- Characteristics of the relief of Guayaquil
- Relief and climate
- Relief and hydrography
- Impact on the economy
- tourism
- References
The relief of Guayaquil is formed mainly by plains and extensive plains near the coast, forming numerous bays and coastlines. Guayaquil is the largest and most populated city in Ecuador, as well as one of its main tourist and commercial centers.
Given its proximity to the sea, Guayaquil has a fairly flat relief and does not have important mountain ranges beyond small hills.
Its altitude is extremely low, so much so that the average height above sea level is barely 4 meters, it has an area of 355 square kilometers.
Characteristics of the relief of Guayaquil
Guayaquil is located in the northeast of South America next to the Pacific Ocean, it is far from the Andes Mountains and in certain areas of its geography it has practically no presence of mountainous elevations.
In the northeast region of Guayaquil you can see an extensive plain added to several coastlines with a fairly dry soil. To the southwest are located some of the few elevated areas of the city that arise from the Chongón-Colonche mountain range.
Although there are an abundant number of hills in this part of the city, their height is not too significant.
Relief and climate
As in many cities in South America, the relief and height have a direct impact on the climate and temperature of the area.
Normally in hot climates there are populations located at high altitudes that form moors where low temperatures are perceived. However, in the case of Guayaquil this does not happen, the absence of elevated areas provides an arid climate (typical of tropical coasts) constant throughout the city.
The climate of Guayaquil qualifies in the Köppen-Geiger system as BSh, or warm semi-arid, with medium rainfall and an average annual temperature around 27 degrees Celsius. There are 2 quite different seasons between rains and drought.
During the warmer months the temperature can rise above 30 degrees, added to the humidity it is possible to perceive thermal sensations of up to 40 degrees.
Relief and hydrography
The city is surrounded by several rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean.
Given the low relief of Guayaquil and its relatively low rainfall, there are few fresh water reserves (lakes, lagoons, swamps), most of them humid areas with estuaries and other places near the sea.
Impact on the economy
Guayaquil is an important commercial port of Ecuador, its proximity to the coast has been enormously beneficial for its inhabitants for decades.
The population has not focused on agricultural activities (given the aridness of the soil) and has focused on commerce, investments and real estate.
tourism
The progress of the economy has provided Guayaquil with numerous hotels and vacation areas near the coast that attract many tourists each year, which has made tourism one of the main economic activities of the city.
Apart from coastal tourism, the presence of rivers and mouths has encouraged the practice of extreme sports related to fast water, such as kayaking.
References
- Geography of Guayaquil (2014). Retrieved on December 22, 2017, from Guayaquil.
- Guayaquil (sf). Retrieved on December 22, 2017, from Ecuale.
- Geography of Guayaquil (sf). Retrieved on December 22, 2017, from Geography.
- Climate and Hydrography of Guayaquil (sf). Retrieved on December 22, 2017, from Climate Data.
- Guayaquil (sf). Retrieved on December 22, 2017, from Enciclopedia del Ecuador.