78-479: Iñaquito is a parish of Quito , Ecuador , located toward the north of the city. There is a large concentration of malls in the area, and the population is wealthy relative to the rest of Quito. This is also home to a large international community in Ecuador, primarily Americans. Various mission agencies have their headquarters for Ecuador here, including HCJB and Youth World . To cater to this international community,
156-635: A relative dating system, obsidian hydration dating , to calculate the age of obsidian artifacts . Obsidian artifacts first appeared in the European continent in Central Europe in the Middle Paleolithic and had become common by the Upper Paleolithic , although there are exceptions to this. Obsidian played an important role in the transmission of Neolithic knowledge and experiences . The material
234-443: A volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth . It is an igneous rock . Produced from felsic lava, obsidian is rich in the lighter elements such as silicon , oxygen , aluminum, sodium , and potassium . It is commonly found within the margins of rhyolitic lava flows known as obsidian flows. These flows have a high content of silica , giving them a high viscosity . The high viscosity inhibits diffusion of atoms through
312-545: A culture or place can be of considerable use to reconstruct commerce, production, and distribution, and thereby understand economic, social and political aspects of a civilization. This is the case in Yaxchilán , a Maya city where even warfare implications have been studied linked with obsidian use and its debris. Another example is the archeological recovery at coastal Chumash sites in California, indicating considerable trade with
390-451: A distinguishable type of obsidian allowing archaeologists to use methods such as non-destructive energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence to select minor element compositions from both the artifact and geological sample to trace the origins of a particular artifact. Similar tracing techniques have also allowed obsidian in Greece to be identified as coming from Milos , Nisyros or Gyali , islands in
468-497: A high level of sophistication by the late Neolithic, and was traded as far as Sicily, the southern Po river valley, and Croatia. Obsidian bladelets were used in ritual circumcisions and cutting of umbilical cords of newborns. Anatolian sources of obsidian are known to have been the material used in the Levant and modern-day Iraqi Kurdistan from a time beginning sometime about 12,500 BC. Obsidian artifacts are common at Tell Brak , one of
546-630: A site in the western Negev in Israel. Eight obsidian artifacts dating to the Chalcolithic Age found at this site were traced to obsidian sources in Anatolia . Neutron activation analysis (NAA) on the obsidian found at this site helped to reveal trade routes and exchange networks previously unknown. Lithic analysis helps to understand pre-Hispanic groups in Mesoamerica . A careful analysis of obsidian in
624-454: A type of glass knife made using naturally occurring obsidian instead of manufactured glass. Obsidian is used by some surgeons for scalpel blades, although this is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use on humans. Well-crafted obsidian blades, like any glass knife, can have a cutting edge many times sharper than high-quality steel surgical scalpels: the cutting edge of
702-457: Is Pichincha , looming over the western side of the city. Quito is the only capital city that was developed so close to an active volcano. Pichincha volcano has several summits, among them Ruku Pichincha at 4,700 m (15,400 ft) above sea level and Guagua Pichincha at 4,794 m (15,728 ft). Pichincha is active and being monitored by volcanologists at the Geophysical institute of
780-597: Is metastable at the Earth's surface (over time the glass devitrifies , becoming fine-grained mineral crystals), obsidian older than Miocene in age is rare. Exceptionally old obsidians include a Cretaceous welded tuff and a partially devitrified Ordovician perlite . This transformation of obsidian is accelerated by the presence of water. Although newly formed obsidian has a low water content, typically less than 1% water by weight, it becomes progressively hydrated when exposed to groundwater , forming perlite . Pure obsidian
858-415: Is 21.4 °C (70.5 °F), and the average night-time minimum temperature is 9.8 °C (49.6 °F). The annual average temperature is 15.6 °C (60.1 °F). The city has only two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season, June through August (3 months), is referred to as summer; the wet season , September through May (9 months), is referred to as winter. Annual precipitation, depending on location,
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#1733084998620936-452: Is because Bolivia is a country with multiple capitals ; if La Paz is considered the Bolivian national capital, it tops the list of highest capitals, but if Sucre is specified as the capital, then it is the second highest, behind Quito. Quito is the political and cultural center of Ecuador as the country's major governmental, administrative, and cultural institutions are located within
1014-674: Is caused by inclusions of magnetite nanoparticles creating thin-film interference . Colorful, striped obsidian ( rainbow obsidian ) from Mexico contains oriented nanorods of hedenbergite , which cause the rainbow striping effects by thin-film interference . Obsidian is found near volcanoes in locations which have undergone rhyolitic eruptions. It can be found in Argentina, Armenia , Azerbaijan , Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia , Ecuador , El Salvador , Greece, Guatemala , Hungary , Iceland, Indonesia , Italy, Japan, Kenya , Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea , Peru, Russia , Scotland,
