- 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 = 5955Baños is a
city ineast ernTungurahua Province , in centralEcuador . 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 thePastaza River in theAmazon River basin, and has a newly paved road toPuyo .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 ofmineral 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 awaterfall . So a sculpture of the virgin, called "Virgen de Agua Santa", was placed in thecathedral .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
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.