Provincial capital:Loja is the capital of Ecuador’s Loja Province, in the southern part of the country.
Music and Cultural Capital of Ecuador: Loja has a rich tradition in the arts.
Population: Approximately 203,000 people reside in Loja.
Elevation: The city sits at an altitude of 2060 meters (6758 feet) above sea level.
Climate: Loja enjoys a mild Andean climate, with temperatures ranging between 16°C and 30°C.
History: Founded in 1548, Loja is one of Ecuador’s oldest cities. It was originally located near La Toma in the Catamayo canyon but was later relocated due to an earthquake and malaria issues. The city played a role in Simón Bolívar’s campaign to unite Gran Colombia and declared independence from Spain in 1820.
Geography: Loja lies between the humid Amazon Basin and the Peruvian sechura, featuring paramo, cloud-forest, and jungle landscapes. The nearby Podocarpus National Park offers access to a massive cloud-forest reserve.
Infrastructure: Loja was the first city in Ecuador to be wired for electric power, thanks to a hydroelectric dam completed in the 1890s.