Loja Province, Administrative province in southern Ecuador
This administrative division sits in southern Ecuador and borders El Oro, Azuay, and Zamora-Chinchipe provinces as well as Peru to the south. The territory runs from western lowlands through central highlands and down toward eastern slopes, creating a landscape of varied elevations and climates.
The region gained its status as a separate administrative unit in 1824, shortly after Ecuador became independent from Spain. The city of Loja was named as the administrative center and has since coordinated governance across the various cantons.
The population of 485,421 residents includes a majority of Mestizo inhabitants, alongside Indigenous communities and Afro-Ecuadorians, each contributing to regional traditions.
Roads connect the sixteen cantons and provide access to different parts of the region, which spans several climate zones. Visitors should account for the elevation changes, as weather shifts noticeably from western valleys to eastern mountain areas.
Podocarpus National Park lies partly within the boundaries of this administrative unit and protects rare cloud forests and highland ecosystems. These areas host many plant species found only in the Andes and attract birdwatchers from around the world.
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