Ambato, Provincial capital in central Andes, Ecuador
Ambato is a provincial capital in the central highlands of Ecuador, sitting along the Ambato River at 2,577 meters (8,455 feet) elevation. The city spreads through a valley between volcanoes and is surrounded by orchards and fields.
The settlement was relocated to a new site in 1698 following an earthquake and grew into an important trading center. In 1820, the city declared its independence from Spain and became part of the emerging Republic of Ecuador.
The name Ambato comes from the word
Buses from Quito run regularly and take about three hours through the mountains. The city has several shopping centers and the Monday market offers regional products and fresh fruit from surrounding farms.
Locals call the place "Land of the Three Juans" after writers Juan Montalvo and Juan Leon Mera, plus politician Juan Benigno Vela. Museums and monuments throughout the center honor their contributions to literature and public life.
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