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Free photos of Ambato, Ecuador

Ambato, Ecuador lies in northwestern South America. Ambato (San Juan de Ambato) is a city in the centre of Ecuador, lying on the banks of the Ambato River. It is the capital of the province of Tungurahua, at an elevation of 2,600 meters above sea level. The population is about 155,000.

The city is a leading commercial and transportation center on a fertile region near the northern foot of the volcano Tungurahua, which is still active with a major eruption way back in August 2006. Look at the below pictures of this monster as taken from an Ambato home. It is towering over the city, ready to crush it. On Mondays the city hosts one of the largest fruits, vegetables, and assorted meats markets in the country. In addition, Ambato casts the famous "Fiesta de las Flores y de las Frutas" (Flowers and Fruits Festival) in February. As a way to recover from the tragic earthquake of August 5, 1949, Ambato began its tradition of the Fruits and Flowers Festival. It is now a major tourist attraction held in the city. During this time, schools and businesses close for different varieties of parades and shows, and a "Queen of Ambato" is also chosen from representatives of each high school, some government offices, and the police force.

The earthquake of August 5, 1949 destroyed most of the city, leaving few buildings of the colonial era. Landmarks include the mausoleum of Juan Montalvo, the estate of Juan León Mera, and the white Ambato Cathedral. Ambato is also where, on November 12, 1821, Antonio José de Sucre achieved a major victory over the Spanish Royalist Army during the war for independence. This date is now an official holiday in the city. Famous people from Ambato include master painter Aníbal Villacís and professional poker player Carlos Mortensen. The name Ambato comes from the name of several species  of toad (jambato). These toads are either endangered or extinct. A new mall with a movie theater has recently been built called "El Mall de Los Andes". Photos of the mall and the again active volcano are below.

(Text and map of Ecuador adapted from: Ambato (2008). From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia)

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Free pictures of scenes around Ambato, Ecuador. Photos of nearby towns and destinations are separate.

