Quito
—  City  —
San Francisco de Quito
Flag Seal
Nickname: Luz de América (Light of America)
Map of Ecuador showing location of Quito
Coordinates: 00°15′00″S 78°35′00″W / -0.25, -78.583333
Country	Ecuador
Province	Pichincha
Canton	Quito
Founding	1534-12-06
Founder	Sebastián de Benalcázar
Named for	Quitu
Urban parishes (electoral urban parishes)	Alfaro, Benalcázar, Chaupicruz, Chillogallo, Cotocollao, El Salvador, González Suárez, Guápulo, La Floresta, La Libertad, La Magdalena, La Vicentina, San Blas, San Marcos, San Roque, San Sebastián, Santa Bárbara, Santa Prisca, Villa Flora
Government
- Type	Mayor and council
- Mayor	Paco Moncayo (ID)
- City council	List of council members Augusto Barrera Luis Caicedo Fernando Carrión Margarita Carranco Luz Elena Coloma Sergio Garnica Carmen Elena de Janón Indira Medina Gonzalo Ortiz Patricio Alejandro Ubidia Pablo Ponce Ramiro Pérez Patricia Ruiz Andrés Vallejo Macarena Valarezo
Area approx. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. The first uprising against Spanish rule took place in 1809 but only in 1822 did Ecuador fully gain independence and became part of the Federation of Gran Colombia Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. |||} Ecuador is divided into 24 Provinces ( Spanish: provincias, singular provincia) Pichincha is a province of Ecuador located in the northern sierra region its capital and largest city is Quito. Pichincha is a province of Ecuador located in the northern sierra region its capital and largest city is Quito. Quito, officially called Metropolitan District of Quito (Distrito Metropolitano de Quito is a canton in Pichincha, Ecuador. Sebastián de Belalcázar (1479 or 1480 to 1551 was a Spanish Conquistador. The Quitus were the aboriginal occupants of the now capital of Ecuador, Quito. Alfaro is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Benalcázar is an urban Parish in the northeastern part of the City of Quito, capital of Ecuador. Chaupicruz is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Chillogallo is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. The Cotocollao Parish is a Parish in northwest Quito, Ecuador. El Salvador is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. González Suárez is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Guápulo is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Floresta is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Libertad is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Magdalena is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Vicentina is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Blas is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Marcos is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Roque is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Sebastián is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Santa Bárbara is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Santa Prisca is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Villa Flora is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Paco Moncayo Gallegos (born October 8, 1940 in Quito) is the current Mayor of Quito, Ecuador and a retired General A city council is a form of Local government, usually covering a City or other Urban area, such as a Town. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve.
- City	324 km² (125. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² 1 sq mi)
- Water	0 km² (0 sq mi)
Elevation	2,850 m (9,350 ft)
Population (2001-11-24)
- City	1,397,698
- Metro	1,842,201
	Decadal national census by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC)
Time zone	ECT (UTC-5)
Postal code	P01
Area code(s)	593 2
Municipality's tourism site: http://www.quito.com.ec
Website: http://www.quito.gov.ec

City of Quito*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Ecuador
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Reference	2
Region†	Latin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription	1978  (2nd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central Ecuador Time ( ECT) as named by Zoneinfo, is the time observed in mainland Ecuador since 1931 UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex As of 2008 there are a total of 878 World Heritage Sites located in 145 "State Parties" For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex This is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a It is located in north central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of the Pichincha [1], an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains. The Guayllabamba is a River that originates in the east of Pichincha in northern Ecuador and flows into Esmeraldas. A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, Pichincha is an active Volcano in the country of Ecuador, whose capital Quito wraps around its eastern slopes A stratovolcano, also called a composite volcano is a tall conical Volcano composed of many layers of hardened Lava, Tephra, and Volcanic The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. With a population of approximately 1,397,698 in the decadal national census of November 24, 2001, and, as estimated by the municipality, approximately 1,504,991 in 2005 [2], Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil. Guayaquil (waʝaˈkil officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous City in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port It is also the seat of the Quito Metropolitan District, also known as Quito Canton, home to 1,842,201 million residents in 2001, and the capital of the Pichincha province. Quito, officially called Metropolitan District of Quito (Distrito Metropolitano de Quito is a canton in Pichincha, Ecuador. Pichincha is a province of Ecuador located in the northern sierra region its capital and largest city is Quito. Quito is also to be the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations since 2008. __FORCETOC__The Union of South American Nations (Unión de Naciones Suramericanas - UNASUR, União de Nações Sul-Americanas - UNASUL, Unie van Zuid-Amerikaanse Naties

