Quito

Quito is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in northern Ecuador (see NG MapMachine satellite map) in the Guayllabamba river basin on the eastern slopes of the Pichincha http://www.igepn.edu.ec/vulcanologia/pichincha/pichincha.htm (4794 m), an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains. At 2850 meters/9300 feet above sea level at the Plaza de la Independencia, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world. The population of Quito, according to the most recent census (2001), was 1,399,378. In 2005, however, the estimated population was 1,865,541 (canton). The area of Quito is approximately 290 km².

Geography

Quito is located in the northern sierra of Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin. The eastern part of the basin is sorrounded by a number of volcanoes: Cotopaxi, Antisana, Sincholagua and Cayambe (volcano) to the east; Illiniza, Atacazo, Pichincha and Pululagua to the west.

Related Topics:
Sierra - Ecuador - Guayllabamba - Cotopaxi - Antisana - Cayambe (volcano) - Pichincha

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The Guagua Pichincha, located only 13 miles west of Quito, presents some ongoing volcanic activity and it undergoes constant monitoring. Its last major eruptive activity was recorded on October 5 and October 7, 1999, when a large amount of ash deposited on the city caused significant disruption, including closing of the international airport. The worst event occurred in 1660 when over 10 inches of ash covered the city. Quito is the only capital in the world to be menaced by an active volcano such as this.

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The region is also vulnerable to earthquakes. The worst known earthquake to have hit Quito occurred in 1797 and killed around 40,000 people. The most recent major seismic event, with a magnitude of 7 in the Richter scale, occurred on 1987 with an epicenter about 80 Km (50 miles) from the city, and it killed an estimated 1,000 in Ecuador. Quito buildings suffered minor damage.

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