Sucumbíos Province
Encyclopedia
Sucumbíos is a province
in northeast Ecuador
. The capital and largest city is Nueva Loja
(also known as Lago Agrio). It is the fifth largest province in the country, with an area of 18,009 km². As of 1998, it has a population
of 144,774 inhabitants.
, on the south by Napo
and Orellana
, on the west by Carchi
and Imbabura
, on the southwest by Pichincha
, and on the east by Peru
. Sucumbíos is the only province in Ecuador that borders two different countries.
The province is one of the six provinces in the Amazon Region
, a natural region of Ecuador.
Mountains, where most river
s in the province have their sources. The most important elevation in the province is the Reventador
, an active volcano
. The eastern portion of the province is part of the Amazon Basin
, with high temperature
s.
. It passes close to Nueva Loja, and empties into the Napo
, on the Peruvian border. Other important rivers are the Putumayo, which marks the border with Colombia, and the Coca
and Napo River
s, in the south.
was discovered in its soil. In 1979, after nine years of foundation, Nueva Loja became the seat of its own canton
, Lago Agrio Canton
, in the Napo Province
. On February 13,1989, Sucumbíos became the 21st province in the country when it separated from Napo province.
in the province is oil
. Thus, Sucumbíos is one of the most important provinces in the country, economically.
, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
in northeast Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. The capital and largest city is Nueva Loja
Nueva Loja
Nueva Loja, is the capital of the province of Sucumbíos in Ecuador. It was founded in the 1960s as a base camp of Texaco. The official population estimate as of 1995 was 19,262 and as of 2009 its population is calculated to be 26,004....
(also known as Lago Agrio). It is the fifth largest province in the country, with an area of 18,009 km². As of 1998, it has a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 144,774 inhabitants.
Geography
Sucumbíos is bounded on the north by ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, on the south by Napo
Napo Province
Napo is a province in Ecuador. Its capital is Tena. The province contains the Napo River. The province is low developed without much industrial presence. The thick rainforest is home to many natives that remain isolated by preference, descendents of those who fled the Spanish invasion in the Andes,...
and Orellana
Orellana
-Places:* Orellana de la Sierra* Orellana Province* Orellana la Vieja* Orellana, Peru...
, on the west by Carchi
Carchi Province
- Economy :The provincial economy is based on industrial, and agriculture productions. Carchi produces food, drinks, tobacco, and dairy products. The agriculture sector produces potatoes, maize, etc. - Cantons :The province is divided into 6 cantons...
and Imbabura
Imbabura Province
Imbabura is a province in Ecuador. The capital is Ibarra. The people of the province speak Spanish and the Imbaburan Quechua language.Imbabura Volcano is located in the province. Best reached from the town of La Esperanza, the 4,609-meter-high mountain can be climbed in a single day.- Cantons...
, on the southwest by Pichincha
Pichincha Province
Pichincha is a province of Ecuador located in the northern sierra region; its capital and largest city is Quito. It is bordered by Imbabura & Esmeraldas to the north, Cotopaxi & Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas to the south, Napo & Sucumbíos to the east, and Esmeraldas & Santo Domingo de los...
, and on the east by Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Sucumbíos is the only province in Ecuador that borders two different countries.
The province is one of the six provinces in the Amazon Region
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
, a natural region of Ecuador.
Orography
The western area of the province belongs to the Eastern AndesAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
Mountains, where most river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s in the province have their sources. The most important elevation in the province is the Reventador
Reventador
Reventador is an active stratovolcano which lies in the eastern Andes of Ecuador. It lies in a remote area of the national park of the same name. Since 1541 it has erupted over 25 times, although its isolated location means that many of its eruptions have gone unreported. Its most recent eruption...
, an active volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
. The eastern portion of the province is part of the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
, with high temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
s.
Hydrography
The main river in the province is the Aguarico RiverAguarico River
The Aguarico River is a river in northern Ecuador. It is the main river of the Sucumbíos province. In the last part of its course it is the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. It empties into the Napo River...