The elevation of the city's central square (Plaza de La Independencia or Plaza Grande) is 2,850 m (about 9,350 ft), making Quito the second highest capital city in the world. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit There is some confusion about this claim because La Paz, Bolivia, which is higher, is the governmental capital of Bolivia (where the Bolivian government functions). Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative Capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. However, Sucre, which is lower, is the legal capital of Bolivia. Sucre (population 247300 in 2006 is the constitutional Capital of Bolivia, seat of the Supreme Court ( Corte Suprema de Justicia

Quito is located about 25 km (15 miles) south of the equator. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States A monument and museum marking the general location of the equator is known locally as la mitad del mundo (the middle of the world), to avoid confusion, as the word ecuador is Spanish for equator. The Mitad del Mundo ( Spanish for Middle of the World) is a tract of land owned by the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, Ecuador

Due to its high altitude and position on the equator, Quito has a constant, mild to cool [3] climate. The typical temperature at noon is 25°C (77ºF) with a normal night-time low of 6°C (43ºF). The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The average temperature is 15° C (64ºF) [4]. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The city experiences only two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season, June through September (4 months), is referred to as summer; the wet season, October through May (8 months), is referred to as winter.

Prehistory

Quito's origins date back to the first millennium when the Quitu tribe occupied the area and eventually formed a commercial center. The Quitus were the aboriginal occupants of the now capital of Ecuador, Quito. According to Juan de Velasco's 1767 book Historia del Reino de Quito, the Quitu were conquered by the Caras tribe, who founded the Kingdom of Quito about 980 CE. The Caras tribe flourished in coastal Ecuador in what is now Manabí Province, in the first millennium CE Events By Place Europe Otto II renounces his claim to Lorraine. In 1462 the Incas conquered the Kingdom of Quito. In 1533, Rumiñahui, an Inca war general, burned the city to prevent the Spanish from taking it, thereby destroying any traces of the ancient prehispanic city. Rumiñahui, or alternatively Rumiaoui, born late 15th century died June 25 1535, was an Inca warrior who after the death of Emperor

History

Colony

Indigenous resistance to the Spanish invasion continued during 1534, with Francisco Pizarro founding San Francisco de Quito on August 15 of that same year. The Spanish colonization of the Americas was Spain 's conquest settlement and rule over much of the Western hemisphere. Francisco Pizarro González 1st Marqués de los Atabillos (c 1471 or 1476 &ndash 26 June 1541 was a Spanish Conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed On December 6, 1534 [5], the city was officially founded by 204 settlers led by Sebastián de Benalcázar, who captured Rumiñahui and effectively ended any organized resistance. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Sebastián de Belalcázar (1479 or 1480 to 1551 was a Spanish Conquistador. Rumiñahui was then executed on January 10, 1535. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. On March 14, 1541, Quito was declared a city, and on February 14, 1556, was given the title Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de San Francisco de Quito ("Very Noble and Loyal City of San Francisco of Quito"). Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German In 1563, Quito became the seat of a royal audiencia (administrative district) of Spain, and part of the Vice-Royalty of Peru with its capital in Lima (see Real Audiencia de Quito). Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Lima is the Capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers on a coast overlooking The Royal Audience of Quito ( Spanish: Audiencia Real de Quito, sometimes referred to as la Presidencia de Quito or el Reino de Quito) was

