CUENCA

in full Santa Ana De Cuenca, capital of Azuay province, south central Ecuador. The city lies in an intermontane basin (cuenca), at an altitude of 8,517 ft (2,596 m), on the Ro Matadero, a tributary of the Ro Paute. The Spanish colonial city was founded in 1557 by the conquistador Gil Ramrez Davalos on the ruins of Tumi pampas, the former residence of the Inca ruler Huayna Capac, who had conquered the Kingdom of Quitu in the 15th century. The commercial centre for most of southern Ecuador and third largest city in the nation, Cuenca trades in agricultural products, cattle, hides, and marble. Principal industries include the manufacture of Panama hats, textiles and lace, leather goods, jewelry, and food products. The weekly Indian market, in addition to serving an important economic function, is a popular tourist attraction. Low grade copper deposits have been discovered west of Cuenca. Outstanding examples of Spanish colonial architecture include La Concepcin convent (founded 1599) and Las Carmelitas Descalzas convent (founded 1682). Other notable landmarks are the Gothic cathedral (still under construction), the Government House (where the German geographer and traveller Alexander von Humboldt stayed in 1802), and the Municipal Museum. Cuenca became an episcopal see in 1786 and an archbishopric in 1957. It is the seat of the University of Cuenca (1868) and of a Catholic university (1970). The 91-mi (146-km) southern spur of the GuayaquilQuito railway runs to Cuenca and the Pan-American Highway passes through the city. Pop. (1982 prelim.) 155,711. province, in the autonomous community (region) of Castile-La Mancha, east central Spain, formed in 1833 from part of the ancient Kingdom of New Castile; it lies on the southern Meseta Central (plateau) and has an area of 6,587 sq mi (17,061 sq km). The population density is low because of the large area of mountainous terrain; much of the land is uncultivated. The Serrana de Cuenca, a region of great mountain blocks, pine forests, and pastures, occupies the eastern and central parts of the province. The Jcar and Tagus rivers run through deep valleys in an eroded limestone zone, called Ciudad Encantada (Enchanted City), a fantastic formation of rocks resembling a city, near Cuenca (q.v.), the provincial capital. The undulating hills of the Alcarria, an arid region having less than 20 in. (500 mm) of rain per year lie to the north; to the south the plain of La Mancha begins. Westward lies the Sierra de Altamira. Agriculture (cereals, vines, olives, saffron, fruit) predominates in Cuenca, but the main natural source of wealth is timber, used for casks, carpentry, and construction work. Sheep and goats are grazed. Honey, beeswax, goat cheese, and wool are exported. Pop. (1982 est.) 215,975. city, capital of Cuenca province, in the autonomous community (region) of Castile-La Mancha, east central Spain. It lies on a pyramid-like hill above the confluence of the Jcar and Hucar rivers. Originating as the Roman Conca, the city was finally captured from the Moors in 1177 by Alfonso VIII of Castile, who made it an episcopal see in 1182. It served as a cultural and textile centre in the Middle Ages. During the 19th century, the city expanded onto nearby lowland and in fact became two cities: the upper, or old, city; and the lower, or modern, one. Viewed from below, the Casas Colgantes (Hanging Houses) of the old city appear to be suspended. The RomanesqueGothic cathedral (13th century) is notable, and the city is the site of the Provincial Archaeological and the Spanish Abstract Art museums. Industrial development is slight (tanning, sawmilling, paper milling, and flour milling); manufactured goods include furniture, soap, leather, and woollen goods. Pop. (1982 est.) 39,860.