Machala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Machala
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City
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From top, left to right: Juan Montalvo Central Park, Bolivar Port, Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, monument to Juan Montalvo in front of the City hall of Machala, monument to the Bananero, monument to the founding of UTMACH, Columbus Square and Municipalidad street.
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| Nickname(s):
Banana Capital of the World
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 Machala
Location in Ecuador
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| Country |  Ecuador |
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| Province | El Oro | |
| Canton | Machala | |
| Founded | 1573 | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 42.91 km2 (16.57 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) | |
| Population
(2022 census)
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| • City | 288,072 | |
| • Density | 6,713.4/km2 (17,387.6/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Machaleño / a | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (ECT) | |
| Area code(s) | (+593) 7 | |
| Website | www.machala.gob.ec | |
Machala is a city in the southwest part of Ecuador. It is the main city of the El Oro Province. Machala is close to the Gulf of Guayaquil in an area with very rich soil. In 2022, about 288,072 people lived there. This makes Machala the sixth-largest city in Ecuador. It also has the second most important port in the country. People often call Machala the Banana Capital of the World because of its large banana trade.
Contents
Economy in Machala
Machala is a busy place for businesses that deal with agriculture. A lot of bananas, coffee, and cocoa are traded here. The banana business is very important to the city's economy. Many bananas are sent from nearby Puerto Bolívar to places like North America.
Machala's location near Guayaquil also makes it a key spot for travel. Many people traveling south to Peru or north to Guayaquil pass through the city. While it's not a big tourist spot, it is close to beaches on the Pacific Ocean. Machala's economy is growing. In 2007, the city opened its first shopping mall, which even has a movie theater.
City Layout and Landmarks
The center of Machala has a large Catholic church and a main public square. This square was updated in the early 2000s and now has a big fountain. You can find many hotels in the city center.
Las Brisas is another well-known area in Machala. It is a richer neighborhood. It used to be a popular place for local teenagers to hang out.
Education in Machala
Machala has one university called the Universidad Técnica de Machala. There are also many private schools in the city. The main public high school is named Colegio 9 de Octubre.
Machala is a common stop for people going to nearby Puerto Bolívar. It is also a gateway to the Jambelí Islands, which you can only reach by ferry.
Machala's Climate
Machala has a hot, dry climate. This is called a hot semi-arid climate. Like most of Ecuador's coast, Machala has a short wet season from January to April. This happens because of changes in ocean currents. The weather is usually warm or hot and often cloudy, even during the dry season. This is due to fog from the cold ocean current.
| Climate data for Machala (General Manuel Serrano Airport), elevation 10 m (33 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) | 30.9 (87.6) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.5 (88.7) |
31.4 (88.5) |
30.2 (86.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
27.1 (80.8) |
26.9 (80.4) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.2 (81.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
30.1 (86.2) |
29.2 (84.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
23.0 (73.4) |
23.4 (74.1) |
22.9 (73.2) |
21.8 (71.2) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.3 (68.5) |
20.3 (68.5) |
20.6 (69.1) |
20.7 (69.3) |
21.9 (71.4) |
21.8 (71.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 63.0 (2.48) |
100.0 (3.94) |
117.0 (4.61) |
59.0 (2.32) |
18.0 (0.71) |
13.0 (0.51) |
11.0 (0.43) |
9.0 (0.35) |
8.0 (0.31) |
13.0 (0.51) |
11.0 (0.43) |
16.0 (0.63) |
438 (17.23) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 81 | 81 | 80 | 83 | 83 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 85 | 83 | 81 | 83 |
| Source: FAO | |||||||||||||
Transportation
Air Travel
The main airport for Machala is Santa Rosa International Airport (ETR/SERO). This airport has flights to Quito with the Ecuadorian airline TAME.
Notable Residents
Many interesting people have come from Machala, including:
- Gabriel Achilier (born 1985), a footballer
- Jordy Caicedo (born 1997), a footballer
- Fausto Tutu Guzman (born 1944), a great basketball player
- Nicolás Asencio (born 1975), a footballer
- Juan Carlos Espinoza Mercado (born 1987), a footballer
- Ángel Fernández (born 1971), a footballer
- Luis Miguel Garcés (born 1982), a footballer
- Hólger Matamoros (born 1985), a footballer
- Carlos Muñoz (1964–1993), a footballer
- Ismael Pérez Pazmiño (1876–1944), a journalist and politician
- Ángel Pután (born 1986), a footballer
- Tania Tinoco (born 1963), a journalist and television producer
See also
In Spanish: Machala para niños