Main doorway to the Cathedral

The Spanish promptly established the Catholic religion in Quito, with the first church (El Belén) built even before the city had been officially founded. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". In January of 1535, the San Francisco Convent was constructed, the first of about 20 churches and convents built during the colonial period. The Spanish actively evangelized to the indigenous people, but they also used them as slave labor for construction, especially in the early colonial years. The Diocese of Quito was established in 1545 and was elevated to the Archdiocese of Quito in 1849. Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

In 1809, after nearly 300 years of Spanish colonization, Quito was a city of about 10,000 inhabitants. Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year On August 10, 1809, a movement was started in Quito that aimed for political independence from Spain. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year On that date a plan for government was established that placed Juan Pío Montúfar as president with various other prominent figures in other positions of government. However, this initial movement was ultimately defeated on August 2, 1810, when Spanish forces came from Lima, Peru, and killed the leaders of the uprising along with about 200 inhabitants of the city. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1810 ( MDCCCX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Lima is the Capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers on a coast overlooking Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. A chain of conflicts concluded on May 24, 1822 when Antonio José de Sucre, under the command of Simón Bolívar, led troops into the Battle of Pichincha. Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the Antonio José de Sucre y Alcalá ( February 3 1795 &ndash June 4 1830) was a South American independence leader Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco,Venezuelan or commonly known as Simón Bolívar ( July 24, 1783 &ndash The Battle of Pichincha took place on 24 May, 1822, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano 3500 meters above sea-level right next to the city of Quito Their victory marked the independence of Quito and the surrounding areas.

Gran Colombia

Just days after the Battle of Pichincha, on May 24, 1822, the leaders of the city proclaimed their independence and allowed the city to be annexed to the Republic of Gran Colombia. Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gran Colombia ( Spanish for Great Colombia) is a name used today for the Republic of Colombia of the period 1819-1831 Simón Bolívar went to Quito on June 16, 1822 and was present at the signing of the Colombian Constitution on June 24, 1822. Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the When the Gran Colombia dissolved in 1830, Quito became the capital of the newly-formed Republic of Ecuador. For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display

Republican Era

Basílica del Sagrado Voto Nacional on street Venezuela

In 1833, members of the Society of Free Inhabitants of Quito were assassinated by the government after they conspired against it, and on March 6, 1845, the Marcist Revolution began. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1845 ( MDCCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common On March 6, 1845, the people of Guayaquil, Ecuador, revolted against the government of the General Juan José Flores under the leadership Later, in 1875, the country's president, Gabriel García Moreno, was assassinated in Quito. Gabriel Gregorio García y Moreno y Morán de Buitrón ( December 24, 1821 – August 6, 1875) was an Ecuadorian Statesman Two years later, in 1877, Archbishop José Ignacio Checa y Barba was killed by poisoning while he was giving mass.

In 1882, insurgents arose against the regime of dictator Ignacio de Veintemilla, however this did not end the violence that was occurring throughout the country. Mario Ignacio Francisco Tomás Antonio de Veintemilla y Villacís ( Quito, 31 July 1828 - Quito, 19 July 1908) was On July 9, 1883, the liberal commander Eloy Alfaro participated in the Battle of Guayaquil, and later, after more conflict, became the president of Ecuador on September 4, 1895. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common José Eloy Alfaro Delgado ( June 25, 1842 in Montecristi - January 28, 1912 in Quito) was president of Ecuador Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Upon completing his second term in 1911, he moved to Europe, but upon his return to Ecuador in 1912 and attempted return to power, he was arrested on January 28, 1912, thrown in prison, and assassinated by a mob that had stormed the prison. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting His body was dragged through the streets of Quito to a city park, where it was burned.

