Editing Ambato, Ecuador (section)

{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Ambato
| official_name          = San Juan de Ambato
| native_name            = 
| other_name             = 
| settlement_type        = City
| total_type             = City
| image_skyline          = Collage Ambato.png
| imagesize              = 250px
| image_caption          = '''From top, left to right:''' Panoramic view of the city, [[Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato|Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Elevation]], Bolivar street, [[Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria|Atocha-La Liria Historical Botanical Garden]], Juan Montalvo monument, City hall of Ambato, Cevallos Park and Victor Hugo avenue.
| image_flag             = Bandera Provincia Tungurahua.svg
| image_seal             = 
| image_blank_emblem     = 
| blank_emblem_size      = 200
| blank_emblem_type      = Ambato Tierrita Linda, Slogan del 2016
| nickname               = Tierra de las Flores y las Frutas ''(Land of Flowers and Fruits)''
| motto                  = Tierrita linda
| image_map              = 
| map_caption            = Location in Ecuador
| pushpin_map            = Ecuador
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| coordinates            = {{Wikidatacoord|Q210161|type:city_region:EC|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint          = 
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{ECU}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ecuador|Province]]
| subdivision_name1      = {{flag|Tungurahua}}
| subdivision_type2      = [[Cantons of Ecuador|Canton]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Ambato Canton]]
| established_title      = Founded
| established_date       = December 6, 1698
| founder                = 
| named_for              = 
| leader_title           = Mayor
| leader_name            = Diana Caiza
| unit_pref              = 
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 34.64
| area_land_km2          = 
| area_water_km2         = 
| area_water_percent     = 
| area_metro_km2         = 
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 2577
| elevation_max_m        = 3900
| elevation_min_m        = 1800
| population_total       = 177316
|population_footnotes    = <ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/ecuador/towns/tungurahua/180150__ambato/ Citypopulation.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023075155/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/ecuador/towns/tungurahua/180150__ambato/ |date=2023-10-23 }} Population and area of Amboto</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_as_of       = 2022 census
| population_demonyms    = Ambateño,-a
| timezone               = [[Ecuador Time|ECT]]
| utc_offset             = -5
| timezone_DST           = 
| utc_offset_DST         = 
| postal_code_type       = 
| postal_code            = 
| area_code              = (+593) 3
| blank_name             = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info             = [[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]
| website                = {{URL|http://www.ambato.gob.ec/}} {{in lang|es}}
}}
'''Ambato''' ({{IPA|es|amˈbato}}; full form, '''San Juan de Ambato'''; [[Quechuan languages|Quechua]]: Ampatu Llaqta) is a city located in the central [[Andes|Andean]] valley of [[Ecuador]].<ref>''Columbia Gazetteer of the World''New York: Columbia University Press, 1998</ref> Lying on the banks of the [[Ambato River (Ecuador)|Ambato River]], the city also sits beneath several tall mountains. It is the capital city of the [[Tungurahua Province]], situated at an elevation of 2,577 meters above sea level. It is variously nicknamed "City of Flowers and Fruits", "Land of the Three Juans", and "Garden of Ecuador." Ambato's inhabitants are called Ambateños or Guaytambos (after a type of native peach that the valley is famous for producing). The current mayor of Ambato is [[Diana Caiza]].

The city has been fully or partially destroyed by earthquakes several times in its history, most recently on [[1949 Ambato earthquake|August 5, 1949]], when the city and its cathedral were almost completely devastated. The city was rebuilt in the following two years. In honour of the tenacity of their residents, Ambato celebrates "The Festival of Fruits and Flowers" during [[Carnival]] in February. Today, the Festival of Fruits and Flowers is one of the most important festivities in Ecuador.

The city is referred to as "Land of the Three Juans" as it was the birthplace of three notable Ecuadorians: [[Juan Montalvo]], a noted essay writer of the 19th century, [[Juan León Mera]], the author of the country's [[national anthem]], and Juan Benigno Vela, a key figure in the Ecuadorian independence movement. The city is well known for its production of fruit, tanneries, food products and textiles.<ref>
''Merriam Webster's Geographical Dictionary'' Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2001. Third Edition.
</ref>
It also serves as a major transportation hub, especially for travelers moving south on the [[Pan-American Highway]].