El Oro Province - Ecuador

It is a province of Ecuador that is part of the Coastal Region. It has an area of ​​6,188 km² and a population of 643,316 inhabitants. It is also a land of contrasts that promises beaches in an extensive archipelago and freshwater backwaters. A trip not to forget, it is also warm as its people.

The capital of the province of El Oro is the city of Machala, the fifth city in the country, considered the "banana capital of the world." The Altiplano of El Oro is still waiting to be discovered. There are still the traces of a land that lived from mining and the mysterious petroglyphs. To the east of El Oro appears Zaruma a Cultural Heritage, turned into a great viewpoint of the region. It is one of the most privileged for its tourist attractions and places of interest, the great variety of climates and geographical areas allows the heterogeneity of its land and the diversity of flora and fauna.

Geography El Oro Province

The province of "El Oro" is the southernmost province (located to the south) of the Ecuadorian Coast. It has a subtropical area, beaches of unique beauty, areas of historical importance and a fertile and prodigal land. The southern and southeastern mountainous areas are composed of the Tahuín and Chilla mountain ranges, respectively. The rest is a Piedmont that descends northwest to end in the Gulf of Guayaquil. A large part of the coastal sector of the province, especially at the mouth of the Santa Rosa River, has a landscape of estuaries, palm trees and mangroves; in front of this is a set of channels that separate it from the Jambelí archipelago.

Relief El Oro Province

The province of El Oro, has a tropical plain of fertile soil, to the west and along the flank of the Andes Mountains to the east. In addition a coastal area located in the Bay of Túmbez, Estero Santa Rosa and Jambelí Island.

Climate Province El Oro

The climate of the province varies in relation to the amount of rain that falls in each sector. It has a dry coastal area and a rainy mountainous area. However, in both zones, the temperature is approximately 25 ° C.

Hydrography El Oro Province

Hydrographs of this province are born in the Andes mountain range and flow into the Gulf of Guayaquil. The most important of all is the Jubones River, which crosses the province from east to west and flows near the cities of El Guabo and Machala. In this province you can also highlight the Arenillas river, the Santa Rosa river, the Zarumilla river, which forms the border with Peru, and the Puyango river, which separates this province of Loja.

Flora Province El Oro

We found some species of native trees such as cedar, guayacan, cinnamon, achupalla, epiphytes, orchids and others.

Fauna Province El Oro

Santa Clara Island is the refuge of seabirds, has similar characteristics to the Galapagos Islands, is inhabited by sea lions, iguanas, blue footed boobies, frigates. Blue-footed boobies have longer tails than the other two species, the tail helps them make quick and incredible dives in the sea to feed wax from the banks. In the months of July to September, there is the sighting of humpback whales.

Orography Province El Oro

This province is divided into two areas: to the northwest, are the plains, where banana is grown, the main economic source of the province; Here is Machala, the capital, and other important cities such as Santa Rosa, Arenillas and Huaquillas, on the border. The southeast, on the other hand, is crossed by the Western Cordillera de los Andes, and the temperature is decreasing according to the height. The main cities in this area are Piñas, famous for its orchids, Portovelo, famous for its gold mines that give name to the province, Zaruma, known for its colonial architecture and Atahualpa known for its Canaris archaeological ruins, called Yacuviñay.

Economic development El Oro Province

This province bases its trade on exports of bananas, shrimp, cocoa, coffee and tropical fruits. Livestock also plays an important role in trade, mainly in the areas of Machala, Santa Rosa, Piñas and Zaruma. The agribusiness sector stands out in the activities dedicated to the elaboration of food, beverages, chemical substances, metallic products and others. The manufacturing activity has an important importance in the province. There are companies dedicated to the development of unpackaged marine products, alcohol distillation and beverage bottlers.