In 1932, the Four Days' War broke out, a civil war that followed the election of Neptalí Bonifaz and the subsequent realization that he carried a Peruvian passport. Workers at a major textile factory went on strike in 1934, and similar unrest continues to the present day. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On February 12, 1949, a realistic broadcast of H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds led to citywide panic and the deaths of six people who died in fires set by mobs [6]. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 &ndash 13 August 1946 He was an outspoken socialist and a pacifist, his later works becoming increasingly political The War of the Worlds (1898 by H G Wells, is an early Science fiction Novel which describes an invasion of England by

In recent years, Quito has been the focal point of large demonstrations that led to the ousting of presidents Abdalá Bucaram (February 5, 1997), Jamil Mahuad (January 21, 2000) and Lucio Gutiérrez (April 20, 2005). Abdalá Jaime Bucaram Ortiz (born February 20, 1952 in Guayaquil) is an Ecuadorian Politician and Lawyer who briefly Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Jorge Jamil Mahuad Witt (born July 29, 1949) was President of Ecuador from August 10, 1998 to January 21, Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Lucio Edwin Gutiérrez Borbúa (born March 23, 1957) served as President of Ecuador from January 15, 2003 to April 20 Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Geography: mountains and volcanoes

Cayambe volcano seen from the north of the city

Quito is in the northern highland of Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Guayllabamba ( Quechua for green plain) is a small agricultural town (administratively a rural parish of the canton of Quito) located 29 kilometers northeast Some of the volcanoes on the Central Cordillera (Royal Cordillera), east of Quito, surrounding the Guayllabamba valley are Cotopaxi, Sincholagua, Antisana, and Cayambe. Cotopaxi is a Stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 75 kilometres (50 mi south of Quito, Ecuador, South America Antisana is a Stratovolcano of the northern Andes, in Ecuador. For other uses of Cayambe see Cayambe (disambiguation page Cayambe (or Volcán Cayambe) is the name of a Volcano Some of the volcanoes of the Western Cordillera, to the west of the Guayllabamba valley, are Illiniza, Atacazo, Pichincha and Pululahua (which has the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve). Pichincha is an active Volcano in the country of Ecuador, whose capital Quito wraps around its eastern slopes Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve it is 17 km north of Quito in the province of Pichincha of Ecuador.

Cayambe, which is situated east-northeast of Quito, has not erupted since 1786, and is the only mountain or volcano on earth that lies directly on the equator (the equator runs through the southern flank) and has a permanent snow cap and glaciers.

Quito is the only capital in the world to be directly menaced by an active volcano. Guagua Pichincha, only 13 miles (21 km) west, has continuing activity and is under constant monitoring. Pichincha is an active Volcano in the country of Ecuador, whose capital Quito wraps around its eastern slopes The largest eruption occurred in 1660 when over 10 inches (25 cm) of ash covered the city. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth The latest eruption was recorded on October 5 and 7 1999, when a large amount of ash was deposited on the city. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Although not devastating, the eruption caused significant disruption of activities, including closing of the international airport.

Activity in other nearby volcanoes also can affect the city. In November 2002, after an eruption in the volcano Reventador, the city was showered with ash for several days with greater accumulation than the 1999 eruption of Guagua Pichincha. Reventador is an active Stratovolcano which lies in the eastern Andes of Ecuador. [7]

The region also is vulnerable to earthquakes. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer The worst-known earthquake to have hit Quito occurred in 1797 and killed 40,000 people. The most recent major seismic event, with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale, occurred in 1987 with an epicentre about 50 miles (80 km) from the city. The Richter magnitude scale, or more correctly local magnitude M L scale assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released It killed an estimated 1,000 near the epicenter, but Quito itself suffered only minor damage. On October 16, 2006, the city felt a quake measuring 4. Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 1 on the Richter scale, but no major damage was reported.

Demographics

2001 INEC census

These are numbers for the city proper only, not the whole canton, which also includes surrounding rural parishes (parish seats and their surroundings), which are separate from the city.

• Population: 1,399,378
• Number of households: 419,845
• Illiteracy rate: 3. 6%
• Unemployment rate: 8. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. 9%
• Underemployment rate: 43. In Economics, the term underemployment has three different distinct meanings and applications 8%

See also Cantón Quito (= "Distrito Metropolitano de Quito"). Quito, officially called Metropolitan District of Quito (Distrito Metropolitano de Quito is a canton in Pichincha, Ecuador.

