Baños de Agua Santa | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Baños from the east | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname: Baños | |
  Baños de Agua Santa | |
| Coordinates:1°23′47″S78°25′29″W / 1.39639°S 78.42472°W /-1.39639; -78.42472 | |
| Country | Ecuador |
| Province | Tungurahua |
| Canton | Baños |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor and council |
| • Mayor | Marlon Guevara |
| Area | |
• City | 4.16 km2 (1.61 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,820 m (5,970 ft) |
| Population (2022 census)[1] | |
• City | 14,100 |
| • Density | 3,390/km2 (8,780/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Baneño(-a) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (ECT) |
| Area code | (0)3 |
| Climate | Cfb |
| Website | www |
Baños de Agua Santa (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈbaɲosðeˈaɣwaˈsanta]), commonly referred to asBaños, is a city in easternTungurahua Province ofEcuador. Baños is the second most populous city in Tungurahua, after the capitalAmbato, and is a major tourist center. Baños is known as the "Gateway to theAmazon," as it is the last city still located inthe mountain region before reaching the jungle and other towns that are located in theAmazon River basin.
Baños is located at an elevation of 1,820 metres (5,971 feet) on the northern foothills of theTungurahua volcano, whose activity has been characterized by frequent powerful ash explosions and lava flows that can be seen from Banos.[2]
Baños de Agua Santa (Spanish for Baths of Holy Water[3]) is named after the hot springs located around the city which have a reputation of having healing properties due to the various minerals they contain.
The city is also aCatholic religious center, as some Catholic believers say that theVirgin Mary appeared nearby awaterfall. Due to this belief, a sculpture of the virgin, calledVirgen de Agua Santa, was placed in the city'scathedral.
The history of the town has been intimately linked to the highly-activeTungurahua volcano. In October 1999, all 17,000+ residents were forced to evacuate the city for weeks.[4]
Baños is located on the northernfoothills of theTungurahua volcano.
Along with the townPillaro, Baños is known as a good starting point for exploring the remoteLlanganates National Park and its attractions including Cerro Hermoso. The city itself has a main central park across from the cathedral.
Nearby waterfalls include Virgen de Agua Santa, Inés María, Agoyán, El Manto de la Novia, Pailón del Diablo and Machay.
Baños is a popular tourist destination in Ecuador[5] due to its natural environment (it is home to more than 60 waterfalls) and its adventure sports.[6] Locals and visitors alike undertakerafting,kayaking,canyoning,bridge jumping, hiking, biking and horseback riding.[6]
Baños is also known for its production oftaffy (Spanish:melcocha[melˈkotʃa]) made fromcane sugar, and for small shops that sellparrot sculptures made ofbalsa wood.
Under theKöppen climate classification, Baños has asubtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cfb or Cwb).
| Climate data for Baños de Agua Santa, elevation 1,843 m (6,047 ft), (1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.2 (72.0) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 21.4 (70.5) | 20.7 (69.3) | 21.2 (70.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 22.7 (72.9) | 23.2 (73.8) | 22.7 (72.9) | 22.1 (71.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.0 (55.4) | 13.1 (55.6) | 13.2 (55.8) | 13.2 (55.8) | 13.1 (55.6) | 12.4 (54.3) | 11.9 (53.4) | 11.8 (53.2) | 11.9 (53.4) | 12.6 (54.7) | 12.8 (55.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 12.7 (54.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 76.0 (2.99) | 81.0 (3.19) | 103.0 (4.06) | 120.0 (4.72) | 140.0 (5.51) | 208.0 (8.19) | 190.0 (7.48) | 162.0 (6.38) | 136.0 (5.35) | 98.0 (3.86) | 66.0 (2.60) | 67.0 (2.64) | 1,447 (56.97) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 83 | 82 | 84 | 83 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 84 | 82 | 81 | 79 | 81 | 83 |
| Source: FAO[7] | |||||||||||||
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Baños travel guide from Wikivoyage| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
