Latacunga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Latacunga
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City
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| San Vicente Mártir de Latacunga | ||
From top, left to right: Central Park Vicente León, Saint Joseph Cathedral, City hall of Latacunga, the House of the Marquises, Chile Square, Vicente León High School, Our Lady of Mercy Church, Cotopaxi Technical University and Salcedo Street.
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| Nickname(s):
Mashca City (Ciudad Mashca)
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 Latacunga
Location in Ecuador
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| Country |  Ecuador |
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| Province |  Cotopaxi |
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| Canton | Latacunga | |
| Founded | April 12, 1557 | |
| Founded by | Antonio de Clavijo | |
| Named for | Llacta Cunani | |
| Parishes |
Urban Parishes
La Matriz
Eloy ALfaro Ignacio Flores San Buenaventura Juan Montalvo Gil Ramírez Dávalos Hermano Miguel |
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| Area | ||
| • City | 19.99 km2 (7.72 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 2,860 m (9,380 ft) | |
| Population
(2022 census)
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| • City | 77,267 | |
| • Density | 3,865.3/km2 (10,011.0/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Latacungueño / a | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (ECT) | |
| ZIP codes |
Zip codes
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| Area code(s) | (+593) 3 | |
| Website | Official website: http://www.latacunga.gob.ec/ | |
Latacunga is a city in Ecuador. It is the capital of the Cotopaxi Province. The city is about 89 kilometers (55 miles) south of Quito. In 2022, about 77,267 people lived there.
Latacunga became independent from Spain on November 11, 1820. The city is high up, about 2,860 meters (9,383 feet) above sea level. It can be cold and windy because it is near snowy mountains. The active volcano Cotopaxi is only 25 kilometers (15 miles) away. Latacunga has been rebuilt many times after earthquakes and volcano eruptions. It was first founded in 1534.
Contents
Delicious Local Foods
Latacunga is known for its tasty local foods. A popular dish is chugchucaras. Other foods include empanadas, plantains, popcorn, and tostado. Tostado is a type of toasted corn.
Often, people mix their food with ají. This is a type of sauce that can be mild or very spicy. It depends on how it is made.
Economy and Transport
The economy in Latacunga mainly depends on farming, growing flowers, and trade. The city has an international airport called Cotopaxi International Airport. It is mostly used by the Air Force and for some special cargo flights.
The area around Latacunga has a lot of pumice rock from volcanoes. This rock is mined and used. There is also natural sparkling water. This water is bottled and sold under the name San Felipe.
Traditional Festivals
La Fiesta de la Mama Negra is a very famous festival in Latacunga. It happens twice a year. This festival mixes traditions from indigenous people, Spanish culture, and African influences.
First Mama Negra Festival
The first festival is in September. It is organized by people from the local markets. They celebrate it to honor the Virgin of Mercy, Virgen de la Merced. People believe the Virgin Mary stopped the Cotopaxi Volcano from erupting in 1742. Because of this, the people of Latacunga call her "advocate and patron of the volcano."
Second Mama Negra Festival
The second celebration happens every year on Ecuador's Independence Day. It is a big parade. Many people take part, including important community members, the army, and religious leaders.
Both festivals feature a long parade with many cultural characters. They are all dressed in colorful costumes. The mama negra is the last person in the parade. This person has their face painted black and rides a horse. They spray the crowd with milk. People also share homemade alcoholic drinks along the parade route. It can be a very lively and crowded event.
Historic Downtown Buildings
Latacunga's historic downtown area covers about 30 city blocks. There are several important buildings you can visit:
- Saint Francis's Church: This was the first church built in the city.
- The Municipal Palace: This building was made using pumice stone. It has a neoclassical style.
- The Main Square: In the center of this square, there is a statue of Dr. Vicente Leon.
Climate
Latacunga has an Oceanic climate. This means it has mild temperatures throughout the year. The weather can be cool and sometimes windy.
| Climate data for Latacunga, elevation 2,785 m (9,137 ft), (1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.3 (68.5) |
19.9 (67.8) |
19.2 (66.6) |
19.2 (66.6) |
19.0 (66.2) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.4 (65.1) |
19.1 (66.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
20.5 (68.9) |
20.4 (68.7) |
19.3 (66.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.9 (46.2) |
7.2 (45.0) |
8.2 (46.8) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.2 (46.8) |
7.3 (45.1) |
7.1 (44.8) |
6.5 (43.7) |
6.7 (44.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
7.5 (45.5) |
7.5 (45.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 30.0 (1.18) |
53.0 (2.09) |
54.0 (2.13) |
66.0 (2.60) |
40.0 (1.57) |
28.0 (1.10) |
15.0 (0.59) |
15.0 (0.59) |
25.0 (0.98) |
55.0 (2.17) |
52.0 (2.05) |
42.0 (1.65) |
475 (18.7) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 73 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 70 | 74 |
| Source: FAO | |||||||||||||
Universities
Latacunga is home to a few universities:
- Cotopaxi Technical University
- ESPE University of the Military Forces
Sports Teams
Latacunga has a few sports teams:
- Club Deportivo Universidad Tecnica de Cotopaxi is a soccer team from the city.
- Sociedad Deportiva Flamengo is another local football (soccer) club. They play their home games at Estadio La Cocha.
See also
In Spanish: Latacunga para niños
