Cuenca Ecuador geography & climate
Geography
The city of Santa Ana of the 4 Rivers of Cuenca is located between 2.350 to 2.550 meters above sea level, in the Southern area of the Ecuadorian Andean Mountain range. It was built on the ruins of the old Guapdondélig of Cañaris, which means "great valley of the sun". This gives us an idea of the valley.
The area is surrounded by a complex of terraces, 4 altogether, which offer a great layout to the city. Most part of the city is located on flat areas, surrounded by mountains. These terraces are bathed by 4 rivers, which give their name to the city: the Machangara (to the north), the Tomebamba which splits the city in two areas, the Yanuncay and the Tarqui (to the south) which join together in the Tomebamba River.
This valley enjoys a great climate, along with a great availability of water, and fertile ground, allowing lots of green vegetation. This is the reason why the Cañaris, Incas and Spaniards took advantage of the area.
A cliff divides the slightly elevated second and third terraces, which constitute one of the most interesting characteristics of the geography of Cuenca and it is the present boundary between the colonial city and the new city.
There are two noticeable climatic stations. The dry season affects Cuenca from June to September. During the rest of the year it is variable rainy, with heavy rains during the months of October and December and from March to May.