Topographical zones

Hill of El Panecillo that separates the old downtown from the southern part of the city

Quito is divided into three areas, separated by hills:

1. the center houses the colonial old city
2. the southern part is mainly industrial and residential, a working-class housing area. Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the Capital of Ecuador in northwestern South America.
3. The northern part is modern Quito, with high-rise buildings, shopping centers, the financial district and upper class residential areas, and some working-class housing areas. Mariscal Sucre International Airport [8] is in the northern part. Mariscal Sucre International Airport is an Airport in Quito, Ecuador, named after Antonio José de Sucre, a hero of Ecuadorian and Latin

Political division

As of the October 2004 political elections, Quito was divided into 19 urban electoral parishes (parroquias electorales urbanas). "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches These parishes are not the same as the municipal parishes, whose boundaries are determined by the municipality of Quito instead of electoral organizations.

Avenida González Suárez, an avenue in northeastern Quito

These are the 19 electoral parishes of the city:

1. Alfaro
2. Benalcázar
3. Chaupicruz
4. Chillogallo
5. Cotocollao
6. El Salvador
7. González Suárez
8. Guápulo
9. La Floresta
10. La Libertad
11. La Magdalena
12. La Vicentina
13. San Blas
14. San Marcos
15. San Roque
16. San Sebastián
17. Santa Bárbara
18. Santa Prisca
19. Villa Flora

Transportation

Northernmost trolleybus station, north of "La Y" intersection

Domestic and international flights are handled by the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Chaupicruz urban parish, in the northern part of the city, although a new airport is to be built in Tababela rural parish, outside the city, to the east. Alfaro is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Benalcázar is an urban Parish in the northeastern part of the City of Quito, capital of Ecuador. Chaupicruz is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Chillogallo is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. The Cotocollao Parish is a Parish in northwest Quito, Ecuador. El Salvador is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. González Suárez is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Guápulo is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Floresta is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Libertad is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Magdalena is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. La Vicentina is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Blas is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Marcos is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Roque is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. San Sebastián is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Santa Bárbara is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Santa Prisca is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Villa Flora is an electoral parish (parroquia electorale urban or district of Quito. Mariscal Sucre International Airport is an Airport in Quito, Ecuador, named after Antonio José de Sucre, a hero of Ecuadorian and Latin

The public transportation system, with a total ridership of 1. 8 million passenger trips per day, includes an extensive network of privately-operated commuter bus routes; a trolleybus line (the Trole), in operation since 1995; and two bus rapid transit systems: Ecovía and Metrobús. Bus rapid transit ( BRT) is a broad term given to a variety of transportation systems that through improvements to infrastructure vehicles and scheduling attempt to use These rapid-transit lines are connected to outlying neighborhoods by an extensive "bus feeder" system. Rides on the rapid-transit system and most buses cost US$. 25. Additionally, there are about 8,800 registered taxicabs. A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of Public transport for a single passenger or small group of passengers typically for a non-shared ride [9]

Although public transportation is the primary form of travel in the city, including fleets of taxis that constantly cruise the roadways, the use of private vehicles has increased substantially during the past decade. [10] This has happened despite the fact that vehicles cost twice their price in the U. S. , due to import tariffs and taxes. Because of growing road congestion in many areas, there are plans to replace the Trole with a light rail system, with construction expected to begin in 2008. For specific light rail systems many of which use the words "light rail" as part of their name see List of light-rail transit systems. [11]

Points of interest

Northern Quito

Northeastern Quito near Avenida González Suárez

In the background are the volcanoes Cotopaxi, Pasochoa and Rumiñahui. Cotopaxi is a Stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 75 kilometres (50 mi south of Quito, Ecuador, South America Pasochoa is an Extinct volcano located in the Guayllabamba river basin in the Ecuadorean Andes. Rumiñahui, or alternatively Rumiaoui, born late 15th century died June 25 1535, was an Inca warrior who after the death of Emperor

View from the northeastern side of the Pichincha volcano. Pichincha is an active Volcano in the country of Ecuador, whose capital Quito wraps around its eastern slopes

The northern part of Quito is the site of the main business district and a substantial number of buildings. It is also where the international airport (UIO) and major recreational areas are located.

