Ambato, Ecuador facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ambato
City
San Juan de Ambato
From top, left to right: Panoramic view of the city, Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Elevation, Bolivar street, Atocha-La Liria Historical Botanical Garden, Juan Montalvo monument, City hall of Ambato, Cevallos Park and Victor Hugo avenue.
Flag
Nickname(s):  Tierra de las Flores y las Frutas (Land of Flowers and Fruits)
Motto(s):  Tierrita linda
Ambato Location in Ecuador
Country	Ecuador
Province	Tungurahua
Canton	Ambato Canton
Founded	December 6, 1698
Area
• City	34.64 km2 (13.37 sq mi)
Elevation	2,577 m (8,455 ft)
Highest elevation	3,900 m (12,800 ft)
Lowest elevation	1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Population  (2022 census)
• City	177,316
• Density	5,118.8/km2 (13,257.7/sq mi)
Demonyms	Ambateño,-a
Time zone	UTC-5 (ECT)
Area code(s)	(+593) 3
Climate	Cfb

Ambato (full name: San Juan de Ambato) is a city in the central Andean mountains of Ecuador. It sits by the Ambato River and is surrounded by tall mountains. Ambato is the capital of the Tungurahua Province. It is about 2,577 meters (8,455 feet) above sea level.

People call Ambato the "City of Flowers and Fruits" or "Land of the Three Juan's." Its people are known as Ambateños or Guaytambos. This nickname comes from a special type of peach grown there. The current mayor of Ambato is Diana Caiza.

The city has been damaged by earthquakes many times. The most recent big earthquake was on August 5, 1949. This event almost completely destroyed the city and its main church. Ambato was rebuilt in just two years. To celebrate their strength, Ambato holds the "Festival of Fruits and Flowers" every February during Carnival. This festival is now one of the most important events in Ecuador.

Ambato is called the "Land of the Three Juan's" because three famous Ecuadorians were born here:

• Juan Montalvo, a well-known writer from the 1800s.
• Juan León Mera, who wrote Ecuador's national anthem.
• Juan Benigno Vela, an important person in Ecuador's fight for independence.

The city is famous for its fruits, leather products, food, and clothes. It is also a major travel center, especially for people going south on the Pan-American Highway.

History of Ambato

How Ambato Began

The city of Ambato was founded on December 6, 1698. It was named the Seat of Ambato. Before this, an earthquake and landslide destroyed the old settlement on June 20, 1698. Thousands of people died. The city was then moved to higher ground, where it is today. For the next 100 years, Ambato slowly grew into an important mountain town.

Ambato's Role in Independence

Ambato played a key part in the Ecuadorian War of Independence. On October 9, 1820, people in Guayaquil declared independence from Spain. They formed an army and moved towards Spanish forces in Quito. Ambato was one of the first cities they freed. The city officially declared its freedom from Spain on November 12, 1820.

After freeing Ambato, the army aimed for Quito. But the Spanish army, led by Field-Marshal Melchor Aymerich, fought back. On November 22, 1820, the Spanish defeated the independence army near Ambato. This was the First Battle of Huachi.

A year later, in September 1821, the independence forces tried again. They were led by Antonio José de Sucre. But they were defeated again by Aymerich's forces in the Second Battle of Huachi. Sucre had to return to Guayaquil.

Winning Freedom

In 1822, things started to change for Ambato. Sucre and his army had built a strong network of spies. They also had some luck. The Spanish commander, General Mourgeon, became very ill. Sucre then marched his army north, taking back Riobamba in April. Ambato was freed soon after. The Spanish were finally defeated at the Battle of Pichincha.

In the early years of the Republic of Ecuador, Ambato was an important cultural and economic center. The city helped rewrite the country's laws several times. It also continued to produce great artists and thinkers like Montalvo and Mera.

The 1949 Earthquake

On August 5, 1949, a terrible earthquake hit Ambato. More than 6,000 people died. Many more lost their homes. Much of the old city center was destroyed, including the cathedral. The city was rebuilt quickly with help from around the world. The new, modern cathedral opened on December 12, 1954.

Geography and Climate

Where is Ambato Located?

Chimborazo and Carihuairazo seen from the outskirts of Ambato

Ambato is in the main valley of the Central Cordillera. This is the highest part of the Andean mountains. The city is built on the side of Cerro Casigana mountain. From Ambato, you can see many snow-capped volcanoes. These include Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Carihuairazo, and Chimborazo. Chimborazo is the largest mountain in Ecuador.

Tungurahua volcano is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Ambato. It erupts often. On May 16, 2006, Tungurahua erupted and covered the city with a thick layer of ash.

