut, strawberry, blackberry, naranjilla, avocado, mango, soursop, papaya, etc.

Roasted Cuy (Saquisilí): includes a guinea pig (marinated and roasted over charcoal), accompanied by potatoes cooked with lettuce, tomato and bramble (similar to a stew that has long onion, milk, peanuts, among others.)

Demography

Demographic data

• Total population: 458.581
  • Women: 210.580
  • Men: 198.625
• Rural population: 255.965
• Indigenous population (%): 15

Socioeconomic indicators

• Analphabetism (%): 21,59
  • Women (%): 22.95
• Poverty by NBI (rural) (%): 90,47
• Number of persons without NBI: 231.573
• Per capita health expenditure MSP (U$/inhabitant year): 36

Health indicators

• Infant mortality x 1.00 live births: 45,90
• Diarrheal diseases: 6,925
• Doctors x 10 000 hab.: 11,90
• Nurses x 10 000 hab.: 3.40
• Aux. de Nurses x 10 000 hab.: 7,30
• Hospital beds x 1.00 hab.: 1,1

Water and sanitation indicators

• Coated water (rural) (%): 18,78
• Number of dwellings with covered water: 10,736

Economy

Cotopaxi has a large number of indigenous inhabitants who are dedicated to agricultural work. In Cotopaxi, foods such as corn, barley, potatoes, broccoli, wheat are produced, and flowers are grown for export (in temperate zones), while in warmer or subtropical zones cocoa, bananas, coffee and sugar cane are grown, as well as some tropical fruits. Large areas of land in this province are used for pastures suitable for cattle. Milk, meat and dairy products are produced.

Famous Cotopaxenses

• Vicente León, jurisconsulto, philanthropo (1773-1839)
• Alfonso Rumazo González, writer, historian, literary critic (1903-2002)
• Alberto Enríquez Gallo, Supreme, Military and Political Chief (1894-1962)
• Sixto Vizuete, football coach (1961-)
• Guillermo Rodríguez Lara

Available information centers

• Library of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito headquarters.
• Library of the Central Bank of Ecuador, Quito headquarters.
• Biblioteca Benjamín Carrión, Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, Quito headquarters.
• CODENPE Library, Quito headquarters.
• Biblioteca de la Universidad Salesiana Abyayala, sede Quito.
• Library of the Intercultural University of Nationalities and Indigenous Peoples Amawtay Wasi, seat chakra Conocoto, Quito,.