Museo del Banco Central

This museum [12] is a showcase of Ecuadorian art, history and culture. The ground floor features an extensive collection of pre-colonial (including pre-Incaic) potteries, sculptures, gold, lithics, and other artifacts such as a mummified body. Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 A mummy is a Corpse whose Skin and Flesh have been preserved by either intentional or Incidental exposure to Chemicals extreme There also are remarkable (if somewhat distorted) models to show the way various parts of Ecuador may have looked at the time, from the Pambamarca fort to the Cochasquí tumuli complex. The Pambamarca is an eroded Stratovolcano in the Central Cordillera of the northern Ecuadorian Andes in the northeast of Pichincha. A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves The highlight of this collection is a golden sun mask of the La Tolita culture. The second floor is dedicated to Colonial art, and paintings and sculptures with religious themes are exhibited. The third floor is devoted to contemporary Ecuadorian art.

Parks

1. Parque Metropolitano Guanguiltagua [13], with its 1,376 acres (5. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U 57 km²) is the largest urban park in South America. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a (As reference, New York's huge Central Park is 843 acres (3. Central Park is a large public Urban park in New York City, with about twenty-five million visitors annually 4 km²). ) The park is located in the north of Quito, on the hillside, behind the Atahualpa Olympic (Soccer) Stadium. The park is suited for mountain biking, walking, or running. Most of it is eucalyptus forest with trails, but there also are numerous sculptures on display. Eucalyptus (From Greek ευκάλυπτος meaning "well covered" is a diverse Genus of Trees (and a few shrubs the members of which The park has four sites that can be used for picnics or barbecues, and the eastern section has a view of Cotopaxi, Antisana [14] and the Guayllabamba river basin. Cotopaxi is a Stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 75 kilometres (50 mi south of Quito, Ecuador, South America Antisana is a Stratovolcano of the northern Andes, in Ecuador. The Guayllabamba is a River that originates in the east of Pichincha in northern Ecuador and flows into Esmeraldas. A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River,
2. La Carolina [15] is a 165. 5 acre (670,000 m²) park in the Benalcázar parish in the middle of Quito's business and shopping district, bordered by three major streets: Avenida Amazonas, Avenida Shyris, and Avenida Naciones Unidas. Quiteños gather at La Carolina mostly on weekends to play soccer, basketball, ecua-volley (an Ecuadorian variation of volleyball with less emphasis on spiking, which allows more of a throw and allows using the feet, much like soccer). Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 active players (5 normal players and one 'libero' are separated by a net that is usually four feet Other activities include aerobics, kite flying, running, snacking, and people watching. The southern part of the park has a small pond where paddle boats can be rented, and a skatepark for bicyclists and skateboarders. A skatepark is a purpose-built Recreational environment for Skateboarders to ride and develop their technique Artists are known to perform on weekends at the park. In the western part of the park visitors will find the Quito Exhibition Center [16] with different exhibits every month, the Quito botanical gardens, and a Vivarium.
3. El Ejido [17] is situated between the old part of the city and the modern section. This park is known for handicrafts available for sale every Saturday and Sunday, with all pricing subject to negotiation (i. e. haggling). Local painters sell copies of paintings by Oswaldo Guayasamín [18], Eduardo Kingman or Gonzalo Endara Crow. Oswaldo Guayasamín ( July 6, 1919 &ndash March 10, 1999, Quito, Ecuador) was an Eduardo Kingman ( February 3, 1913 - 1998 was one of Ecuador 's greatest artists Gonzalo Endara Crow (1936-1996 Bucay, Ecuador) was a master Latin American painter Otavaleños sell traditional sweaters, ponchos, carpets and jewelry. Otavalo is a largely indigenous town in Imbabura Province, Ecuador. A poncho is a simple garment designed to keep the body warm or if made from a watertight material to keep dry during Rain.
4. La Alameda [19] park has the oldest astronomical observatory [20] in South America as well as a monument of Simón Bolívar and a small lake where boats can be rented.

Old Town

Street of the old town (Centro Histórico) at night (García Moreno street).

