Azogues
| Azogues | ||
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Coordinates: 2 ° 44 ′ S , 78 ° 50 ′ W Azogues on the map of Ecuador
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Ecuador | |
| Provincia | Cañar | |
| City foundation | April 16, 1825 | |
| Residents | 31,151 (2005) | |
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| Detailed data | ||
| height | 2518 m | |
| Time zone | UTC -5 | |
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Azogues (long form: San Francisco de Pelengui de Azogues ) is a city in Ecuador . It is the capital of the Cañar province and has 31,151 inhabitants (2005). Azogues is located on the Panamericana near Cuenca at an altitude of 2518 m.
history
The area of today's Cañar province was originally inhabited by the Kañari , conquered by the Inca at the end of the 15th century and in 1533/34 by Spanish conquistadors under Sebastián de Belalcázar . The Kañari allied with the Spaniards. Azogues was built on the basis of a mining settlement that had formed since the discovery of mercury deposits in 1558. This received the status of an asiento and the name San Francisco de Peleusí del Azogue in 1562 by the Spanish governor of Quito, Gil Ramírez Dávalos . Azogue means mercury in Spanish and Peleusí was the traditional name of the area. In 1771 the settlement was elevated to a secular parish . In 1820 it achieved its independence from the Spanish colonial rulers. In Greater Colombia and since 1830 in Ecuador, Azogues was initially the capital of a canton in what is now the province of Azuay, before the province of Azogues , later renamed Cañar, was established with Azogues as its capital .
Culture and sights
The city now has a very well-preserved ensemble of colonial architecture, from which the San Francisco Cathedral of the Roman Catholic diocese of Azogues on Plaza Mayor protrudes. The Marie portrait Virgen de la Nube (dt. "Virgin of the Cloud"), a major pilgrimage destination in Ecuador, is kept there. Ten kilometers from the city is the archaeological site of Cojitambo .
economy
The economy of the area is agriculturally oriented. The region of the provinces of Cañar and Azuay is also known for weaving so-called panama hats and for handicraft pottery.
