Country Ecuador Population 228,384 (2001) Area 1,092.89 km2 | Mayor Veronica Zurita Castro | |
Santo Domingo de los Colorados, simply referred to as Santo Domingo, is a city and seat of the canton that bears its name. It is the fourth most populous city in Ecuador with a population of over 305,000, is an important commercial and industrial center, and serves as the capital of the Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas Province.
Contents
Map of Santo Domingo, Ecuador
History
The name, "de los Colorados", refers to a local ethnic group, the Tsachila, and the custom of men in that tribe to dye their hair with extract of the achiote plant; hence "Santo Dominigo de los Colorados" or "Santo Domingo of the Dyed." This group, which is indigenous to the area, is recognised with a substantial statue near the town center.
Geography
Santo Domingo is located approximately 133 km west of Quito at an altitude of 625 m. Santo Domingo lies in the foothills west of the Andes. It is important stopping point on the road from Quito to the Pacific coast. The city also connects other lowland cities like Quevedo, Chone, and Quininde.
The city is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santo Domingo de los Colorados.