The "centro histórico", historical center, as it is called, was appointed [21], along with the historic center [22] of Kraków (Cracovia) [23], Poland, as the first UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site [24] in 1978. Kraków, in English also spelled Krakow or Cracow (ˈkrækaʊ M-W: krăk'ou krāk'ō is one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic center in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. It has many appealing plazas (the Independence Plaza being the most important) and manierist and baroque churches, including: the Metropolitan Cathedral (official name: Catedral Primada de la Virgen Asunta al Cielo), the convent and church of St. Francis, which is the largest building of the Colonial era built by the Spaniards in South America; the church of El Sagrario; convent and church of Santo Domingo; and the church of the Society of Jesus, or "La Compañía," which was built after the model of the Church of the Gesu in Rome. For the opera by Olivier Messiaen see Saint-François d'Assise. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order For the school see Gesu School. The Church of the Gesù (dʒeˈzu in Italian, Chiesa del Sacro Nome di Gesù, or The Sucre Theater, where concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador are held, is in the vicinity. There also are several museums, many dedicated to Colonial art and history. The most renowned are the City Museum ("Museo de la Ciudad") [25], the Metropolitan Cultural Center [26] and the museum of the Convent of St. Francis. Markets are scattered throughout the area.

At the north-eastern edge of Old Town lies the more recent Basílica del Voto Nacional, consecrated in 1988. The Basilica of the National Vow (Basílica del Voto Nacionalis a Roman Catholic church located in Quito Ecuador. For the able-bodied non-acrophobic tourist, the Basílica offers a climb up its high towers leading to breathtaking views from the top. Acrophobia (from Greek, meaning "summit" is an extreme or irrational Fear of Heights It belongs to a category of Specific

El Panecillo

Main article: El Panecillo

'La Virgen del Panecillo', located on the top of the Panecillo hill, at night. El Panecillo (from Spanish panecillo small piece of bread diminutive of pan bread is a 200-meter-high Volcanic -origin hill with Loess

El Panecillo is a hill located in the middle west of the city with an altitude of about 9,895 feet (3,016 m) above sea level. El Panecillo (from Spanish panecillo small piece of bread diminutive of pan bread is a 200-meter-high Volcanic -origin hill with Loess The monument to Virgin Mary located on top of El Panecillo is visible from most of the city of Quito. This monument is based on a sculpture made by Bernardo de Legarda in the Spanish Colony time known as 'La Virgen de Quito'.

In 1976, the Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras was commissioned by the religious order of the Oblates to build a 134½ foot (41 m)-tall aluminum monument of a madonna, which was assembled on a high pedestal on the top of Panecillo. An oblate in Christian Monasticism (especially Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican) is a person who is specifically dedicated Images of the Madonna and Madonna and Child are one of the central Icons of Christianity, representing the Madonna or Mary mother of Jesus Made of approximately 7,000 pieces of aluminum, the monument was inaugurated on March 28, 1976, by the 11th archbishop of Quito, Pablo Cardinal Muñoz Vega. In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead Pablo Cardinal Muñoz Vega SJ ( 23 May 1903 - 3 June 1994) was an Ecuadorian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church

The figure stands on top of a globe, stepping on a snake (classic madonna iconography). Iconography is the branch of Art history which studies the identification description and the interpretation of the content of images What is not so traditional, however, is her wings. The monument was inspired by the famous "Virgen de Quito" (Quito's Madonna), also known as "the dancer" sculpted by Bernardo de Legarda in 1734, which now decorates the main altar at the Church of St. Year 1734 ( MDCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Francisco. This madonna represents a turning point of the Quito School of Art (one of the most renowned of the Americas) because it shows a figure with great movement (practically dancing) as a contrast with the traditional static madonnas produced during the 18th century.

Aerial tramway to Cruz Loma

Northern Quito as seen from the Telefériqo (Aerial tramway) Station at Cruz Loma (part of the Pichincha mountain complex at about 13,123 ft; 4,000 m, ). El TelefériQo (from teleférico and Quito is a gondola lift in Quito, Ecuador, running from the edge of the city centre up the east side of Lots of buildings (10 or more stories) have been constructed around the financial center of the city throughout the last 35 years.

