Chimborazo Province - Ecuador

It is the heart of Ecuador, it is a town rich in traditions, folklore, music, dance, belief and medicine. It presents a privileged landscape, as it is guarded by three majestic snow-covered mountains, from which the land point closest to the sun stands out: the summit of Chimborazo. One of the attractions for travelers is the visit to the first church of Ecuador, in Balbanera, located in the Pampas of Colta. But the biggest attraction in southern Chimborazo is the 345 lagoons of the Sangay National Park. The best known is Ozogoche.

The province of Chimborazo, is a province of the Republic of Ecuador, located in the central area of ​​the Inter-Andean corridor. It is known as the "province of the high peaks", because there are several of the highest peaks in the country, such as El Carihuayrazo, El Altar, El Igualata, Tungurahua, Sangay, among others, which in some cases shared with other provinces.

In the western mountain range is the Chimborazo volcano, which gives its name to the province and with a height of 6,310 masl, is the largest elevation in the country. The province has an area close to 6,500 km² and has a total population of 509,352 inhabitants, being the ninth most populous province in Ecuador. The capital of the province is the city of Riobamba, one of the most important in the country, known as «La Sultana de los Andes», which is located in the center-north of the same, at an altitude of 2,750 meters above sea level.

Flora in the Province of Chimborazo

It is grown on a large scale: barley, beans, beans, corn, chochos, quinoa; tubers such as potatoes, goose and melloco; legumes such as cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli; variety of fruit trees such as peach, pear, apricot, apple, quince, tomato, capulí, taxo, walnut and figs. Nopales abound that produce prickly pears and cacti that are very appetizing on the coast.

Fauna in the Province of Chimborazo

In the Quaternary era there were large mammals, whose remains have been found several times. There are currently tigrillos, black bears, various kinds of monkeys, mountain cat, parrots, parrots, parakeets, herons, deer, guinea pigs, rabbits and the most important, for their patriotic meaning and for being in danger of extinction, the Andean condor , whose flight takes a height of 600 to 700 meters over the highest mountains.

Economic development in the Province of Chimborazo

The province is an area of ​​great artisan culture and a sector of much tourism development. Handicrafts are highly developed, especially in the Guano Canton area, where wool, leather and textile manufactures are the main economic activities and therefore the wealth of this region. In Chimborazo, barley, corn, beans, wheat, cocoa, bananas, potatoes and some fruits are grown. In livestock farming, sheep, beef cattle, milk, and the industrialization of dairy products are developed. Regarding mining, Chimborazo has deposits of silver, copper, gold, marble, iron, limestone and sulfur. In the province there is also the presence of industries such as cement, ceramics, roofs, pipes, wood, among others.

Gastronomy in the Province of Chimborazo

Guano Canton: The gastronomy of the Guano canton is very varied and one of the reasons why people also visit it, and it is for tasting the culinary art delights that are prepared here.

Among the most popular dishes are the fry, the chorizo, the chicha huevona, the cholas, purple laundry with bread buses, very goodies, shampoos with muffins, guinea pig and roasted rabbit, gut mishqui (Chinchulines, among others.

 Most of the retail stores are located in the immediate vicinity of the Central Park, although they also exist in different neighborhoods and sectors of the canton.

Canton Chambo: A culinary custom rooted in the Andean highlands; the fry is the typical dish that is tasted in all the restaurants of the canton, other dishes are the potatoes with guinea pig, sesina (steak of dried meat in the sun), the morocho, machica, the sweet girl of jora, toasted, the yanito ( it is tasted in the communities and is a mixture of cooked grains such as: beans, mellocos, mote, geese, beans).

Riobamba Canton: Baked pork with mote and lettuce in vinegar juice, baked potatoes with pork, avocado slices, and Creole chili pepper. Or if you prefer accompany with toasted, ripe, rice.

Chochos Ceviche: Make a salad with onion, tomato salt, lemon, oil, coriander, leather. Release the chochos in the salad shortly before serving. It can accompany with a portion of toast.
Tortillas with Caucara: potatoes are mashed as if only puree more consistent, apart the meat is parboiled with dressings and a little water, served with avocado and salad.

Tortillas with Caucara: potatoes are mashed as if only puree more consistent, apart the meat is parboiled with dressings and a little water, served with avocado and salad.

Guava Dulce: It is like a jelly but curd, which mixes the juice of the guava with sugar or granulated panela in the 50-50 weight ratio, which is then concentrated by evaporation under vacuum.

Milk delicacy: In a pot we boil the milk with sugar and vanilla essence until it thickens, chill and beat for 2 hours, the dough is placed in a box covered with paper dispatch, let dry and cut into bars.

Potatoes with guinea pig: After being roasted to taste it, it is accompanied with sewn potatoes, peanut sauce and lettuce salad.

