WHAT IS THE BASIN RELIEF LIKE? (ECUADOR) - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The relief of Cuenca, better known as the city of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca, located in Ecuador, is a territory with a natural drainage system that consists of main and secondary valleys that form major and minor reliefs through which a network runs fluvial that makes up the basin.

This relief is formed by flanks and mountains, streams and ravines, plateaus and valleys. These structures are essential for the existence of a number of river networks that will flow into a single main river that then flows into the open sea (the main characteristic of the basins in the world).

«El Cajas» National Park in Cuenca Ecuador

There are many basins in the world, but the most significant are: The Congo Basin; The Mississippi Basin; The Orinoco Basin and the Amazon Basin. The latter is where the different rivers of Cuenca in Ecuador flow.

Basin relief structure (Ecuador)

Cuenca is provided with infinite natural riches, not only because of its hydrographic basins, but also because of the structure of the valley and its mountains.

Main mountains of the city of Cuenca

• Guagualzhumi
• Curitaqui
• Pacchamama
• Cabogana
• Namatepal
• Caushín
• Turi
• Anchovy
• In the Santa Bárbara river micro-basin: El Fasayán and Llaver
• In the Collay micro-basin: Cerro Collay
• In the Jubones micro-basin: Coro, Zhalo and Barashigua
• In the micro-basin of the Machángara: Shinlliag

Main rivers of the city of Cuenca

There are four main rivers in Cuenca that originate from glacial lagoons found in El Cajas National Park, located 30 km west of the city.

• Tomebamba (The largest of the four rivers)
• Yanuncay
• Tarqui
• Machangara

There are also the so-called “Microbasins” that generally receive fluvial currents from the four main rivers. These micro basins are: Paute, Santa Bárbara, Collay and Jubones.

River network

Some rivers and streams of the canton flow into the Jubones micro basin that goes directly to the Pacific Ocean.

The union of the Tomebamba and Machangara rivers form the Cuenca River. This river along its route receives the flows of the other main rivers and then empties into the Amazon River.

The Amazon River, which crosses a large part of South America extending through Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname (a region known as Amazonia), receives all river flows, including those of the Ecuadorian basin and it finally empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

Therefore, the river networks of the city of Cuenca can flow into both the Pacific Ocean (in the case of the Jubones micro-basin) and the Atlantic Ocean.

Weather

Being part of the Ecuadorian Sierra, the city of Cuenca has a temperate climate almost all year round. The days are warm but not suffocating and the nights are cold. Temperatures range from 14 ° C (58 ° F).

World Heritage

Cuenca is also called "The Athens of Ecuador" because the city has architectural riches that can only be achieved in its territory. In addition, there are many famous people who were born in Cuenca.

These characteristics meant that in 1999, Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Municipality of Cuenca (Ecuador)

References

1. Astudillo, JC (July 19, 2015). El Mercurio: Guardian hills surrounding the valley. Retrieved on August 14, 2017, from El Mercurio: elmercurio.com.ec
2. Astudillo, TA (June 23, 2017). El Mercurio: Sacred Geography in the Cuenca Valley. Retrieved on August 14, 2017, from El Mercurio: elmercurio.com.ec
3. Coronas, FA (2015). Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca: Exemplary and sustainable management of water resources. Retrieved on August 14, 2017, from Planur: planur-e.es
4. Ecuador Explorer: The City of Cuenca. (sf). Retrieved on August 14, 2017, from Ecuador Explorer: ecuadorexplorer.com
5. EcuRed: Cuenca (Ecuador). (sf). Retrieved on August 14, 2017, from EcuRed: ecured.cu
6. Espinoza, MC, Lopez, RP, & Munguía, RM (2010). HABITAT QUALITY IN THE TOMEBAMBA AND YANUNCAY RIVERS IN ECUADOR., 13-26.