Gonzanamá - Loja - Ecuador

Se cree que en épocas muy remotas de vida en estas tierras el tribu de los KONZAS con su cacique ANAMA, siendo posible que se haya unido al tribu a la cacique y el origen a la palabra Gonzanamá

El maestro sabio Moisés Castañeda en el tema de Gonzanamá dice: Gonzanamá está formado por cuatro elementos de lenguas aborígenes;

Kun - Dios de las aguas,

tza - fuerte, duro, rígido,

gna - Inflexión del verbo ser.

rn a - primero, origen, principio.

Analizando estas raíces aborígenes Gonzanamá significaría: Desde el principio, por siempre, existirían estas tierras hombre fuerte, trabajador, protegido por el Dios de las aguas que originan la fertilidad del suelo en una excelente producción para la vida del hombre.

Otros estudios nos indican que la palabra Gonzanamá proviene de las lenguas del grupo idiomático de las Cayapas en donde se oye el sonido de K se confunde con el de G y la U se cambia por el sonido A, desaparece la manera de sínc de acuerdo con esta etimología , Gonzanamá significaría:

Kontze - cerro

N a - chaparro, madera, árbol;

Ma -sol

"Cerro cubierto por vegetación y bañado por el sol".

Uniendo estas dos concepciones semánticas, se deduce que Gonzanamá significa: CERRO CUBIERTO DE VEGETALES Y BAÑADO POR EL SOL DONDE VIVIO SIEMPRE UN HOMBRE FUERTE, DURO, PROTEGIDO POR EL DIOS DE LAS AGUAS, POR EL DIOS OMNIPOTENTE SEÑOR DEL BUEN SUCADO AGUA SIN SOL, SIN DIOS NO HAY VIDA, Y VIDA CRISTIANA COMO DEL PUEBLO GONZANAMEÑO.

Fundación de Gonzanamá.

No podemos indicar la ciencia exacta de la fecha exacta de esta fundación, por carecer de datos que demuestren este acontecimiento; Sin embargo, podemos decir que la fundación de Gonzanamá es muy antigua 1539 Los conquistadores españoles hablanban de Santo Domingo de Gonzanamá. Se tiene conocimiento de que la primera fundación fue en las faldas del Colambo.

Development of Gonzanamá Canton

GONZANAMÁ AGRÍCOLA: Growing the fields, the greenery of its mountains, the farmers who, from the early hours of the morning, go out to plant and care for their fields, the peasant and working women, have made this beautiful homeland, a sector purely agricultural, for its different species of vegetables, fruit and fruit products, which are sold inside and outside the canton.

GONZANAMÁ GANADERA: Livestock has traditionally become one of the main activities of Gonzanameñas men and women, the products derived from milk, have a high level of recognition at the provincial and national levels. The cheese, quesillo, the traditional diamantina, the aguado de leche, the yogurt, are products that are commercialized and consumed in all parts of the country.

GONZANAMÁ ARTESANAL: One of the main legacies that exist in the canton, is the artisanal activity, mainly the weaving by hand in colorful looms that only the creative and innovative hands of Gonzanameñas men and women can do. Hammocks, ponchos, saddlebags, slang, handbags, implements and more variety of handicrafts, have been characterizing Gonzanamá and each of its parishes, in the different events and exhibitions held in different sectors of the country and the world.

Tourist Attractions of Cantón Gonzanamá

Cerro Colambo

The distance between Gonzanamá and Cerro Colambo is 7 km. To get to the top, we walk a path of approximately 1h30 minutes, most of the trail is easily accessible. Considered in ancient times as an active volcano, at present with its "bellows" it still gives signs of its imposing past. Colambo means "Monte that rushes into flames or burns". Many fantasy legends are known to assure the existence of riches stored inside, for which reason it has been called "enchanted hill". It rises to 3,097 m.s.n.m. In its skirts rests a lagoon of crystalline waters in which the tourists can enjoy the sport fishing, it is the ideal place to camp due to its wide green pampas.

Cascada de La Banda

With its natural falls of crystalline water over large rocks, in the lower part small lagoons are formed that allow the recreation of both people and strangers. Likewise, on one side, small rock pans are formed, where they pour sulfurous waters born from the entrails of Colossus Colossus, they serve for the cure of diverse evils, especially of the skin. The waterfall is one kilometer from the city of Gonzanamá.

Church of Gonzanamá

It is located in the Cantonal canton of Gonzanamá. Built between 1696 - 1700 by the Dominican Friar Joseph Ruiz, with the name of Santo Domingo de Gonzanamá. After several years, for its interior design and its great patrimonial treasures, it was elevated to the category of the Shrine of the Lord of Good Success and Our Lady of Carmen, celebrating its religious celebrations on July 16 and August 20. The original facade of the parochial temple, was constructed of lime and brick later it was demolished and at present it presents / displays a facade of concrete formed by two parallel towers and maintains an old clock of four spheres.

Petroglyph El Guayural

In the Nambacola parish, Algarro- rra neighborhood, there is a recorded rock located on the hill called El Tablón. The rock, whose size is 7 m x 6.5 m, gives the appearance of a stone plate that is at the same level of the ground, nailed on the hill and has an inclination of 30 °. There is a total of 31 signs carved carefully in high relief and shows a dynamic and sensual character in the line, a sign of the predominance of the use of curved lines.

La Catalina Waterfall

They are located in the Puerto Bolívar neighborhood in the Catalina sector, 1 hour from Gonzanamá by vehicle and by a third order road. The distance between Gonzanamá and the Puerto Bolívar neighborhood exists 20 km. This waterfall is at 1780 meters above sea level, has a height of 4 meters, its base has 1 diameter, enough space to rest, surrounded by a lot of vegetation, its water is very clear and cold, its water fall is of an expanded form approximately in about 6 meters wide.

The Ingahurco

It is located in the parish Nambacola, its main attraction is the crater. It is estimated that this hill was an active volcano. In the vicinity of the crater are located caves formed by crossed stones, inside of which have been human skulls of gentiles, both children and adults. It is said that in the Incario in this place settled a tribe that subsisted with the harvesting of fruits.

The Big Stone

Piedra Grande, the view leaves the visitor impressed by the presence of a great elevation of solid rock. From its heights you can see the entire valley of crops of Gerinoma. It is a rock that has an approximate height of 80 meters, on whose summit rests a large illuminated cross.

Condor Huasi or Casa del Cóndor

Located 15 kilometers from Gonzanamá, on the road that leads to Catamayo, is located in the El Portete neighborhood of Nambacola parish a place full of magic and mysticism; nestled in the mountains that look at the Catamayo Valley. Strategic and sacred site for our "gentiles", name with which the mestizos knew the indigenous tribes that lived around. In its path it is possible to go enjoying unimaginable landscapes.

The Giant of Changaimina (Gentiles)

More than 30 years ago a skeleton of a giant of almost seven meters was found in the place that was guarded by the well-known priest Carlos Miguel Vaca. The parish where the Changaimina remains were found, which in the indigenous language means "cemetery of the gods".

Unfortunately, almost all the skeleton left for the Smithsonian Museum, in the United States, but for our pleasure there are the territories where the giants lived, the same ones that are magical spaces, suitable for camping and transported to a rich past.