Orellana Province - Ecuador

Province of the North Central Region of Ecuador, the capital of the province is El Coca better known as «Coca». It is one of the newest provinces in the country, province 22, as it was created in 1998 when it was separated from Napo. Initially its name was to be province of Amazonas but before a potential claim from Peru it was decided to call it Orellana. The population is 136,396 inhabitants; Its native inhabitants belong mainly to the Waorani, Schuar and Kichwa nationalities.

The ecological province of Ecuador is the youngest in the country. Among its riches is oil and wood, it also has a lush jungle, enchanting landscapes, exclusive flora and fauna known throughout the world. Its native inhabitants belong mainly to the Huaorani, Schuar and Quichua nationalities. The province has an area of ​​20,733 km², which in terms of extension is similar to that of El Salvador. Among its main attractions can be mentioned the Yasuni National Park, declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, the Sumaco volcano surrounded by an extensive biodiversity and a natural viewpoint of the Amazonian plateau. Coca is a tourist center, where you can find the Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen, the Taracea Lagoon, the Samana Huasi tourist complex, the Cicame museum, the Mushu Yura botanical garden, Pañacocha and the Napo River are part of its attractions .

The Province of Orellana is also the only Amazon province that has no borders with a province of the Ecuadorian highlands. The Napo river basin is one of the most important in the Amazon region and the country; numerous indigenous communities are settled on its banks, its two main tributaries: Coca, in the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera; and the Aguarico river in the Amazon jungle. These tributaries would become the main water system of the Province.

Hydrography Orellana Province

The most important rivers that bathe this province are the Payamino, Napo, Tiputini, Yasuní, Coca, Nashiño, Rumiyacu, Pinoloyacu. They all feed the Napo that advances to the Atlantic. There are beautiful lagoons like those of Añangucocha, Zancudococha, Jatuncocha, etc.

Climate Orellana Province

The climate is warm humid, the temperature varies between 20 ° and 40 ° C. due to its altitude (254 m.). The humid tropical prevails, with persistent rains that cause intense evaporation and consequently high temperatures of an average of 25 degrees Celsius.

Flora Province of Orellana

The investigations on flora are equally scarce, however, species of this type of habitat are present: the characteristic guarumos, the raft tree, the blood of dragon with medicinal properties, the tasty palm and the tagua used to make crafts; All these species are taken advantage of in the daily work by the communities settled mainly in the area of ​​influence of the Park.

Fauna Province of Orellana

We can mention the following: dantas, jaguars, tigrillos, otters and spectacled bear; Birds such as multicolored toucans, tangaras, hummingbirds and an infinite number of reptile amphibians. In summary there are about 654 species of birds and 470 of fish.

Natural resources Orellana Province

The most important natural resources in the province is oil exploitation, wood.

Orography Province of Orellana

It has a special geographical configuration, it extends from the eastern foothills of the mountain range where the Cerro Negro and the Sumaco volcano are located to the vast Amazonian plain occupied by the valleys that enclose the Coca and Napo rivers.

Economic Development Orellana Province

Prorellaia de Orellana Industries

Industrial development is almost nil, but its momentum is expected in the coming years with the planned integration between the provinces of the region. The exploitation of oil sources continues.

Orellana Provisional Commerce

There is active exchange of agricultural products and crafts with neighboring cities and towns; Settlers and street and informal vendors also boost commercial activity.

Protected areas Orellana Province

Among the protected areas within the territory of the province of Orellana is the Yasuni National Park, the lower part of the Cayambeño Wildlife Production Reserve, the Sumaca Napo Galeras National Park, the Sub-Account Protective Forest of the Paca Yacu River, the Soot Protective Forest -Loreto-Coca, the Protective Forest San Carlos Scientific Station, the Paya Mino, and the Flanders Forest Heritage located east of the Galeras mountain range.

Customs Orellana Province

The celebration in commemoration of the Virgen del Carmen is one of the most important celebrations in the province of Orellana, held every April 30.

The Kichwas peoples perform many rituals and ceremonies to remember their deceased. In the current Ecuadorian territory the ancient customs carried out by the aborigines have lost strength but they refuse to be completely extinguished. These customs are based on rites, prayers and offerings placed in honor of the deceased, celebrated even in several indigenous peoples.

The Kichwas people do everything possible so that their customs are not discontinued, the day of the dead begins with the cleaning of the graves, gathering all their relatives in their bosom and the next morning they are on their way to the graves of their loved ones. This ceremony begins with prayers, claiming for the soul of their dead, crying, feeling it as they were being buried at that time.

In this ceremony, women have to cry louder than men, in this tour they tell the story of the loved one who left them, describing everything as they were in their life period, such as describing in detail their profession and their great virtues such as hunting or dance. Although many customs are becoming extinct, as well as bring the cultivation of fruits that were the favorite of the dead to offer them

Orellana Province Clothing

The typical costumes that are worn by the indigenous inhabitants are divided into several styles. One of those is the "Pacha" which is known as a not very complicated one-piece dress, with a knot at shoulder height, made with different fabrics with dark bluish tones. In addition this garment is adorned with a belt, bracelets, necklaces made with fiber, feathers and seeds.

They are also characterized by making seed suits, which is referred to as a fancy dress for festivities and important activities, consisting of 2 garments. It consists of a skirt and a bra that is commonly made by very similar seeds, which are commonly designed in different ways and can be made with matte barks. This clothing can wear decorations such as necklaces, bracelets and crowns that were made by seeds and colorful feathers.

