Baños

Infobox City
official_name = Baños
nickname = Baños de Agua Santa
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_type2 = Canton
subdivision_name = Ecuador
subdivision_name1 = Tungurahua
subdivision_name2 = Baños
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Fausto Acosta (PSP)
population_as_of = 2004
population_total = 130000
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd=1 | latm=23 | lats=47 | latNS=S
longd=78 | longm=25 | longs=29 | longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1815
elevation_ft = 5955

Baños is a city in eastern Tungurahua Province, in central Ecuador. Baños is the second most populous city in Tungurahua, after Ambato, the capital, and a major touristic center. It is known as the "Gateway to the Amazon," as it is located on the Pastaza River in the Amazon River basin, and has a newly paved road to Puyo.

Etymology

Baños ("Sp. baths"), is named after the hydrothermal springs of mineral water located around the city.

History

Baños is located on the northern foothills of the Tungurahua volcano. It is named after the hydrothermal springs of mineral water located around the city. The city is also a Roman Catholic religious center, as some Catholic believers say that the Virgin Mary appeared nearby a waterfall. So a sculpture of the virgin, called "Virgen de Agua Santa", was placed in the cathedral.

Economy

Baños is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ecuador [ [http://www.vivecuador.com/html2/eng/tungurahua_en.htm#banos Tungurahua Ecuador - Ministry of Tourism - Ecuador ] ] and is well known for the mom-and-pop stores where they sell taffy (Spanish: "melcocha" IPA| [mel.ˈko.ʧa] ) made from cane sugar, and for the excellent small arts and crafts shops, a favorite spot for tourists.

Cityscape

City parks include Cerro Hermoso, National Park Los Llanganates, and Baños Zoo. La Basílica de la Reina del Rosario de Agua Santa is a major church. Nearby waterfalls include Virgen de Agua Santa, Inés María, Agoyán, El Manto de la Novia, Pailón del Diablo,

ee also

*Ecuador
*Tungurahua Province
*Tungurahua

External links

* [http://www.ecuador-travel-guide.org/regions/GenBa%F1os.htm/ City of Baños]
* [http://www.turismobanios.com/ City of Baños and Radio on line]
* [http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com/html/banos.html/ Travel to Baños]
* [http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/south_america/ecuador/tungurahua.html/ Tungurahua]

References