Napo Province - Ecuador

The Province of Napo is located in the Ecuadorian Amazon region, a place marked by high biological diversity, suitable for admiring breathtaking landscapes such as the San Rafael Waterfall or places to meditate on the peace of the forest, a place to learn about customs and traditions of the people Amazonian Quichua that maintain their way of life and show tourists a perfect combination of sun, beach and sea, accompanied by its exotic cuisine.

The province of Napo is one of the provinces of the North Central Region, of the Republic of Ecuador, located in the Ecuadorian Amazon region and including part of the slopes of the Andes, to the Amazonian plains. It takes its name from the Napo River. Its capital is the city of Tena. The options to know are many, among them, the warmth of the settlers and natives that is expressed with a smile to the visitors.
The province of Napo, Ecological and Tourist territory is the magical gate of light to enter the northern Amazon region of Ecuador. Touring it is an unforgettable event. Its natural sites and cultural manifestations make it one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Check it out.

Napo Province Relief

An orographic spine of about 400 km from Guayas to Esmeraldas is articulated with the Andes mountain range and constitutes the coastal mountain range. It begins with Las Cabras hills near Durán, intercepts the Guayas river with Cerrito, reappears with Las Peñas, Santa Ana, El Carmen and El Manicomio heights in Guayaquil; It rises to the NO with the names of Chongón, Colonche, Manglaralto in the province of Guayas and continues to Manabí and Esmeraldas. The highest heights ranging between 700 and 800 meters. They correspond to the Chongón and Colonche mountain ranges.

Hydrography Napo Province

The hydrographic system of the province of Napo is born in the Cordillera Oriental de los Andes, where the rivers that feed the most important basin of the province, that of the Napo River, flow. The Napo river basin is formed by the union of the Anzu and Jatunyacu rivers, a short distance from Puerto Napo, the Jatunyacu receives the waters of the green yacu that originates from the vicious valley rivers that collects the waters of the eastern moorlands of the Cotopaxi and the Antisana that originates in the thaws of the Antisana, Other tributaries of the Jatunyacu are the Chalupas river that is born in the southern moors of the Quilindaña and Chalupas to the north-west of the Tena Canton, and the Mulatos river that delivers the waters of the moors and mountains of the Llanganates.

The Anzu is born in the southern eastern foothills of the Llanganates, near the Pastaza basin. The Napo River is navigable from its source to its mouth in the Amazon. The Napo River receives the waters of the Misahualli, Pusuno, Suno, Payamino River well known for its gold wealth and that is born in the Sugar Loaf, Napo is located in the north central part of the Amazon Region, it extends over the north eastern plain east to the south-east, formed by an important hydrographic network represented by the Napo River, which is born in the Llanganates mountain range with the name of jatunyaku on its way it joins small and other important rivers such as the Anzu, Misahualli and Arajuno, is the main waterway and tributary of the Amazon.

Climate Napo Province

In order to characterize the climate in the Province, information has been obtained from the studies carried out by IDEA. 1988 and the Gran Sumaco Project (INEFAN. 1993). In general terms, the climate varies according to the diversity of geoforms present, each of which exhibits very particular conditions, although the entire study area, due to the exuberant and highly developed flora, which determines a high percentage of relative humidity and that, added to the humidity coming from the Amazonian belt carried by trade winds, large volumes of rain precipitate that exceed 5000 mm. Most of the area is subject to a large excess of annual rainfall, up to four times above the evapotranspiration capacity, which results in high runoff. These conditions prevail throughout most of the year.

Flora Napo Province

It has lush vegetation, which is why it contains the largest forest reserve, with a variety of plant species such as pumamaqui, myrtle, bulrush, yagual, palm, licopodio, gentian, achupalla, pajonal, cedar, chuncho, ceibo, garango, mahogany , chontaduro, tagua, olive tree, various types of orchids, bromeliads, anthuriums, frailejón and heliconias.

Fauna Province of Napo

The Spectacled Bear, deer, cervicabra, macho monkey, kid, danta or tapir, jaguar, tigrillo, puma, porcupine, guanta, anteater and others are its greatest wealth.

Orography Province of Napo

In the western limit that shares with the provinces of Tungurahua, Cotopaxi and Pichincha, mountains such as Cerro Hermoso in the Llanganates mountain range, Sincholagua, Cotopaxi, Antisana, Saraurco etc. rise from south to north. In this border strip there are also hundreds of lagoons, many of them unknown. In the section of the third mountain range the Sumaco, Pan de Azúcar, Cerro Negro and Reventador rise; Macaws that have an east-west direction favor the formation of three river basins.