Calendar of parties and events El Oro Province

- Cantonization of Machala - June 25.
- Cantonization of Zaruma - June 25.
- National Mining Fair in Portovelo - July 4.
- Feast of the Virgen del Carmen in Zaruma - July 16.
- Cantonization of Chilla - July 25.
- Cantonization of Portovelo - August 5.
- Shrimp and Integration Fair in Santa Rosa - August 30.
- Feast of the Blessed Virgin of Chilla - September 8.
- Patron Festivities - September 24.
- Cantonization of Passage - November 1.
- National Orchid Festival in Piñas - November 8.
- Foundation of Puerto Bolívar - December 18.

Gastronomy Province of El Oro

Ball Broth
Leg Broth
Rice with stew and beef, pork or chicken
Tigrillo occurs in the upper part of the province: Portovelo, Piñas, Zaruma, Atahualpa. (cooked green banana, shredded in a pan, mixed with egg and cheese; and accompanied by pork jerky) with coffee from the area.
Shrimp ceviche, shell, fish, octopus
Fish Encebollado
Seafood soup
Seafood rice
Melloco with roasted, cooked or fried banana and peanuts
Bread. Roscones and biscuits are given in Pineapples.
guatita
Crawfish
Guineo repe
Peas with leather is given in Portovelo

Tourist Places EL Oro Province

Enchanted Lagoon of Chillacocha Province of El Oro

The waters of this lagoon are of underground origin by phreatic emanations. In the popular vulgar he is credited with being delighted. The edges with soft slopes upholstered by low herbaceous Rosaceae, trees surrounding the body of water. Few rocks inside the water mirror emerging up to 1.5 meters high.

In anthropological terms, the Laguna Negra de Chilla contains many stories for local people and is considered to possess great strength and control over atmospheric elements, which it uses against people who show disrespect towards it. The bath in its waters favors the healing of body and spirit diseases according to local tradition.

Location Laguna Encantada de Chillacocha Province of EL Oro

It is located to the south west in the upper part of Chilla, about 7Km from the cantonal head.

Enchanted Lagoon Extension of Chillacocha Province of EL Oro

For approximately thirty years, the Chilla Cocha lagoon has three irregular bodies: a) 120x60x5m; b) 50x30x2m and c) 60x302m. The first pours its flow to the second and third separated approximately 1 and 1.5 meters respectively.

Climate Laguna Encantada de Chillacocha Province of EL Oro

It has an exuberant climate with a temperature of 12 to 15 ºC.

Flora Laguna Encantada de Chillacocha Province of EL Oro

There are native plants typical of these climates, with trees and shrubs that are not found elsewhere, here there is a plant called salapa, which bears fruit in the months of July and August is similar to grapes with a special flavor grows in shape wild throughout the upper part of Chilla.

It has an inter-moor forest intervened, low scrub vegetation of 1 to 2 meters and trees up to 5 meters high

Fauna Enchanted Lagoon of Chillacocha Province of EL Oro

There are wild ducks, colored birds and important species in the area in the lagoon.

Attractions Enchanted Lagoon of Chillacocha Province of EL Oro

In this place you can make walks on foot or horse, you can climb mountains, in the lagoon you can sail on a raft, you can practice sports since there is a plain that allows you to do it, in addition you can make excursions because in this sector there are caves and ruins of the ancestors.

Magner Turner Mineralogical Museum El Oro province

Almost all the stones in the world are gathered in a single space: the Magner Turner Mineralogical Museum. Its owner has managed to collect the mining history of Portovelo and other parts of the planet. Topaz, opals, ruby, emerald and, of course, gold, are exhibited with old carbide lamps and helmets to enter the mines.

The Mineralogical Museum has more than seven thousand exhibition objects, a visitor, who appreciates the museum superficially, with a general explanation of the various aspects involved, will take at least two hours to complete the visit.

Among the most appreciable, the vast and admirable knowledge of mining, exploration and exploitation of minerals from Ecuador and other countries, which characterize Magner Turner (Owner).

Creditor of several awards, the promotion of the Mineralogical Museum has led, on different occasions, to exhibit its pieces in several cities of the country, of which it already accumulates more than a dozen awards.

