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Loja Ecuador
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Loja, Ecuador is the capital of Loja
province. It was was founded in 1548 and has the distinction
of being the first city in Ecuador to be wired for electric
power provided by a hydroelectric dam completed in 1896. |
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Loja is also famous for having been visited
by Simon Bolivar in his campaign to unite Gran Colombia. Present-day population is approximately
140,000. Loja represents the best of Ecuador in
biodiversity and is called “The Botanical Garden of Ecuador”.
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The colonial Old Town and the Cathedral are
also noteworthy attractions. The Virgen del Cisne is carried
here during the international fair in September. Other
churches worth a visit are San Francisco, San Agustin, Santo
Domingo, San Sebastian, and Fatima. They all contain important
religious works of art. |
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Loja Centinela del Sur
The “Sentinel of the South”, as the locals
call Loja, also has history, archaeology, art, and handicraft
museums worth checking out. |
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