. It passes close to Nueva Loja, and empties into the Napo
Napo River
The Napo is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.The total length of 1075 km. Catchment area of 100,518 square kilometers...
, on the Peruvian border. Other important rivers are the Putumayo, which marks the border with Colombia, and the Coca
Coca River
The Coca River is a river in eastern Ecuador. It is a tributary of the Napo River. The two rivers join in Puerto Francisco de Orellana....
and Napo River
Napo River
The Napo is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.The total length of 1075 km. Catchment area of 100,518 square kilometers...
s, in the south.
History
Sucumbíos was an unexplored area, where only indigenous people lived, until oilPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
was discovered in its soil. In 1979, after nine years of foundation, Nueva Loja became the seat of its own canton
Cantons of Ecuador
The Cantons of Ecuador are the second-level subdivisions of Ecuador, below the provinces. There are 226 cantons in the country, of which three are not in any province. The cantons are further sub-divided into parishes, which are classified as either urban or rural...
, Lago Agrio Canton
Lago Agrio Canton
Lago Agrio Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Nueva Loja. Its population at the 2001 census was 66,788. The region contains the Lago Agrio oil field which is at the heart of a high-profile court case against Chevron....
, in the Napo Province
Napo Province
Napo is a province in Ecuador. Its capital is Tena. The province contains the Napo River. The province is low developed without much industrial presence. The thick rainforest is home to many natives that remain isolated by preference, descendents of those who fled the Spanish invasion in the Andes,...
. On February 13,1989, Sucumbíos became the 21st province in the country when it separated from Napo province.
Economy
The most important natural resourceNatural resource
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems....
in the province is oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
. Thus, Sucumbíos is one of the most important provinces in the country, economically.
Political division
The province is divided into seven cantons. The following table lists each with its population as of the 2001 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.
| Canton | Pop. (2001) | Area (km²) | Seat/Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cascales Cascales Canton Cascales Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Cascales. Its population at the 2001 census was 7,409.... |
7,409 | 1,248 | El Dorado de Cascales |
| Cuyabeno Cuyabeno Canton Cuyabeno Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Cuyabeno. Its population at the 2001 census was 6,643.... |
6,643 | 3,875 | Tarapoa Tarapoa Tarapoa is located in the province of Sucumbíos in Ecuador. It is the seat of the canton of Cuyabeno.... |
| Gonzalo Pizarro Gonzalo Pizarro Canton Gonzalo Pizarro Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Lumbaqui. Its population at the 2001 census was 6,964.... |
6,964 | 2,223 | Lumbaqui |
| Lago Agrio Lago Agrio Canton Lago Agrio Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Nueva Loja. Its population at the 2001 census was 66,788. The region contains the Lago Agrio oil field which is at the heart of a high-profile court case against Chevron.... |
66,788 | 3,139 | Nueva Loja Nueva Loja Nueva Loja, is the capital of the province of Sucumbíos in Ecuador. It was founded in the 1960s as a base camp of Texaco. The official population estimate as of 1995 was 19,262 and as of 2009 its population is calculated to be 26,004.... (Lago Agrio) |
| Putumayo Putumayo Canton Putumayo Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Puerto Carmen. Its population at the 2001 census was 6,171.... |
6,171 | 3,559 | Puerto Carmen Puerto El Carmen de Putumayo Puerto El Carmen de Putumayo is a town in the province of Sucumbíos in Ecuador. It also known as Puerto Carmen de Putumayo and is the seat of canton of Putumayo. The town is located on the Putumayo River and also has an airstrip... |
| Shushufindi Shushufindi Canton Shushufindi Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Shushufindi. Its population at the 2001 census was 32,184.... |
32,184 | 2,463 | Shushufindi |
| Sucumbíos Sucumbíos Canton Sucumbíos Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of La Bonita. Its population at the 2001 census was 2,836.... |
2,836 | 1,502 | La Bonita |