Loja Province - Overview

Overview

Located in a high Andean valley at an elevation of 7,300 feet (2,225 m) and with a population of 404,835 inhabitants census, 2001, Loja is recognized as being a friendly and pleasant city. This was demonstrated when Loja, both the provincial capital and one of the oldest cities in Ecuador, won a community involvement award in 2001 in recognition of the communities ongoing effort to support and to protect the environment.

Surrounded by two rivers the Zamora and Malacatos, Loja has a variety of microclimates. This results in numerous ecological zones due to its unique position. Based between the humid Amazon basin and coastal sechura desert in Peru the environment consists of paramo, cloud forest and jungle landscapes. 86% of the province is covered by hills or mountains.

Its historical buildings and Colonial Architecture make the city of Loja a popular tourist attraction. Famous for the Vírgen del Cisne religious festivals it organizes in September every year, Loja is also famous for its musicians. The city has a number of important music academies including the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica, house of the most influent musicians in Ecuador. The city is commonly referred to as the ‘musical capital of Ecuador.’ A person from Loja should be a singer;if not a singer he or she has to be a poet, otherwise would be an artist. In addition to the academies, there are also two universities; Universidad Tecnica Particular De Loja, Universidad Nacional de Loja with an important law school as well.

Just south of Loja (42 km) is Vilcabamba which is known as the Valley of Longevity. Inhabitants of the community enjoy a long life span due to its ideal climate and local hot springs. Researchers and scientists have regularly visited the town, studying geographical conditions, climate, soil and water. Articles have even appeared in well known periodicals such as Readers Digest and National Geographic Magazine providing their own theories to the longevity of the Vilcabamba inhabitants. Loja is credited with being the first city in Ecuador to have had electricity. Electric power was supplied to the city by the introduction of a Hydroelectric dam completed in 1896.