The clothing made with seeds is called in different ways according to its color. Anamora is characterized by its red and black colors; The San Pedro is represented by the colors white and lead; El Camito Muyo is of a range of light and dark brown colors; The large and small Achira is black; The Shiguango Muyo is also black

The Matiri Muyo is made of small pieces of bamboo or guadua; Bulanti is made with black seeds and large proportions, which are known as deer eye; Chambira and Pita are manufactured with fibers that are used for fabrics; Mate is a fruit that is exploited to make with its bark, suits tailored to people, also called pilche by the Kichwas; The Toquilla Straw suit is a suit that is composed of a loincloth tied with fiber ropes, commonly worn by both men and women.

The Kichwa ethnic group nowadays has a typical dress that has been modified several times to be able to keep it from generation to generation and protect it from being forgotten. (See article: Ethnic groups of Ecuador)

Finally, the Llanchama is also used in this area, which is defined as a suit composed of the bark of the Llanchama tree, which was traditionally used by the ancient Kichwa. Currently, the Llanchama tree is in danger of extinction, so it is very difficult to see it.

Gastronomy Orellana Province

Throughout the territory of the province of Orellana there is a large number of typical foods, of which they have endured over time for hundreds of years without becoming extinct, without changing the preparation of their dishes through the natural harvest.

Fish Maito

Among its most characteristic dishes is the fish maito that consists of a fish with marinade and salt, in addition a garlic and pepper pisca is added, rolled and tied between the banana leaves. The mooring that is made to the fish is put on a grill and then served with cassava, banana and salad.

Yucca Chicha

One of the most consumed beverages in this territory is the yucca girl that is made with cassava pulp and is native to indigenous peoples.

Chontacuro

Another famous food in this region is chontacuro which is very rich in protein and is considered a delight for the local population. It is also known for the benefits it gives to the healing of the stomach and can be served in various ways, such as fried, grilled or mayto.

Tourist Places of the Province of Orellana

Among its main attractions we can mention the Yasuni National Park, declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, the Sumaco volcano surrounded by an extensive biodiversity and a natural viewpoint of the Amazonian plateau. Coca is a tourist center, where you can find the Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen, the Taracoa Lagoon, the Samana Huasi tourist complex, the Cicame museum, the Mushu Yura botanical garden, Pañacocha and the Napo River are part of its attractions .

Orellana is a province with roads in excellent condition. There it is possible to visit calm and clean towns like Loreto and the Jewel of the Sachas. In the latter there is a group of waterfalls and lagoons worth knowing. Nearby there is the island of Pompeii.

Loreto also has places for recreation and rest, it is considered an ecological canton. It is located near the Napo Galeras National Park. In Aguarico there is the possibility of visiting shamans, who with their wisdom in the management of different plants for medicinal purposes have turned this canton into a true "natural pharmacy"

Yasuni National Park Orellana Province

Yasuni National Park is a national park that extends over an area of ​​9820 square kilometers in the provinces of Pastaza, and Orellana between the Napo River and the Curaray River in the middle of the Amazon basin about 250 kilometers southeast of Quito. The park, essentially jungle, was designated by UNESCO in 1989 as a biosphere reserve and is part of the territory where the Huaorani people are located, of which two factions, the tagaeri and taromenane, are uncontacted groups.

The park is located in areas of the sub-basins of the Tiputini, Yasuní, Nashiño, Cononaco and Curaray rivers, tributaries of the Napo River, which at the same time flows into the Amazon. The Park is shaped like a horseshoe and comprises from the southern part of the Napo River and north of the Curaray River, extending along the middle basin of the Tivacuno River.6 According to a recent study7 the Yasuní National Park and the underlying expanded area are considered more biodiverse of the planet for its richness in amphibians, birds, mammals and plants. The studies speak of 150 species of amphibians, 121 of reptiles, 598 species of birds, between 169 (confirmed) and 204 (estimated) of mammals, and in flora 2113 species have been identified and it is estimated that there would be around 3100.7

The Ecuadorian Amazon area is rich in oil fields and the oil industry is the pillar on which the economy of the Ecuadorian State has been sustained since the 1970s. Given this, in 1998 the government of Jamil Mahuad declared the southern zone of PNY intangible zone, to protect the uncontacted peoples and preserve the biosphere reserve away from the oil fields. Since 2007, around the PNY, a proposal called the ITT Initiative has been formulated to keep the oil underground by applying a type of international economic compensation, which has not been able to materialize.

Coca Province of Orellana

The main attraction of the place is nature, endowed with high biodiversity, in a variety of ecosystems that extend in an area with a high index of endemic species, considered by environmental scientists as a laboratory for global genetic research. Some of the attractions of the city are:
Waorani family.

The cathedral church: It was built by the Capuchin priests, approximately 35 years ago, so its architecture is contemporary. Among the most valuable objects of the church are the personal objects of Sister Inés Arango, a missionary who tried to evangelize the Waoranis. These objects are stored in what was your room, just as she left before leaving. The patron saint of the cathedral is the "Virgen del Carmen" and the party in her honor is held every July 16.

The Archaeological Museum and Cultural Center of Orellana: It was recently opened, and currently shows the archaeological exhibition: "Faces of the Moon". The exhibition shows the ceramics found on the banks of the Napo River. The MACCO is located in the streets Chimborazo and Quito.

Source:
https://hablemosdeculturas.com/provincia-de-orellana/
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orellana_Provincia

Images.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Puerto_Francisco_de_Orellana_05.jpg