Pelileo (full form, San Pedro de Pelileo) is a city located at the center of the

Andean The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S l ...

region of

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar language, Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechuan ...

called ''La Sierra'' ("the highlands"). It is the seat of Pelileo

Canton Canton may refer to: Administrative division terminology * Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries, notably Switzerland * Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French Arts and ente ...

(48,988 inhabitants, 2001 Census), and forms part of

Tungurahua Province Tungurahua ( es, Provincia del Tungurahua, literally ''Province of the Tungurahua''; ) is one of the twenty-four provinces of Ecuador. Its capital is Ambato. The province takes its name from the Tungurahua volcano, which is located within the b ...

. Pelileo is the second largest city in

behind neighboring Ambato and is famous for the production and sale of blue jeans. Many travelers pass through Pelileo on their way from Ambato to Baños.

History

Pelileo was founded by Antonio Clavijo in 1570 and was elevated to the status of county on July 22, 1860. On August 5, 1949, Pelileo was totally destroyed by an

earthquake An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fro ...

. Some 5,000 people died within the limits of the county. The only remaining structure still visible from the old city is a broken stone pillar, once part of Pelileo's magnificent main church. A new city was rebuilt in a nearby location. Currently it is therefore possible to visit both the Great Pelileo (''Pelileo Grande''), and the New Pelileo (''Pelileo Nuevo'').

Economy

Pelileo is also known as the Blue City, because of its booming

jean Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Je ...

industry, mainly located in the El Tambo parish. Another of the parishes of Pelileo is the world-famous Salasaca, home to a Native American tribe originally from

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

that came to the Ecuadorian Andes as ''mitimaes''. The Huambalo parish is well known as the home of artisans of fine furniture. Pelileo is also known for the distillation of a local liquor called ''

aguardiente ( Spanish), or ( Portuguese) ( eu, pattar; ca, aiguardent; gl, augardente), is a generic term for alcoholic beverages that contain between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV). It originates in the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and in ...

''. A hard, clear sugarcane-based alcohol, it is one of Pelileo's main products outside of blue jeans. The main market days in Pelileo are Saturday and Tuesday.

Current events

On the morning of August 16, 2006, the

Tungurahua Tungurahua (; from Quichua ''tunguri'' (throat) and ''rahua'' (fire), "Throat of Fire")) is an active stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Oriental of Ecuador. The volcano gives its name to the province of Tungurahua. Volcanic activity rest ...

volcano exploded, in what appears to be the main event of an eruptive process that started in 1999. On August 17, the whole of Pelileo woke up covered with rocks and ashes. In all the parishes of the county it is reported that crops have been lost and farm animals are in danger.

External links

Municipality of Pelileo website
Populated places in Tungurahua Province 1570 establishments in the Spanish Empire {{Ecuador-geo-stub