In that it takes years, yielding the residential spaces of his house to the mineral samples, to the pieces of collection that increase constantly. He, his wife and three children live in a quarter of the original area of ​​the old miner's house, designed and built about 100 years ago, by one of the foreign companies that arrived in Portovelo to get gold.

Location Magner Turner Mineralogical Museum province El Oro

The museum is located in the Campamento Americano neighborhood, one kilometer from the city center.

Creation Date Mineralogical Museum Magner Turner province El Oro

The selection of pieces to be part of the Mineralogical Museum of Portovelo began in 1976, although only in June 1995 was it organized as a museum. The initial collection was seven thousand pieces from different parts of the world, including a detailed sample of minerals and rocks from Ecuador.

Magner Turner Mineralogical Museum Area El Oro province

The museum area is 400 square meters, with three defined sections: Central room, patio and three pilot mines, in addition to a cobbled road that was used by miners of the SADCO as a pedestrian.

Attractions Magner Turner Mineralogical Museum El Oro province

• Showcases: The room has twenty showcases for eight hundred pieces on display, the rest remains packed due to lack of space.

• The bunker has three mines of 1.90 meters per 1 meter section, which contains five hundred samples of rocks and raw minerals, mine platforms and mining masonry.

• The museum is made up of 1500 samples of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; 2500 samples of metallic and non-metallic minerals; 550 precious and semi-precious stones; 450 old pieces and equipment, including coins; 50 pieces of caving.

• Graphic and documentary section: Includes 200 graphics of mining in Portovelo and different parts of the world. 150 images of the city and characters of old Portovelo. In addition, 300 images, testimonies written by Magner Turner and an undetermined amount of anecdotes and curiosities compiled by the author in several newspapers and field logs.

Zaruma Historical Center El Oro Province

In the Historic Center we can find some tourist attractions such as: The Sanctuary of the Virgen del Carmen, The Houses of the Beginning of the Century or Republican Era, Municipal Museum, Central Park; the urban design and architecture, together with the landscape environment makes this a unique city in the world, making it worthy of relevant titles.

Among the most important values ​​of Zaruma's identity is its urban plot and its architecture, the result of the adaptations and solutions that the local community has given to the irregular topography, creating a very particular cultural landscape.

The plumb architecture based on design and diverse construction systems, highlighting the use of guayacán and cedar wood, which remain at the same time.

In these constructions you can read the history of the city that teaches us that Zaruma is the fruit or result of the joint action of a healthy and progressive society, with solid roots, traditional of human coexistence, in permanent contact with nature.

Address Historic Center Zaruma Province El Oro

City center.

Attractions Zaruma Historical Center El Oro Province

• Houses of the beginning of the Century: The old houses of one, two and three floors, built with guayacán wood, cedar and earth, environmental materials, are coupled to the existing slopes and manifest towards the outside with facades composed of a special mix between the proportions and elements taken, both from the classical architectural orders, as from the Ecuadorian popular architecture.

In these facades we find richly openwork and carved arabesques in wood, where they combine wonderfully color, light and shadow.

• The Sanctuary of the Virgen del Carmen was built from 1912 - 1930, with its balconies and eaves of saturated wood, its elegant altar carved and lined with gold and silver leaf. It constitutes a jewel embedded within its heritage, that every tourist when contemplating it is dazzled with its beauty.

• Religious Festivities: In honor of the Patroness the Virgin of Carmen, the festivities take place from July 12 to 20. To it are added the realization of the National Coffee Festival, Agricultural Fair, and various religious, cultural, social and sports events and programs.

• Zaruma Municipal Museum: This institution houses collections of objects of artistic, historical and scientific interest, preserved and exhibited for the teaching and entertainment of all visitors.

Source:
https://ec.viajandox.com/el-oro-P45
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_vin_of_The_Oro
https://provinciasecuador.com/region-costa/provincia-de-el-oro/
https://turismoi.ec/el-oro/ciudades.html

Images:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Casa_centro_Zaruma.JPG?uselang=en