El Oro Province facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
El Oro
Provincia de El Oro
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Province
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| Province of El Oro | |||
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Cantons of El Oro Province
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| Country | Ecuador | ||
| Established | April 23, 1884 | ||
| Capital | Machala | ||
| Cantons | List of Cantons | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 5,766.68 km2 (2,226.53 sq mi) | ||
| Highest elevation | 3,590 m (11,780 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | ||
| Population
(2010 census)
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| • Total | 600,659 | ||
| • Density | 104.16028/km2 (269.7739/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 401,940 | ||
| • Population 2001 | 539,888 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (ECT) | ||
| Area code(s) | 07 | ||
| Vehicle registration | O | ||
El Oro is a province in Ecuador. It's like a state or a region within the country. Its capital city is Machala.
This province got its name, "El Oro," because of its history with gold production. "El Oro" means "The Gold" in Spanish. Today, it's also famous for being one of the world's biggest exporters of bananas.
Contents
What is El Oro?
El Oro is located in the southwestern part of Ecuador. It covers an area of about 5,767 square kilometers. That's roughly the size of a small country! The province has a varied landscape, from sea level up to mountains as high as 3,590 meters.
In 2010, about 600,659 people lived in El Oro. The biggest city and capital is Machala, which is a busy port city.
How El Oro is Organized
The province of El Oro is divided into 14 smaller areas called cantons. Each canton has its own main town or capital. This helps manage the different parts of the province.
Some of the cantons include:
- Machala: This is the most populated canton and home to the provincial capital.
- Santa Rosa: Known for its shrimp farms and coastal areas.
- Pasaje: An important agricultural area, especially for bananas.
- Zaruma: Famous for its historic gold mining past and beautiful old architecture.
History of El Oro
El Oro officially became a province on April 23, 1884. Before that, it was part of other larger areas. Its history is closely tied to the discovery and mining of gold. People came from all over to find their fortune here.
Even though gold was very important, over time, other industries grew. Today, bananas are the "new gold" of El Oro, bringing a lot of money to the region.
Economy and What They Produce
The economy of El Oro is mainly based on farming and fishing.
- Bananas: This is the most important product. Huge banana plantations cover much of the land. El Oro bananas are shipped all over the world.
- Shrimp: The coastal areas are perfect for shrimp farming. This is another big export for the province.
- Gold: While not as dominant as before, gold mining still happens in some parts, especially in the highlands.
- Other crops: People also grow coffee, cocoa, and various fruits.
The port of Machala is very important for trade. It's where many of these products are sent out to other countries.
Images for kids
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Iglesia Parque Apartadero
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de El Oro para niños