01ambato.jpg Welcome to Ambato, Ecuador - Bienvenidos a Ciudad de Ambato	02ambato.jpg How many riders can YOU get on a motorcycle - in Ambato, Ecuador	The YouTube collection of videos of Ecuador   Watch the latest Ecuador videos on YouTube.com
03ambato.jpg Busy intersections get busier as official and impromptu bus stops crowd in, but a great place to get some food, whether walking or on the bus - in Ambato, Ecuador.	04ambato.jpg Had your medicine today? - at a bus stop in Ambato, Ecuador
05ambato.jpg Busy intersection get busier as official and impromptu bus stops crowd in, but a great place to get some food, whether walking or on the bus - in Ambato, Ecuador.	06ambato.jpg Snow capped mountains and live volcanoes surround Ambato, Ecuador
07ambato.jpg The Iglesia Capilla de la Medalla Milagrosa (Chapel of Miracle medal) is one of many churches in Ambato, Ecuador. One wonders if they attract the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that periodically destroy the city.	08ambato.jpg The Iglesia Providentia is one of many churches in Ambato, Ecuador. One wonders if they attract the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that periodically destroy the city.
09ambato.jpg A quite typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador	10ambato.jpg A religious procession prepares to strike up the band and get underway in a neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador
11ambato.jpg Bacardi rum and Sprite packaged together gives a clue as to a popular drink in Ambato, Ecuador	12ambato.jpg A quite typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador
13ambato.jpg There is plenty of traffic, even with heavy use of private buses and public transit in Ambato, Ecuador. Traffic signals are obeyed more than many other places.	14ambato.jpg A nicer than typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador
15ambato.jpg Upscale rotisserie chicken restaurants make it difficult for American fast food restarants to compete	16ambato.jpg A quite typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador
17ambato.jpg A quite typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador	18ambato.jpg The sports stadium in Ambato, Ecuador
19ambato.jpg There is plenty of traffic, even with heavy use of private buses and public transit in Ambato, Ecuador	20ambato.jpg Tires and rims for sale in Ambato, Ecuador
21ambato.jpg Auto lenses and other plastic repairs are marketed by this shop in Ambato, Ecuador	22ambato.jpg There is no apparent shortage of money at the banks - in Ambato, Ecuador
23ambato.jpg Busy intersections get busier as official and impromptu bus stops crowd in, but a great place to get some food, whether walking or on the bus - in Ambato, Ecuador.	24ambato.jpg Ice cream vendor just rolling down the street... - in Ambato, Ecuador
25ambato.jpg The new world class Mall of the Andes in Ambato, Ecuador	26ambato.jpg Bridge across the Ambato River in Ambato, Ecuador
27ambato.jpg Bridge over the Ambato River in Ambato, Ecuador	28ambato.jpg Motorcyclist seeming as an apparition of a bygone era rounds the statue of Luis Martinez in Ambato, Ecuador
29ambato.jpg A pedestrian bridge in Ambato, Ecuador	30ambato.jpg There is an eye to beauty with flowers in many areas of Ambato, Ecuador
31ambato.jpg Auto driving school car in Ambato. There is plenty of traffic, even with heavy use of private buses and public transit in Ambato, Ecuador. This person is lucky to learn in an area with little traffic congestion.	32ambato.jpg There is an eye to beauty with flowers in many areas of Ambato, Ecuador
33ambato.jpg A quite typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador	34ambato.jpg A quite typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador
35ambato.jpg Snow capped mountains and live volcanoes surround Ambato, Ecuador. Here Tungurahua shows its power with a (without phot0 magnification) from a Ambato home's deck.	36ambato.jpg Snow capped mountains and live volcanoes surround Ambato, Ecuador.  Here Tungurahua shows its power with a slight phot magnification from a Ambato home's deck.
37ambato.jpg Street scene near the beautiful modern cathedral of Ambato, Ecuador	38ambato.jpg The beautiful modern cathedral of Ambato, Ecuador
39ambato.jpg The beautiful modern cathedral of Ambato, Ecuador as seen at night.	40ambato.jpg A quite typical neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador
41ambato.jpg A sports complex is strategically placed in residential neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador	42ambato.jpg A firehouse with modern equipment protects an upscale neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador
43ambato.jpg Large, colorful statues at traffic circles greet visitors to Ambato, Ecuador.	44ambato.jpg Large, colorful statues at traffic circles greet visitors to Ambato, Ecuador.

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Ambato, capital de la provincia del Tungurahua, se encuentra en el centro de la sierra del Ecuador. Esta hermosa ciudad es conocida como Ciudad de las Flores y de las Frutas, Cuna de los Tres Juanes, Ciudad Cosmopolita, Jardín del Ecuador". Esta cuenta con establecimientos educativos tan prestigiosos como lo es el Colegio Diocesano San Pio X, el cual ha conseguido la certificacion de calidad iso 9001 ademas han recibido recientemente el primer premio iberoamericano a la excelencia educativa en Panama. Este colegio ha sido recomendado como el mejor de la zona de la provicia, de la ciudad, y uno de los mejores del pais. La población de ciudad de Ambato es de 287.282 habitantes (censo de población, INEC 2001). Su clima es Templado seco y la temperatura es de aproximadamente 14 y 19 grados centígrados. Esta asentada en la rivera del río Ambato, del cual toma su nombre. A sus habitantes se les denomina ambateños.

Ambato fue destruida varias veces por terremotos y erupciones, su última destrucción fue el 5 de agosto de 1949: un terremoto destruyó la ciudad casi en su totalidad pero, gracias a la tenacidad de sus habitantes, se logró levantar nuevamente en menos de dos años, en honor a esta lucha se celebra la "Fiesta de las Flores y las Frutas" en los días de Carnaval. Esta celebración ha trascendido fronteras y hoy por hoy es una de las fiestas más importantes del Ecuador.

Ambato es la ciudad cuna de varios hombres ilustres entre los cuales se encuentran Juan Montalvo (gran ensayista del siglo XIX), Juan León Mera (autor de la letra del Himno Nacional del Ecuador) y Juan Benigno Vela.

(Adaptado de: Ambato (2008). De Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre)