GEOGRAPHY
River
Guayas Basin
Measuring
26 km this
is one of
the country's
largest river
basins.
The rivers
form part
of an extensive
hydrographical
system in
Guayas.
The main tributaries
are Daule
and Babahoyo.
The Guayas
basin not
only marks
the province's
political-administrative
limits
but a much
wider area.
It's economic
projection
favours nine
provinces
in total,
Guayas, Manabi,
Pichincha
and Los Rios
in particular.
Various studies
have been
carried out
on the river
basin and
geographers
conclude that
the area is 'a promising
economic zone'
due to its
exceptional
richness.
Project
Daule-Peripa
This
is one of
the country's
most important
projects,
in terms of
energy generation.
The project
was originally
planned to
develop an
area of 260
thousand hectares
in the extreme
south of the
river basin.
The dam, situated
along the
main part
of the river
Daule forms
6000 million
cubic metres
which will
be used for
the irrigation
of the lower
sectors of
Daule and
the peninsula
of Santa Elena
for drinking
water and
control of
salt levels.
The final
phase of the
project will
be its eventual
extension
towards Manabi.
The
Gulf of Guayaquil
The
Gulf of Guayaquil
is unique,
extending
from Cabo
Blanco on
the Peruvian
coast to Santa
Elena in Guayas
some 230km.
Islands
In
the gulf there
are 13 islands.
Isla Puna
is the largest
measuring
920km squared.
10km away
from this
is Isla Santa
Elena.
In river Guayas
are islands
Malabrigo,
Mondragon,
Matorrillos,
Masa and Santay.
In the marshes
isla Verde,
isla Escalante
and Palo Santo.
Isla Santay
measures some
2200 hectares.
This island
was bought
by Ecuadorian
Bank Banco
Ecuatoriano
de la Vivienda
and a housing
project has
been planned
with the objective
of benefitting
thousands
of families.
Demography
Guayas
is the country's
most densely
populated
province.
Its capital,
Guayquil,
along with
Quito, are
the two principle
urban centres.
In 1950 Guayaquil
had a population
of 289,000
inhabitants,
in 1990 the
figure stood
at 1,508,844;
five times
as many as
in 1950.
The population
is rapidly
increasing
due to migration
from other
provinces.
Climate
The
climate is
predominantly
tropical and
humid.
There are
two seasons:
winter (Jan-May)
and summer
(June-Dec).
Temperatures
average 25
degrees centigrade.
Last
Updated 18th
August 2006
(DLW)