The Ambato River

The Ambato River flows through the northern part of the city. It is not a very wide or deep river. However, it can cause big floods when there is heavy rain. Over the years, the river has carved a deep path. This led to the need for better bridges. In October 2008, the city finished the new Juan Leon Mera bridge. This bridge connects downtown Ambato to the Ficoa and Atocha neighborhoods.

What is Ambato's Climate Like?

Ambato has a subtropical highland climate. This means it has mild afternoons and cool nights all year. This is because it is high up (2400 meters or 7,874 feet) and close to the equator. Its weather is similar to other Andean cities in Ecuador, like Quito or Cuenca.

Economy and Industry

What Does Ambato Produce?

Ambato is an important industrial center in Ecuador. Making vehicle parts, especially for large trucks, is a big business here. Leather tanning is also a major part of Ambato's economy. Many leather goods are sold in nearby Quisapincha or sent to other countries. Other important industries include textiles (cloth), glass, food products, and shoes.

On Mondays, vendors and buyers crowd streets and markets in Ambato

Tourism in Ambato

Ambato is a transportation hub. This means many travelers pass through it. While not as famous as Quito or Guayaquil, Ambato has its own attractions. These include the modern cathedral and the Mera house. Tourists often use Ambato as a starting point to visit nearby towns. These towns include Quisapincha or Píllaro. The Monday market is also popular. Streets fill with vendors selling food and clothes. Ambato is seen as a modern Ecuadorian city. It is proud of its past and looks forward to the future in industry and technology.

The Festival of Fruits and Flowers

The Festival of Fruits and Flowers happens every year in Ambato. It remembers the earthquake that destroyed the city on August 5, 1949. This earthquake killed 6,000 people. The festival started on June 29, 1950. Even though the earthquake was in August, the festival is held in February. This is to be closer to the Carnival celebrations.

The rich volcanic soil around Ambato helps many farms grow fruits and other crops. Ambateños call their city the "land of the three Juanes." People from Ambato are sometimes called Guaytambos or Patojos.

Places to Visit

Juan Montalvo Park

Ambato's main cathedral, located across the street from Montalvo Park

In the city center is the famous Montalvo Park. It is named after Juan Montalvo, a writer born in Ambato. The park was built in 1905. It has been a popular meeting spot for people ever since. The park was designed by architect Pedro Durini. It is at the corner of four important streets: Montalvo, Sucre, Bolivar, and Castillo. The modern cathedral is also nearby. A statue of Juan Montalvo stands in the park's center. It was built in Italy and opened in 1911. Juan Montalvo's tomb is just down the street.

Quinta Juan León Mera

This was the home of Juan León Mera, another famous Ambato writer. The villa-style house was built in 1874. It is on the north side of the Ambato River in the Atocha neighborhood. Now, it is open to the public. The house is known for its beautiful gardens. These gardens are said to have over 257 types of flowers. The house also has old colonial furniture and paintings. A new Botanic Garden with plants from Ecuador and other countries is also nearby.

The Cathedral

The modern, white cathedral in downtown Ambato is a symbol of the city. It stands where an older chapel was built in 1689. That chapel was destroyed by an earthquake. A larger church was built, but it was also destroyed in the 1797 Riobamba earthquake. Another church was built, but it too fell in the 1949 Ambato earthquake. The current cathedral opened in 1954. It is across the street from Juan Montalvo Park.

Central Library

Next to the Casa de Portal is Ambato's newest and largest library. This three-story library is part of the city's plan to improve the downtown area. The library has over 70,000 books. It also has many computers for visitors to use. It is called the "Library of the City and Province." It serves both Ambato city and the wider Tungurahua area.

Cevallos Park

Cevallos Park (Parque Cevallos)

Cevallos Park is a green space close to Montalvo Park. It is on Calle Cevallos, a main street in downtown Ambato. Two well-known schools are next to the park: Colegio Bolivar (a high school) and Escuela de la Providencia (an elementary school).

Parque de la Familia

Parque Provincial de la Familia, or "Provincial Park of the Family," is a large park about 7 miles (11 km) from Ambato. Many Ambateños visit the park on weekends. The provincial government of Tungurahua maintains it. The park has walking paths, open fields, and sports courts. It also has a large garden with many native plants. On clear days, you can see great views of Ambato and the Tungurahua volcano from the park.

Neighborhoods

Ficoa

The Casa de Portal, across from Parque Montalvo has a great collection of historical art and artifacts from the city's most best-known residents

Ficoa is one of the richest areas in Ambato. It is on the north side of the Ambato River. The trees in Ficoa are famous for their tasty fruits. These include peaches, pears, and a local type of citrus. Ficoa also has many small restaurants. They serve traditional Ambateño dishes like llapingachos and fritada.

