PUYO

town, east-central Ecuador. It lies along an affluent of the Pastaza River near the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. It is a missionary settlement and the most important trading centre in El Oriente region (the forested lowland jungle east of the Andes). The town's economy is based on local trade and barter with the surrounding Indian population. Products include sugarcane and cassava. Pop. (1990) 14,438.