Economic development Napo Province

The main economic activities of the region are the exploration, exploitation, processing and transportation of hydrocarbons and agricultural and forestry production. In recent years new crops have displaced some traditional ones. Oil has been a determining factor for regional development, due to infrastructure construction, job creation and annual investment volume. The production of hydrocarbons represents a very important proportion of Napo's GDP and a substantial part of the foreign exchange income. After oil, the most important activity is agriculture and forestry, mainly by the people they employ. Other important sectors are construction, commerce, services and tourism.

In addition to oil and agriculture, the most important sectors are commerce and services. State institutions serve public services and generate employment. Commercial activity is very active, especially at the border and in the production centers. Mining, excluding the production of hydrocarbons, does not have much economic importance, there is only on a small scale the exploitation of gold, limestone and marble. Tourism has significant point developments such as the La Cocha lagoon, and the floating hotel on the Napo River.

The Industrial sector shows very little progress in the region due to the absence of adequate infrastructure and basic services, as well as the marginalization of the consumption centers of the two countries. However, with the improvement in communications, electrification, the increase in agricultural and forestry activity, an environment conducive to industrial development would be created, especially through agro-industries and the existing mining potential.

Napo Typical Food

Some of Napo's popular foods are as follows:

Maito de Tilapia or Carachama: They are fish from the area that for traditional preparation are wrapped in leaves, tied and hoes, you can also prepare the manta of guanta, palm, all the ingredients are from the Amazon, a different flavor and Unique that delights tourists.

Trout: A striking gastronomic dish, you find it in all the restaurants of Quijos. You can say that it is the special dish of this place, there is a wide variety of preparations according to the taste and craving of the visitor.

Maitos: They are prepared from different types of meats: guanta, guatusa and fish: according to tradition these meats are wrapped, in the famous platanillo or bijao leaves and then prepared in the stove at the desired finish.

The chontacuro: It is tradition to consume the larva that inhabits the Chonta, once the tree is overthrown the Chontacuro worm is obtained that is barely roasted as a skewer or tasted live directly from the Chonta to the mouth

Napo tourist attractions

The province has treasures of nature that we should all visit and enjoy, these reveal the tangible and intangible wealth of its culture, history and traditions. Napo tourist attractions.

Puerto Misahuallí: One of the most visited places near Canton Tena, is located 20 minutes away. There is the Misahuallí river full of Amazonian flora and fauna that will captivate your senses, there is also the central park that is usually a cabin for monkeys in the area who have become accustomed to the coming and going of tourists.

Jumandy Caverns: They are located 10 minutes from Archidona. The darkness of the Jumandy caves is a highly recommended adventure, the whole tour lasts about 5 hours. The resort also has slides, natural water pool, sports spaces and cabins for lodging.

The Amazonian Park La Isla: Environmental awareness center where the value of our forests and the maintenance of natural resources are taught through environmental education.

Central Park of Archidona: You have many important attractions that are representative in the Central Park, including the clock and mosaic of tourist information that is integrated into the urban environment of the Park.

Baeza Antigua: it is a kind of old town that preserves a part of the first painting with the traditional scheme of the composition of a central square. It consists of "36 houses" built in wood and characteristic finishes of hot areas.

Papallacta: is located between Quito and Baeza and its hot water baths are very famous for their relaxing and even healing effects. In this place it is possible to rest from the trip or visit it in search of a relaxing space. The Papallacta lagoon is part of the great drinking water reserve of the capital, there are also trout for fishing and lagoons for bathing.

San Rafael Waterfall: known as one of the greatest waterfalls in eastern Ecuador. The waterfall, located on the Coca River, has a drop length of more than 150 meters. The entrance to San Rafael is located just to the limit of the provinces of Napo and Sucumbíos on the Quito highway.

Sumaco National Park: Sumaco an experience that will leave unforgettable memories thanks to the unsurpassed beauty of the jungle, is in the northwest of the province of Napo.

Source:
https://www.ecured.cu/Provincia_de_Napo_(Ecuador)
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provincia_de_Napo

Images.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jacana_jacana_-near_Yarina_Lodge,_Napo_Province,_Ecuador_-adult-8.jpg