Loja Province

Province of Loja
Provincia de Loja (Spanish)
Province
Loja Canton
Flag of Province of Loja
Location in Ecuador
Location in Ecuador
Location of Province of Loja
Coordinates: 4°1′19″S 79°29′2″W / 4.02194°S 79.48389°W / -4.02194; -79.48389
CountryEcuador
CapitalLoja
Area
 • Total11,066 km2 (4,273 sq mi)
Elevation
2,225 m (7,300 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)[1]
 • Total485,421
 • Density44/km2 (110/sq mi)
Languages
 • Spanish?%
 • Quechua?%
Vehicle registrationL
Pronunciation(lō'hä)
Annual rainfall950 mm
HDI (2017)0.747[2]
high · 7th
Websiteprefecturaloja.gob.ec
Macará Mountains

Loja Province (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlo.xa]) is one of 24 provinces in Ecuador and shares its southern border on the west with El Oro Province, on the north with El Azuay, and on the east with Zamora-Chinchipe. Founded on its present site in 1548 by Captain Alonso de Mercadillo (Spanish), the site had been previously moved and rebuilt from La Toma due to earthquakes. It also is named as "Cuxibamba Valley", from the Quichua language, which means the "Smiley Valley".

  1. ^ Citypopulation.de Population and area of Loja Province
  2. ^ Villalba, Juan. "Human Development Index in Ecuador". Scribd (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 February 2019.