Miraflores

Miraflores was once considered the most important neighborhood. It is next to downtown on the west side. It used to have the train station, connecting it to Quito. Now, Miraflores is mostly a residential area. It is named Miraflores because of its many flowers.

Atocha

Atocha is one of Ambato's oldest neighborhoods. It is famous for being home to the Quinta Juan León Mera. This makes it an important part of Ambateño and Ecuadorian culture. Atocha is also known for making colada morada. This is a purple, spiced drink often eaten with bread. During Carnival, many people go to Atocha for this drink.

Ingahurco

Ingahurco is a quiet neighborhood. Ambato's main bus terminal is here. It is also next to the Technical University of Ambato (Universidad Tecnica de Ambato).

Transportation

Ambato is an important transportation hub. It is connected to other cities by Ecuador's bus system. There used to be a train service from Quito to Riobamba through Ambato, but it is no longer running. Ambato has an airport, the Chachoan Airport, but it is not used for regular passenger flights.

The city's main bus terminal is in the Ingahurco neighborhood. From here, travelers can catch buses to many parts of the country. There are plans to update the old bus terminal. This will make it the main hub for a network of terminals around the city.

Education

Universidad Técnica de Ambato

This is the main public university in Ambato. It was started on April 18, 1969. It offers courses in science and humanities. There are three campuses in Ambato:

• The main campus is in Ingahurco, near the bus terminal.
• Another campus is in the Huachi neighborhood.
• A third campus is in Querocacha, in the Cevallos Canton.

Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador (PUCE) - Sede Ambato

"La Catolica" is a branch of Quito's Catholic University. The Ambato campus was created on January 13, 1982. Classes began in 1994. The university offers undergraduate and graduate courses. It also has open courses for English and French.

Universidad Regional Autonoma de los Andes (UNIANDES)

This is a private university in Ambato.

High Schools

Ambato has many public and private high schools. All high school students in Ambato must wear uniforms. In the past, many schools were only for boys or only for girls. Now, most schools accept both boys and girls. Some well-known high schools in Ambato include:

The city's main gathering point, Montalvo Park

• Colegio Instituto Tecnológico Superior Bolivar
• Instituto Superior Tecnologico Docente Guayaquil
• Centro Educativo Diosesano San Pio X
• Colegio de La Inmaculada
• Colegio Técnico Rumiñahui
• Colegio Menor Indoamerica
• Colegio Santo Domingo de Guzmán
• Unidad Educativa Mayor Ambato
• Colegio Técnico Atahualpa
• Colegio Universitario Juan Montalvo
• Unidad Educativa Bilingüe Atenas
• Centro Educativo Bilingue Internacional CEBI
• Instituto Técnico Superior Hispano America
• Colegio Técnico Superior Tirso de Molina
• Liceo Policial Galo Miño
• Colegio Natalia Vaca
• Institulo Agropecuario Luis A. Martinez
• Unidad educativa Bolivar
• Unidad Educativa Celite

Sports

Soccer in Ambato

People in Ambato enjoy many sports, but soccer is the most popular. Ambato has three professional soccer teams:

• Macará
• Técnico
• Mushuc Runa

Macará and Técnico play in Ecuador's top league, Serie A. Mushuc Runa plays in Serie B. All three teams play at Estadio Bellavista in the city center. Mushuc Runa also has a practice stadium in the Chibuleo community. This stadium is one of the highest in the world.

Matches between Macará and Técnico U. are called El Clásico Ambateño (The Ambato Derby). These games are very exciting for fans. Ambato usually has at least one team in Serie A. In 2018, Macará was a top team in the league.

Other Popular Sports

Other popular sports in Ambato include basketball, tennis, and swimming. Ecuavolley is also very popular. This is a special type of volleyball played only in Ecuador. It has three players per team on a small court with a high net. Players usually use a soccer ball instead of a volleyball. Ecuavolley is played in city parks and on side streets.

Basketball is also growing in popularity. There is a big rivalry between two high schools: Colegio Nacional Bolívar and Colegio Técnico Guayaquil. Their games are held at the Coliseo Cerrado de Deportes. This large arena is across from Estadio Bellavista. The Coliseo Cerrado also hosts the beauty pageant for the Festival of Fruits and Flowers.

Notable People

• Anita Velastegui (born 1942), an Ecuadorian Army officer
• Juan Benigno Vela (born 1843), a politician, writer, and journalist
• Juan León Mera (born 1832), a novelist, painter, and politician
• Juan Montalvo (born 1832), a famous writer

Images for kids

• 

  Panoramic view of the city, Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Elevation, Bolivar street, Atocha-La Liria Historical Botanical Garden, Juan Montalvo monument, City hall of Ambato, Cevallos Park and Victor Hugo avenue.

• 

  Flag of Tungurahua Province

See also

In Spanish: Ambato para niños