Orellana Province

Coordinates: 0°56′S 75°40′W / 0.933°S 75.667°W / -0.933; -75.667
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Orellana
Province
Province of Orellana
Flag of Orellana
Official seal of Orellana
Location of Orellana Province in Ecuador.
Location of Orellana Province in Ecuador.
Cantons of Orellana Province
Cantons of Orellana Province
CountryEcuador
EstablishedJuly 28, 1998
Founded byAlejandro Labaca
Named forFrancisco de Orellana
CapitalPuerto Francisco de Orellana
CantonsList of Cantons
Area
 • Total21,601 km2 (8,340 sq mi)
Population
 (2022 census)[1]
 • Total182,166
 • Density8.4/km2 (22/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (ECT)
Vehicle registrationQ
HDI (2017)0.701[2]
high · 23rd
Websitewww.orellana.gob.ec

Orellana (Spanish pronunciation: [oɾeˈʝana]) is an inland province of Ecuador. The capital is Puerto Francisco de Orellana (also known as Coca). It was created on July 30, 1998, from part of Napo Province.

The name of the province derives from the explorer Francisco de Orellana who it is told to have sailed from somewhere near the town to the Atlantic Ocean. He did this trip several times looking for the gold city of El Dorado and in search of a rumored Nutmeg forest which at the time was a very expensive spice. During his voyages he met a ferocious tribe of Indians who attacked his ships and many among them were women. This led to the naming of the river as the Amazon river. The province is divided in four cantons.

Cantons[edit]

The province is divided into four cantons. The following table lists each with its population at the 2001 census, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.[3]

Canton Pop. (2001) Area (km²) Seat/Capital
Aguarico 4,658 11,358 Nuevo Rocafuerte
Francisco de Orellana 42,010 6,995 Puerto Francisco de Orellana (Coca)
Joya de los Sachas 26,363 1,195 La Joya de los Sachas
Loreto 13,462 2,127 Loreto

Demographics[edit]

Ethnic groups as of the Ecuadorian census of 2010:[4]

Economy[edit]

Jungle composes most of the province's territory, forcing it to rely primarily on exports of crude oil, and timber. Its second most important source of income is tourism, offering jungle exploration, indigenous encounters, and rivers. Mining is the third reliable source of income.[citation needed]

Places of interest[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Citypopulation.de Population and area of Orellana Province
  2. ^ Villalba, Juan. "Human Development Index in Ecuador". Scribd (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  3. ^ Cantons of Ecuador. Statoids.com. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Resultados" (PDF).

0°56′S 75°40′W / 0.933°S 75.667°W / -0.933; -75.667