Tourist Attractions in the Province of Chimborazo

Chimborazo Volcano in the Province of Chimborazo

In the Western Cordillera, the majestic and imposing snowy Chimborazo with its 6,310 meters above sea level rises, with its perpetual snow-capped peak it is the main attraction of the province of Chimborazo, national and foreign tourists marvel at the Andean landscapes that the contact with the camelids in the area offer the best portraits.

Ozogoche Lagoons in the Province of Chimborazo

The Ozogoche lake complex composed of 45 lagoons, is located in the Sangay National Park, is known for one of the most amazing phenomena in the natural world, since every year during the month of September and until mid-October , thousands of birds (cuvivíes) from the United States commit suicide by immersing themselves in the cold waters of the lagoons.
To pay tribute to the suicide birds, the farmers of the sector offer a festival of traditional music, dance, theater and exhibition of handicrafts. For nature lovers, this wonderful lake complex surrounded by the brightness of the mountains offers tranquility and peace.

Guano Canton in the Province of Chimborazo

For the hard work of its people, Guano is known as the "Artisan Capital of the Country" offers the best carpets of international fame. It is the seat of millenary cultures, several archaeologists and researchers have found traces of thousands of years ago that perish show that Tuncahuán cultures settled here.

Nose of the Devil in the Province of Chimborazo

Located at 2,346 meters above sea level, it is part of the charming and recovered train route, the majestic railway line that leads to this sector reveals the important engineering work unique in the world for its extraordinary zig-zag design which reaches a height of 1,900 masl.

Atillo Lagoon in the Province of Chimborazo

At 90 km from the city of Riobamba, in the Cebadas parish of the Guamote canton, the Atillo lagoon is located, whose characteristic is an island north of the water mirror full of flora and fauna of the area, Ideal for lovers of sport fishing and contact with nature.

Balbanera Church  in the Province of Chimborazo

The oldest Catholic temple in Ecuador, inaugurated on August 15, 1,534. In its colonial construction style the stone facade is highlighted, with a beautiful view of the snowy Chimborazo, in this historic temple the Virgin Mary Natividad de Balbanera is venerated.

Colta Lagoon in the Province of Chimborazo

Known in Kichwa as "Kulta Kucha" which means "Laguna de Pato", it is a beautiful lagoon with easy access, crossed by the Pan-American Highway and the recovered railway line. The elongated water mirror surrounded by lush vegetation where the tortora predominates and next to the splendor of the snowy Chimborazo offers tourists a wonderful landscape.

Cathedral Church in the Province of Chimborazo

One of the most important historical icons of the city of Riobamba is the Cathedral, whose facade was rescued from the rubble of the old Riobamba destroyed in the 1797 earthquake. It is characterized by its construction in white calcareous stone, it contains reliefs where aboriginal and Spanish expressions are highlighted.

Nevado El Altar in the Province of Chimborazo

It is an already extinct volcano, the most beautiful of the snow-capped mountains due to its extraordinary shape finished in peaks, is located in the Eastern Andes mountain range within the Sangay National Park.
The highest peak of the Altar is the "Bishop" whose height ranges from 5,310 meters above sea level, the best known peaks are: "The Tabernacle", The Canon, "The Great Nun", "The Little Nun", "The Friars" and the "Acolyte."
The glaciers of the altars form magical lagoons, among the most important we have: the Yellow, Blue, Green, Painted among others.

Guayllabamba or Aguallanchi hot springs in the Province of Chimborazo

To 7 km. from the canton of Chambo province of Chimborazo at an altitude of 3,400 meters above sea level, the slope of thermal waters of volcanic origin is located, known for its healing power since many claim to have felt relief in muscle and bone ailments.
The natural beauty of the landscape contemplates an abundant and varied vegetation typical of the area and is complemented by the Timbul River that crosses the side of the slope.

Punín Paleontological Cemetery in the Province of Chimborazo

To 12km. south of the city of Riobamba on the road to Macas in the Punín parish is the cemetery, a site recognized for its archaeological remains, here fossilized remains of Pleistocene animals were found, similarly, in the same sector by the Quebrada de Chalán human remains were found dating from approximately 8 thousand years a. C.

Museo de la Concepción in the Province of Chimborazo

The majority of objects that are part of the Museo de la Concepción are religious figures from the colonial era, this heritage shows a wide range of sculptures, canvases, silver objects and goldsmiths from the 17th and 18th centuries , among which are the custodians, copones and various ornamental elements from the old towns of Cajabamba and Cicalpa.

Source:

1. https://www.ecured.cu/Provincia_de_Chimborazo_(Ecuador)
2. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provincia_de_Chimborazo
3. http://www.gobernacionchimborazo.gob.ec/lugares-turisticos-de-la-provincia/