GUARANDA

capital of Bolvar province, central highland Ecuador, on a headstream of the Ro Chimbo in the Cordillera (mountains) de Guaranda of the Andes. It is about 15 mi (24 km) southwest of Mt. Chimborazo. As an agricultural centre for the surrounding area, the city trades in cinchona (a source of quinine), wheat, corn (maize), and timber. Its slight industrial development includes a tannery. Guaranda is connected by highway with Riobamba and Quito; before the opening of the GuayaquilQuito railway (1908), it was an important transshipment point between the two cities. Guaranda was made a Roman Catholic episcopal see in 1957. Pop. (1983 est.) 14,155.