Babahoyo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Babahoyo
City
From top, left to right: Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral next to the Central Park May 24, view of the southwest of the city, Catarama River Bridge, October 9 Boardwalk, Babahoyo River and García Moreno Street.
Babahoyo Location in Ecuador
Country	Ecuador
Province	Los Ríos
Canton	Babahoyo
Founded	1796
Area
• City	13.66 km2 (5.27 sq mi)
Elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Population  (2022 census)
• City	98,251
• Density	7,192.6/km2 (18,629/sq mi)
• Demonym	Babahoyense
Time zone	UTC-5 hours
Area code(s)	(+593) 5
Climate	Aw

Babahoyo is a city in Ecuador and the capital of the Los Ríos province. It was officially founded on May 27, 1948. About 98,000 people live here.

The city is special because it's located where two rivers, the San Pablo and the Caracol, meet. They form the Babahoyo River. This river then joins the Daule River to create the Guayas River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil.

Babahoyo is an important place for farming and trade. Farmers in the area grow crops like rice, sugarcane, and different fruits. They also produce balsa wood and tagua nuts (which is like vegetable ivory). The city also has mills where rice and sugar are processed.

Exploring Babahoyo's Geography

Babahoyo is located on the left side of the San Pablo River. This river joins the Catarama River to form the Babahoyo River. A fun way to see the area is to take a boat trip on the Babahoyo River.

The city is in a region called Litoral. It's a key stop for people traveling to the mountains. Highways connect Babahoyo to cities like Quito and Ambato. It's also easy to reach other coastal towns like Guayaquil and Milagro from here. More than 25,000 vehicles pass through Babahoyo every day. This makes it a busy trading spot between the coast and the mountains.

Inside the city, there are two pedestrian bridges. These bridges help people walk between the areas of Barreiro and El Salto. There are also four bridges for cars and trucks. Two of these cross the Catarama and San Pablo rivers in the north. Another crosses the Lagarto marsh in the south. The fourth is in the La Ventura area.

Babahoyo's Climate

Babahoyo has a hot and humid climate. It often floods during the rainy winter months. For example, the entire city flooded from January to June in 2008.

Babahoyo's History

The city of Babahoyo was founded on May 27, 1869. It was built on land given by the Flores family. For a long time, it was known as Bodegas, which means "warehouses." This is because the city had customs offices and royal stores. These places controlled trade between Guayaquil and the cities in the Ecuadorian mountains.

Babahoyo faced many fires over the years. The worst fire happened on March 30, 1867. It destroyed almost everything in the city. Because of this, the government decided to move the city to its current location. The capital was moved to the other side of the San Pablo River. Today, this area is called Barreiro.

Babahoyo has always been an important center for national life. It connects two main regions: the coast and the mountains. It's a place where many different businesses and farming efforts come together.

People of Babahoyo (Demographics)

Babahoyo has a city population of 98,251 people. This makes it one of the largest cities in the region and one of the top 20 biggest cities in Ecuador. Many people live in the main city area and in the neighborhoods close to the bypass highway.

The city center is a busy place for shopping and government offices. It has all the important services like water and electricity. The buildings in this area are strong and modern. The roads are well-maintained and paved.

Babahoyo's Economy

Most people in Babahoyo work in farming. The main crops grown are rice and bananas. Several industries are located here. One example is Industrias Facundo. Another big one is Ingenio Isabel Maria, which is the fourth-largest sugar refinery in the country. There are also many smaller rice mills.

The city center is a major economic hub for the province. Many people in Babahoyo are improving their lives. There are also several banks in the city.

Culture and Traditions

Babahoyo celebrates its patron saint's day on September 24. This day honors the Virgin of Merced. From September 15 to 23, different groups carry a statue of the Virgin through the city streets. On September 24, the main celebration takes place.

During this time, artisans from both the mountain and coastal regions of Ecuador come to sell their crafts. There is also a large fair with children's toys. Folkloric dance groups and singers from Ecuador and sometimes other countries perform to honor the Virgin.

Fun Places to Visit (Attractions)

Some interesting places to visit in Babahoyo include the green gardens of Parque 24 de Mayo. The city's main cathedral is also noteworthy. It has a huge mosaic mural that shows the Virgin Mary.

One exciting trip you can take is a boat ride down the Rio Babahoyo. You can enjoy the countryside and see how the local campesinos (farmers) live. They work the land and raise cattle. A unique sight on this journey is the floating houses that are special to this area.

Local Festivals and Holidays

People in Babahoyo celebrate many local festivals and holidays throughout the year:

Delicious Food

In Babahoyo, a popular dish is ceviche. This is a seafood dish made with shrimp, fish, or conch. Another well-known local dish is caldo de manguera, which is a type of sausage soup.

Getting Around (Transportation)

Many bus companies that travel between Quito and Guayaquil stop in or pass through Babahoyo. There are also two main highways connecting Quevedo with Guayaquil. One of these highways goes through Babahoyo.

Babahoyo has two main transportation companies: Fluminense and The Santa Ana Cooperative. There are five bus routes that cross the city. You can also travel by boat. Boats connect the city areas of Barreiro and El Salto with the rural areas of Pimocha and Caracol.

Rural Areas Around Babahoyo

La Unión

This area is in the northwest of Babahoyo, near the mountains. It's a farming district where people fish and grow rice, soy, and bananas.

Pimocha

Pimocha is a very large district. It borders Puebloviejo county to the north and the Babahoyo River to the south. The Caracol River is to its east, and the Garrapata River to its west. Many smaller communities are part of Pimocha, like Cauge, Guarumo, and Santa Rita. It's believed that ancient tribes once lived here.

Farming is the main source of work and wealth in Pimocha. Farmers grow crops like cocoa, rice, sugar cane, coffee, and rubber. They also produce fine wood, such as oak, cedar, and balsa wood. Large amounts of bananas are grown for export. Other fruits like pineapple and sapote also grow here. Besides farming, there's livestock, fishing, sugar factories, and places that process rice and coffee.

Caracol

Caracol is one of the oldest communities in the area. It might have been home to an indigenous tribe when the Spanish first arrived. In 1838, it became its own church parish, separate from Babahoyo. It borders Catarma to the north and Barriero to the south. Montalvo is to its east, and the Caracol River separates it from Pimocha to the west.

Febres Cordero

This district was created on May 14, 1936. Its people are mainly farmers and ranchers. Febres Cordero is one of the most important farming centers in the city.

See also

In Spanish: Babahoyo para niños