Esmeraldas is the capital city of the province of Esmeraldas, in the northwestern part of the Republic of Ecuador.
Description
It is located 318 km from Quito.
In 2010 it had a population of 154 035 inhabitants. Esmeraldas is the eleventh most populated city in the country and one of the most important ports of Ecuador. It offers beautiful beaches with settings and warm weather. Its coast, as well as its ecological reserves, make it one of the most visited tourist ends in the country, enjoying a favorable temperature throughout the year.
The city has a branch of the Museum of the Central Bank of Ecuador that preserves archaeological pieces of the Tolita Culture, as well as vestiges of other cultures. It has become an obligatory destination for those who wish to know and enjoy all the warmth and richness of this territory. The beaches and the landscape are the best, here you can relax under the bright sun, green landscape and lush blue sea, the tourist will feel his kingdom. More sports: water skiing, swimming, sea and river fishing, hunting and more.
History
It was founded on September 21, 1526 as San Mateo de Esmeraldas, by Bartolomé Ruiz. The Spanish conquest determined diverse processes in what is now Ecuador. As far as Esmeraldas is concerned, numerous military expeditions were carried out to conquer the “Land of Esmeraldas”; in addition to the wealth that these lands had, the motivation was the desire to build a direct road from Quito to the Pacific Ocean that, besides facilitating the exchange of products from the highlands and the coast, constituted the access to a port, which would give commercial and economic power to Quito. It would take more than a century, from the beginning of the conquest, for the Royal Audience to “found” two small coastal towns: Atacames and San Mateo de Esmeraldas, the original settlement of present-day Esmeraldas.
Location
Esmeraldas is a coastal town located in northwestern Ecuador. It is the capital of the street of the same name. It also has an international port and airport. Esmeraldas is the main seaport in northwestern Ecuador; it is located on the left bank of the Esmeraldas River at the mouth of the Pacific Ocean at 4 meters above sea level. Esmeraldas is undoubtedly a paradise of incredible beaches, natural environments and virgin jungles, surrounded by green landscapes with lush vegetation.
Characteristics of Esmeraldas
Relief
This northern city is located in the lowlands, where the highest altitudes do not exceed 600 meters above sea level; it is crossed by several foothills that are extensions of the western mountain range of the Andes; to the east are the Cayapas and Toisán mountain ranges; and to the west are the mountains of Muisne, Atacames and Cojimíes.
Climate
The climate is warm, changing in winter and summer, with special features that distinguish it; Winter begins in the last days of December and falls in June. The average temperature is 25ºC.
Flora
It has an incredible flora. Within the flor, you may find: trees of fine woods, rubber, ceibos (vegetable wool), tagua (vegetable ivory), banana, fibers such as abaca and toquilla. Toquilla is used to make hats that are well received in foreign markets.
Fauna
The fauna is extensive in the jungle, in the lowlands of the coast is an equatorial type fauna such as: the jaguar or American tiger, sloths or “light”, anteaters, macaws, parrots, toucans, coots, boobies, terns, lizards, lizards, poisonous snakes.
Hydrography
The hydrographic system is important since several of its rivers have become natural access routes for the transportation of products to different places, both inside and outside the province.
Economic Development
The commerce is dynamic and has several sources of income due to the great agricultural production and the richness of the soil, agricultural industries of coal and rubber have been established. There are also manufacturing industries and petroleum derivatives.
Transportation
It consists basically of a road along the coast linking La Tola, Lagarto, Montalvo, Rocafuerte, Rio Verde, Camarones, Tachina and San Mateo; other roads are: Esmeraldas – Atacames – Súa – La Unión – Muisne – Esmeraldas – Quinindé towards Santo Domingo and Quito. The latter joins the new route coming from the province of Pichincha and also passes through San Miguel de los Bancos and Pedro Vicente Maldonado. The Quito – San Lorenzo railroad network is currently undergoing total rehabilitation from stations, tracks, and locomotives. Carlos Concha Torres International Airport, located in the town of Tachina, serves domestic and international flights to Cali (Colombia).
Tourism
The beach of the city of Esmeraldas is located in the neighborhood of Las Palmas, in Ecuador. Here you can find tourist businesses and restaurants, as well as nightlife venues.
- Virgin Jungles, Cayapas Indians, Marimba and Afro-Ecuadorian Dance, La Tolita archaeological zone, Islands, flora and fauna.
- International Festival of Afro Music and Dance.
- Our Lady of Loreto.
- Las Palmas Spa.
- Regional Museum.
- Social development.
Sports
The Folke Anderson Stadium is a multipurpose stadium located on December 6th Avenue and Quito in the city of Esmeraldas. Esmeraldas was inaugurated on August 5, 1956. It is mainly used for soccer. It has a capacity for 14,000 spectators. This stadium hosted the VIII National Games of Esmeraldas 1996.
The stadium plays an important role in local soccer, since Esmeraldas clubs such as Esmeraldas Sporting Club, Esmeraldas Petrolero, Juvenil de Esmeraldas, Juventus de Esmeraldas, 5 de Agosto, Huracán Sporting Club, Vargas Torres, Tácito Ortiz Urriola, Rocafuerte Sporting Club and Sagrado Corazón played and/or play their home games in this sports venue. This sports venue is the venue for various sporting events at the provincial and local levels, as well as the stage for various cultural events, especially musical concerts (which are also held at the Nubia Villacís Díaz Coliseum and the Luis Alberto Raad Estrada Fairgrounds in La Propicia de Esmeraldas).
Cultures and traditions
Most important festivities: September 21, 1526: Arrival of the Spanish conquistadors led by Bartolomé Ruiz to the bay of San Mateo; August 5, 1820: Political Independence; July 25, 1824: Cantonization of Esmeraldas Provincial Capital; November 18, 1847: Provincialization of Esmeraldas.
Festival Activities: To talk about Esmeraldas is to talk about the magical beauty of its beaches, its soft sand and the warm sea that bathes it. Its people enjoy every party dancing the marimba because they feel free and they unwind their lives.
Gastronomy
Rice with Shrimp: (Atacames) It is one of the most exquisite and tasted dishes in the canton, it consists of rice with breaded shrimp accompanied by a delicious salad and lemon slices.
Steamed Fish: (Esmeraldas) The fish is pickled with sauce and lemon, for thirty minutes then placed in a pan with garlic, pepper and vinegar, and left for ten minutes. It is served with rice.
The Encocados: (San Lorenzo) This succulent dish can be made of bush meat, seafood, crustaceans or Creole chicken, having coconut milk as a basic ingredient.
Ceviches: (Río Verde) Many varieties are offered such as shrimp, shell, fish, mixed, all of them accompanied with patacones and rice.
Cazuela de Pescado o Camarón: Prepared with fish or shrimp, grated and liquefied green plantain, grated coconut juice, peanuts, red and white onion, bell pepper, garlic, oregano and oil. It is served with white rice.