Since July 2005, Quito has an aerial tramway, known as the "Telefériqo," from the city center to the hill known as Cruz Loma on the east side of the Pichincha volcano. An aerial tramway is a type of Aerial lift in which a cabin is suspended from a cable and is pulled by another cable The ride takes visitors to an altitude of about 13,400 feet (over 4,100 m) where they find a number of restaurants, coffee shops and a variety of stores. There are also trails for hiking and areas where pictures can be taken of Quito. Due to the increased altitude and the wind on the mountain, it is considerably cooler.

Besides the aerial tramway to Cruz Loma, the Telefériqo as a whole is a visitor center that includes an amusement park (Vulqano Park), fine dining restaurants, Go Karts, Paint Ball, shopping malls, extensive food court, and other attractions. El TelefériQo (from teleférico and Quito is a gondola lift in Quito, Ecuador, running from the edge of the city centre up the east side of Vulqano Park is an Amusement park in Quito, Ecuador. The park is part of a much larger entertainment complex named the TelefériQo.

Outside the city

La Mitad del Mundo [27] (the middle of the world) is a small village administered by the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, 22 miles (35 km) north of Quito. The Mitad del Mundo ( Spanish for Middle of the World) is a tract of land owned by the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, Ecuador The village features a large monument, built on the site where the equator was thought to have crossed the area in the early 1980s. There is also a museum that contains a model of Quito, a planetarium, various exhibits, several restaurants, an open arena that is occasionally used for folkloric dance performances, and a small chapel where couples can marry with one spouse standing in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern [it has since been determined that the actual equator is some 200 meters north of the monument area].

Pululahua is a volcano a few miles northwest from La Mitad del Mundo. Its caldera (crater) is visible from a spot easily accessible by car, and is believed to be one only a few in the world with human inhabitants. A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption It is also the site of a Geo Botanical Reserve.

Quito Zoo [28] located near the village of Guayllabamba, about 12 miles (20 km) outside Quito, has the biggest collection of native fauna in Ecuador, including several kinds of animals that are sometimes targeted in Ecuador in the illegal fur trade. Guayllabamba ( Quechua for green plain) is a small agricultural town (administratively a rural parish of the canton of Quito) located 29 kilometers northeast

Other nearby natural attractions include:

• Pasochoa Volcano reserve
• Cotopaxi Volcano National Park
• Illinizas Peaks Ecological reserve
• Antisana volcano reserve
• Rucu and Guagua Pichincha volcanoes
• Papallacta and Oyacachi Thermal springs
• Cayambe Volcano - Coca National Park
• Mojanda Cajas lakes
• Mindo Nambillo Cloud forest reserve
• Otavalo crafts market

Schools

According to the National Council for Higher Education of Ecuador (CONESUP [29]), here is a list of Schools founded before the year 2000 in the Quito and surrounding area:

Professional football teams

1. Liga Deportiva Universitaria
2. Club Deportivo El Nacional
3. Sociedad Deportiva Aucas
4. Sociedad Deportivo Quito
5. Club Deportivo Universidad Católica del Ecuador

Sister cities

Quito has seven sister cities:

• Madrid, Spain
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Bogota, Colombia
• Managua, Nicaragua
• Louisville (Kentucky, USA)
• Coral Gables (Florida, USA)
• Toronto (Ontario, Canada)
• Buxton, (England, United Kingdom)

See also

• Ecuador
• Guayaquil
• El Panecillo
• Mitad del Mundo
• World66:Quito
• Wikitravel:Quito
• Charles Marie de La Condamine
• Cuarenta
• List of Latin American artists

External links

• Quito is at coordinates 0°13′25″S 78°30′44″W / -0.2236, -78.5123 (Quito)Coordinates: 0°13′25″S 78°30′44″W / -0.2236, -78.5123 (Quito)
• Official Web site of the municipality of Quito
• Official tourism Web site of the municipality of Quito