Ecuador is divided into 24 provinces. The provinces of Ecuador and their capitals are:
Loja Province is one of 24 provinces in Ecuador and shares its southern border on the west with El Oro Province, on the north with El Azuay, and on the east with Zamora-Chinchipe. Founded on its present site in 1548 by Captain Alonso de Mercadillo (Spanish), the site had been previously moved and rebuilt from La Toma due to earthquakes. It also is named as "Cuxibamba Valley", from the Quichua language, which means the "Smiley Valley".
Loja, formerly Loxa and fully City of the Immaculate Conception of Loja, is the capital of Ecuador's Loja Province. It is located in the Cuxibamba valley in the south of the country, sharing borders with the provinces of Zamora-Chinchipe and other cantons of the province of Loja. Loja holds a rich tradition in the arts, and for this reason is known as the Music and Cultural Capital of Ecuador. The city is home to two major universities.
Matilde Hidalgo de Procel was an Ecuadorian physician, poet, and activist. Matilde Hidalgo was the first woman to exercise the right to vote in Ecuador, and also the first to receive a Doctorate in Medicine. Hidalgo fought for the recognition of women's rights and is now known as one of the most important women in Ecuadorian history. At her young age, She mastered reading and writing skills as well as the piano. In 1973 she was paralyzed by a stroke, and she died in Guayaquil on February 20, 1974.
Puerto Quito is a canton in Pichincha Province, Ecuador. It has only one parish, the urban parish of Puerto Quito, which is also the seat of the canton.
Paltas is located to the south of Loja city and is one of the oldest cantons of province of the same name. It was named after the Paltas, a community who used to live over the new city now called Catacocha in Ecuador.
Loja Canton is located in the southeast of the Province of Loja bordering the Podocarpus National Park and the Province of Zamora-Chinchipe in the east and south, and the cantons of Saraguro in the north, Catamayo, Gonzanama, and Quilanga in the west. The principal city is Loja which is also the provincial capital. It is also home to Vilcabamba, the "Valley of Longevity."
Espíndola is a canton in the Province of Loja Ecuador. It is located in the south-east, bordered by the cantons of Quilanga and Calvas, the province of Zamora-Chinchipe and the country of Peru. It covers an area of 632 km2 at an altitude of 1720 m, with a population of 19,213. The average temperature is 19.9 °C.
Gonzanamá is a canton in the Province of Loja, Ecuador. It is located in the south-east of the province, bordered by the cantons of Catamayo, Loja, Quilanga, Calvas, and Paltas. It is the "agricultural, farming, and craftsmanship capital of Loja." Gonzanamá covers 1272 km2 at an altitude of 2045 m, with a population of 17,276. The principal town is Gonzanamá.
Catacocha is a town in the Loja Province of Ecuador. It is the seat of the Paltas Canton.
Salcedo is a canton in the Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador. in 2014 it had a population of 70,000. The capital of the canton is San Miguel de Salcedo.
The Miss Ecuador 2005 was on March 12, 2005. There were 16 candidates for the national title. The winner was Ximena Zamora from Pichincha who was crowned by Susana Rivadeneira from Pichincha as Miss Ecuador 2005. She represented Ecuador at Miss Universe 2005.
Chaguarpamba is a location in the Loja Province, Ecuador. It is the seat of the Chaguarpamba Canton.
Catamayo is a city in the Loja Province, Ecuador. It is the seat of the Catamayo Canton, and is located 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of the province capital, Loja.
Celica is a location in the Loja Province, Ecuador. It is the seat of the Celica Canton.
Saraguro is a canton of Ecuador, located in Loja Province. Its capital is the town of Saraguro. The area of the canton is 1,075 square kilometres (415 sq mi). The capital of the canton is the parish and town of Saraguro.
Sozoranga Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Loja Province. Its capital is the town of Sozoranga. Its population at the 2001 census was 7,994.
Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito's 2013 season was the club's 83rd year of existence, the 60th year in professional football, and the 52nd in the top level of professional football in Ecuador.
Ecuador is a country with vast natural and cultural wealth. The diversity of its four regions has resulted in hundreds of thousands of species of flora and fauna. It has about 1640 species of birds. The species of butterflies line the 4,500, the 345 reptiles, 358 amphibians and 258 mammals, among others. Ecuador is considered one of the 17 countries where the greatest biodiversity of the planet is concentrated. Most of its flora and fauna live in 26 areas protected by the State. It also offers historical attractions such as Quito, food and a variety of cultures and traditions.
