Pastaza Province
Encyclopedia
Pastaza is a province
in the Oriente of Ecuador
located in the eastern jungle. The capital is Puyo, founded on May 12, 1899 and which boasts 25,800 inhabitants. The city is now accessible by paved roads, a recent development; the main road from Baños
follows the Pastaza river into the province.
The Pastaza River surges into the province from the west and as the landscape flattens, meanders on to the Napo, a tributary of the Amazon. Natural resources of Pastaza are bananas, grapefruit, tobacco, cocoa and coffee. Tea has successfully been cultivated by a few British companies, and in the mid eighties one of the companies was honored by a visit from Princess Margaret from the royal family of Britain.
The landscape is mostly mountainous in the western part of the province and becomes relatively flat toward the east as it nears the Peruvian border with rivers and plains characterizing most of the province. The highest elevation is 1,820 meters (5,970 ft). The climate is warm and humid due to the almost 7 meters of annual rainfall (22 feet) in the parts closest to the western mountains, but with significant amounts of rainfall throughout the province. The median temperature is 18 to 24 Celsius. It is rumored that there is a lot of gold in the rivers of Pastaza; however, to date no significant discoveries of gold have been reported.
Snakes and other venomous creatures, such as tarantulas and scorpions, are common in the province. Travellers are advised to be cautious in any trekking through the jungles, parks and trails. Some of the snakes blend extremely well even in trees, so walking sticks and/or machetes are a good precaution for hiking.
The flora of the region is absolutely spectacular. A few local parks have been developed with myriad natural orchids from the area and admittance to these parks is relatively inexpensive. Rainy day gear is advised since the rains are present almost year round, many times in the late afternoon, but occasional all day as well. The rain is quite warm compared to the North American experience.
Pastaza is the largest province in Ecuador and the richest in biodiversity. To the north of Pastaza are the provinces Napo and Orellana, to the south is Morona Santiago, to the east is the country of Peru, and to the west are the provinces Tungurahua and Moronga Santiago. The total population is about 62,110 inhabitants.
, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.
Provinces of Ecuador
Ecuador is divided into 24 provinces . The provinces of Ecuador and their capitals are:1 Population as per the census carried out on 2001-11-25In addition, there are three areas within Ecuador that are non-delimited...
in the Oriente of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
located in the eastern jungle. The capital is Puyo, founded on May 12, 1899 and which boasts 25,800 inhabitants. The city is now accessible by paved roads, a recent development; the main road from Baños
Baños
Baños de Agua Santa , commonly referred to as Baños, is a city in eastern Tungurahua Province, in central Ecuador. Baños is the second most populous city in Tungurahua, after Ambato, the capital, and is a major tourist center...
follows the Pastaza river into the province.
The Pastaza River surges into the province from the west and as the landscape flattens, meanders on to the Napo, a tributary of the Amazon. Natural resources of Pastaza are bananas, grapefruit, tobacco, cocoa and coffee. Tea has successfully been cultivated by a few British companies, and in the mid eighties one of the companies was honored by a visit from Princess Margaret from the royal family of Britain.
The landscape is mostly mountainous in the western part of the province and becomes relatively flat toward the east as it nears the Peruvian border with rivers and plains characterizing most of the province. The highest elevation is 1,820 meters (5,970 ft). The climate is warm and humid due to the almost 7 meters of annual rainfall (22 feet) in the parts closest to the western mountains, but with significant amounts of rainfall throughout the province. The median temperature is 18 to 24 Celsius. It is rumored that there is a lot of gold in the rivers of Pastaza; however, to date no significant discoveries of gold have been reported.
Snakes and other venomous creatures, such as tarantulas and scorpions, are common in the province. Travellers are advised to be cautious in any trekking through the jungles, parks and trails. Some of the snakes blend extremely well even in trees, so walking sticks and/or machetes are a good precaution for hiking.
The flora of the region is absolutely spectacular. A few local parks have been developed with myriad natural orchids from the area and admittance to these parks is relatively inexpensive. Rainy day gear is advised since the rains are present almost year round, many times in the late afternoon, but occasional all day as well. The rain is quite warm compared to the North American experience.
Pastaza is the largest province in Ecuador and the richest in biodiversity. To the north of Pastaza are the provinces Napo and Orellana, to the south is Morona Santiago, to the east is the country of Peru, and to the west are the provinces Tungurahua and Moronga Santiago. The total population is about 62,110 inhabitants.
Cantons
The province is divided into four cantons. The following table lists each with its population as of the 2001 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.
| Canton | Pop. (2001) | Area (km²) | Seat/Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arajuno Arajuno Canton Arajuno Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Pastaza Province. Its capital is the town of Arajuno. Its population at the 2001 census was 5,150.... |
5,150 | 8,767 | Arajuno Arajuno Arajuno is a jungle community in the Ecuadorian rainforest. It is also a Canton in the Pastaza Province. It is located on the Arajuno River, a tributary of the Curaray. The area is inhabited by Quechua Indians.... |
| Mera Mera Canton Mera Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Pastaza Province. Its capital is the town of Mera. Its population at the 2001 census was 8,088.... |
8,088 | 520 | Mera Mera, Pastaza Mera is a town in the eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes. It is also the name of the Canton in Pastaza Province of which it is a part.It lends its name to Shell Mera, a larger town 4 miles to the east.*... |
| Pastaza Pastaza Canton Pastaza Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Pastaza Province. Its capital is the town of Puyo. Its population at the 2001 census was 45,512.... |
45,512 | 19,727 | Puyo Puyo, Pastaza Puyo, also known as El Puyo, is the capital of Pastaza, a province in Ecuador. Puyo is located at an altitude of approximately 950 AMSL by the Puyo River, a tributary of the Pastaza River, which eventually leads into the Amazon River... |
| Santa Clara Santa Clara Canton Santa Clara Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Pastaza Province. Its capital is the town of Santa Clara. Its population at the 2001 census was 3,029.... |
3,029 | 311 | Santa Clara |
List of places in Pastaza Province
- ArajunoArajunoArajuno is a jungle community in the Ecuadorian rainforest. It is also a Canton in the Pastaza Province. It is located on the Arajuno River, a tributary of the Curaray. The area is inhabited by Quechua Indians....
- MeraMera, PastazaMera is a town in the eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes. It is also the name of the Canton in Pastaza Province of which it is a part.It lends its name to Shell Mera, a larger town 4 miles to the east.*...
- PuyoPuyo, PastazaPuyo, also known as El Puyo, is the capital of Pastaza, a province in Ecuador. Puyo is located at an altitude of approximately 950 AMSL by the Puyo River, a tributary of the Pastaza River, which eventually leads into the Amazon River...
- SarayakuSarayakuSarayaku is a territory and a village, situated by the Bobonaza River in the province of Pastaza in the southern part of the Amazonic region of Ecuador, el Oriente...
- Shell MeraShell MeraShell Mera is a town located in the eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes, about from Quito. Its name comes from the Royal Dutch Shell Company, and the smaller town of Mera, which is to the west....