Guaranda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guaranda
City
Guaranda
From top, left to right: Panoramic view of the city, monument to Simon Bolivar behind St. Peter Cathedral, monument to Guaranga, St. Peter of Guanujo Sanctuary, Prefecture of Bolívar, May 7th Street, May 15th Square and bridge over the Culebrillas River.
Nickname(s):  "The City of the Seven Hills"
Guaranda Location in Ecuador
Country	Ecuador
Province	Bolívar
Canton	Guaranda Canton
Area
• City	8.25 km2 (3.19 sq mi)
Elevation	2,668 m (8,753 ft)
Population  (2022 census)
• City	30,755
• Density	3,727.9/km2 (9,655/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (ECT)
Climate	Cwb

Guaranda is a city in central Ecuador. It is the capital city of the Bolívar province. You can find it nestled in the Andes mountains.

The city is connected by roads to other important places. These include Riobamba, Babahoyo, and Ambato.

Guaranda is a busy market town. It sits in a deep valley, called a valle, high in the Andes. This valley serves many farming communities. These communities are home to Quechua Indians.

The weather in Guaranda is subtropical. It has a long dry season from May to October. Most people in Guaranda are mestizo, meaning they have mixed heritage. However, many different ethnic groups live there. For almost 500 years, these groups have mixed and formed close family ties. Since the 1990s, the indigenous people have become more involved in local government. Many elected officials are now of Quechua origin.

The city has about 30,755 people, based on the 2022 census. Its population is growing. Guaranda gets its drinking water from high mountain sources. Much of it comes from the Chimborazo glacier. This water is very good quality. The city is also famous for its week-long carnival celebration. It is also known for a special alcoholic drink called "Pajaro Azul".

History of Guaranda

Guaranda was first explored by Spanish travelers in 1571. It became an official city on November 11, 1811. The city celebrates its independence day on November 10. This day marks when Guaranda declared its freedom from Spanish rule.

The city faced big earthquakes in 1674 and 1775. These earthquakes caused a lot of damage. But the people of Guaranda rebuilt their city both times. After the 1775 earthquake, it took almost four years to rebuild everything.

On October 23, 1997, Guaranda was named an official Ecuadorian cultural center. This was because of the old and beautiful architecture in its city center.

Geography and Landmarks

Just like Rome, Guaranda is built on seven hills. It is located very high up, at about 2,668 meters (8,753 feet) above sea level. From the city, you can often see the majestic Chimborazo volcano.

The main part of the city is around Parque Libertador Simon Bolivar. This park is named after the brave liberator, Simon Bolivar. Inside the park, you can see a statue of Bolivar. This statue was created by the famous Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín.

Climate

Areas of Guaranda

Guaranda has both city (urban) and countryside (rural) areas. It includes about 65,000 residents across eleven parishes.

City Parishes

• Angel Polibio Chávez
• Gabriel Ignacio Veintimilla
• Guanujo

Rural Parishes

• Facundo Vela
• Julio Moreno
• Salinas
• San Lorenzo
• San Luís de Pambil
• San Simón
• Santa Fé
• Simiatug

Sister Cities

Guaranda has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities."

• Haeju, North Korea
• Johnson City, Tennessee, United States

See also

In Spanish: Guaranda para niños