Editing Machala (section)

{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Machala
| nickname                        = Banana Capital of the World
| image_flag                      = Machala Flag.svg
| image_seal                      =
| settlement_type                 =
City
| total_type                      = City
| map_caption                     = Location of Machala in Ecuador
| image_skyline                   = Collage Machala.png
| imagesize                       = 300px
| image_caption                   = '''From top, left to right:''' Juan Montalvo Central Park, Bolivar Port, [[Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Machala|Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral]], monument to Juan Montalvo in front of the City hall of Machala, monument to the Bananero, monument to the founding of UTMACH, Columbus Square and Municipalidad street.
| pushpin_map                     = Ecuador
| coordinates                     = {{coord|3|16|S|79|58|W|region:EC|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{Flag|Ecuador}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces of Ecuador|Province]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Cantons of Ecuador|Canton]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[El Oro Province|El Oro]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Machala Canton|Machala]]
| established_title               = Founded
| established_date                = 1573
| elevation_m                     = 6
| area_total_km2                  = 42.91
| population_demonym              = Machaleño / a
| population_density_km2          = auto
| area_code                       = (+593) 7
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Dario Macas Salvatierra
| population_footnotes            = <ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/ecuador/towns/el_oro/070150__machala/ Citypopulation.de] Population and area of Machala</ref>
| population_as_of                = 2022 census
| population_metro                = 
|population_rank = [[List of cities in Ecuador|5th]] in Ecuador
| population_total                = 288072
| timezone                        = [[Ecuador Time|ECT]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| website                         = [http://www.machala.gob.ec www.machala.gob.ec] {{in lang|es}}|
}}
'''Machala''' ({{IPA|es|maˈtʃala}}) is a city in south-west [[Ecuador]]. It is the capital of the [[El Oro Province]], and is located near the [[Gulf of Guayaquil]] on [[fertility (soil)|fertile]] [[lowland]]s. Machala has a [[population]] of 288,072 (2022 census); it is the sixth-biggest city in the country, and the second-most important port. It has been referred to as the '''''Banana Capital of the World''.'''