Gonzanamá

Gonzanamá
Gonzanamá
Coordinates:
Country	Ecuador
Province	Loja Province
Canton	Gonzanamá Canton
Government
• Mayor	Miguel Angel Briceño
Population (2001)
• Total	1,539
Time zone	ECT

Gonzanamá is a small town and also part of one of the 16 cantons (Gonzanamá) in the Province  of Loja, Ecuador.

1. History

2. Location

3. Government

4. Population

5. Climate

6. Culture and traditions

7. Education

8. Religion

9. Tourism

10. Sources

11. External links

1. History

The name of the city was created by two different native languages of Ecuador; Spanish-Quechua. The name of the cacique from the tribe of the anamaés is Gonza and the name of the coveted territory, which means favorite to the god of the water, is Anama or Munamá. The another meaning of the name is „Break of Hills“, because the city is located on the „Andes’s Mountains“.

After the Spanish conquest came some dominicans, who have founded „The doctrine of Santo Domingo de Gonzanamá“.

This was been formed from different big confederations:

· Colambos

· Colcas

· Purunumas

· Sacapalcas

· Changaiminas

· Lanzacas

· Quilangas

· Nambocolas

· Anganumas

· Luginumas

· Chalangas

During the colonization, the citizens of Gonzanamá have reacted. They don’t want to be submitted by the Spanish people. This was when the town has decided to write the Declaration of Independence on 17 February 1822. At the beginning Gonzanamá was just a rural parish from the canton of Loja. On 27 September 1943 the Government of Dr. Carlos Arroyo del Rio has created the legislative Decree number 928 for it to become a big canton. This was officially published on the 30th September 1943.

2. Location

Altetude: 1980 meters

Extension of the town: 712 km²

It is located on the middle of Loja. The limits are:

· To the north: Catamayo

· To the south: Quilanga

· To the east: Catamayo and Loja

· To the west: Paltas and Calvas

Distance from Gonzanamá to Loja (capital city of Loja): 81 Km

3. Government

The first authority is a called mayor, who is selected every 5 years. It has a municipality. The last mayor was Norman Espinoza and the current mayor is Paulo Guerrera.

It’s divided on:

· One urban parish: Gonzanamá

· Four rural parishes: Nambacola, Purunuma, Salcapalca and Changaimina

· Eighty neighborhoods

The basic services are:

· Drinking water

· Sewerage

· Electricity

· Telephony

4. Population

The population represent 3,7% from all the population of Loja and it grows every year about 1,3%. 89,7% of the population are residents of the rural area and it’s characterized of young people, because 45,8% of them are under 20.

The 14.987 habitants are divided on:

· Urban area: 1.539 habitants

· Rural area: 13.448 habitants

Most of the people dedicated their lives to the agriculture of tomatoes, sugar cane and other products. The cattle raising is another way to survive for the habitants of Gonzanamá, specially on the zone of Colca. The timber production is very high and one of the most popular trees is the pine. The hand craftsmanship is also practiced. The native language is Spanish.

5. Climate

The climate is cold and temperate.

Temperature: 18 °C (11 °C – 22 °C)

The light showers and small storms are very common.

Gonzanamá was devastated by an earthquake on the last century, which also overthrow the principal church of the town.

6. Culture

Typical food:

· Pea soup and green bananas with coffee or colada

· Beef stew with coffee or colada

· Sponge cake with milk or coffee

· Marzipan with milk or coffee

There are also many party`s, which will celebrated every year.

Agricultural, livestock and craft show:

The date of the party will be planned every year. Special guests will be invited and parades-competitions of horses. At the party „dimantina“ (a mix of fresh milk and alcohol) will be offered for all the people. The exhibition of beautiful crafts is also a part of this party.

11 September: The anniversary of Changaimina as a parish.

13 September: The anniversary of Purunuma as a parish.

24 June: The anniversary of Nambacola as a parish.

8 December: The anniversary of Sacapalca as a parish.

In the most of these party`s the Queen of the parish will be selected. Another tradition is choosing a symbol mother, who is since two years and till today Clemencia Simancas.

7. Education

The lessons started in the mountain range and the amazon at the same time (1 September). The school year is divided in two parts, which one of these has 5 months.

The highest school score is 10/10 points.

A list of school supplies is required for all students, it is composed by:

· School supplies: notebooks, folders, pens and others.

· Personal cleaning supplies: a small tower, soap, toilet paper and damp paper.

There are five elementary schools, four high schools, one weekend school and also few state universities.

Some of them are:

· Juan Manuel Ojeda Luna: Catholic-Nursery, elementary and high school.

· Unidad Educativa Alvina Moreno : Catholic-Nursery, elementary and high school.

· Colegio técnico Gonzanamá: High school.

· Escuela fiscal 12 de Octubre: High school only for girls.

· Escuela Laultaro Loayza: Elementary school only for boys.

· Universidad Cotopaxi: College

Most of the schools are located in the middle of the town.

8. Religion

Like many Latin-Americans, the Ecuadorians are catholic. The citizens of Gonzanamá are catholic, too.

There are also catholic party`s, which are celebrated every year. For Example:

19 March: „Fiesta del Senor del Buen Suceso“; the biggest catholic celebration of the town. It starts on 18 August with the „arrival“ of god and it will be kept from many Ecuadorians and also on the north of Peru. In Gonzanamá it is characterized by burning castles at the night, native music and the traditional crazy cow.

First Sunday of July: „Fiesta del Sagrado Corazón de Jesus“, it will celebrated by almost catholics.

16 July: „Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen or the Virgin of Colca“

20 August: „Fiestas de San José“

9. Tourism

Natural attractions:

The Gonzanama’s geography zone shows a lot of spring landscapes, which attract the attention of many tourists.

The viewpoint of the Columbo´s hill: With 3097 altitude meters, it exposes the treasure of herds and invites the tourists to an eco-tourism experience.

The river pool of Lansaca: The ravine of Lansaca is located three kilometers away from Gonzanamá, on the way to Cariamanga. The tourists loved this.

La Banda: It is a spring of medicinal waters, because of the long amount of sulfur. The benefits of the water attract the attention of many tourists.

Cultural attractions:

The urban center or the city center: The central park with his pool and crowned with the Matrix church.

The livestock center: It is located near to the town and reserved for the exhibition and the sale of cattle. The merchandising is every Sunday, especially on 20 August.

Petroglyph: In the parish of Sacapalca is a pyramid-shaped petroglyph on a stone. On both sides is the sun drawn. The sun was the god of the palta´s tribu.

Tales:

The legend of the Columbo´s hill: With a maya, toleca, inca or palca origin. People say that on the top of the hill has existed a lake, surrounded by gardens of colorful flowers. In the middle of the lake floats a gold pan and over this a bull´s head. Every year during the party`s the flowers have been brushed by the horns of the bull. The right horn has sprouted gold grains and the left horn silver grains, which are later distributed between the anamáes.

11. External links

• Map of the Loja Province