1092-406: Is nowadays used mostly for tourism. A 23 km (14 mi) metro subway system ( Quito Metro ) began construction with Phase One begun in 2013, entailed the construction of stations at La Magdalena and El Labrador. Phase Two, begun in 2016, involves 15 stations, a depot and sub-systems. The project is expected to carry 400,000 passengers per day and to cost $ 1.5 billion with financing coming from
1170-425: Is over 1,000 mm (39 in). Due to its altitude, Quito receives some of the greatest solar radiation in the world, sometimes reaching a UV Index of 24 by solar noon under clear skies. The fact that Quito lies almost on the equator means that high pressure systems are extremely rare. Pressure is stable, so very low pressure systems are also rare. From 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 the lowest pressure recorded
1248-464: Is the capital of Ecuador , with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha . Quito is located in a valley on the eastern slopes of Pichincha , an active stratovolcano in the Andes . Quito's elevation of 2,850 m (9,350 ft) makes it either the highest or the second highest capital city in the world. This varied standing
1326-836: Is the seat of the Government of the Republic of Ecuador , located in the historic center of Quito. The palace overlooks the bustling public space known as Independence Square or Plaza Grande (colonial name), together with the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Hotel Plaza Grande and the Metropolitan Cathedral. During the Republican era almost all the presidents (constitutional, internees and dictators) have governed from
1404-475: Is the site of the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve ). The southern part of Quito has a subtropical highland climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ), while the northern part has a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb ). Because of its altitude and location on the equator, Quito has a fairly constant cool climate. The average afternoon maximum temperature
1482-526: Is to the south of the capital's current center, on an area of 320 ha (790 acres), and one of the most important historic areas in Latin America. There are about 130 monumental buildings (which host a variety of pictorial art and sculpture, mostly religiously inspired, in a multi-faceted range of schools and styles), and 5,000 properties registered in the municipal inventory of heritage properties. Palacio de Carondelet (Spanish: Palacio de Carondelet )
1560-406: Is usually dark in appearance, though the color varies depending on the impurities present. Iron and other transition elements may give the obsidian a dark brown to black color. Most black obsidians contain nanoinclusions of magnetite , an iron oxide . Very few samples of obsidian are nearly colorless. In some stones, the inclusion of small, white, radially clustered crystals ( spherulites ) of
1638-428: Is usually dark in color, similar to mafic rocks such as basalt , the composition of obsidian is extremely felsic. Obsidian consists mainly of SiO 2 ( silicon dioxide ), usually 70% by weight or more; the remainder consists of variable amounts of other oxides, mostly oxides of aluminum, iron, potassium, sodium and calcium. Crystalline rocks with a similar composition include granite and rhyolite . Because obsidian
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#17330849986201716-633: The Aegean Sea . Obsidian cores and blades were traded great distances inland from the coast. In Chile obsidian tools from Chaitén Volcano have been found as far away as in Chan-Chan 400 km (250 mi) north of the volcano, and also in sites 400 km south of it. The Lapita culture , active across a large area of the Pacific Ocean around 1000 BC, made widespread use of obsidian tools and engaged in long distance obsidian trading. The complexity of
1794-673: The Canary Islands , Turkey and the United States. Obsidian flows which are so large that they can be hiked on are found within the calderas of Newberry Volcano (Big Obsidian Flow, 700 acres) and Medicine Lake Volcano in the Cascade Range of western North America, and at Inyo Craters east of the Sierra Nevada in California. Yellowstone National Park has a mountainside containing obsidian located between Mammoth Hot Springs and
1872-508: The Guayllabamba river basin. The city is built on a long plateau lying on the east flanks of the Pichincha volcano. The valley of Guayllabamba River where Quito lies is flanked by volcanoes, some of them snow-capped, and visible from the city on a clear day. Quito is the closest capital city to the equator . Quito's altitude is listed at 2,820 m (9,250 ft). Quito's closest volcano
1950-681: The Göllü Dağ volcano were the most important sources in central Anatolia , one of the more important source areas in the prehistoric Near East . The first known archaeological evidence of usage was in Kariandusi (Kenya) and other sites of the Acheulian age (beginning 1.5 million years BP) dated 700,000 BC, although only very few objects have been found at these sites relative to the Neolithic. Manufacture of obsidian bladelets at Lipari had reached
2028-530: The Marcist Revolution began. In 1875 the country's president, Gabriel García Moreno , was assassinated in Quito. Two years later, in 1877, Archbishop José Ignacio Checa y Barba was killed by poison while celebrating Mass in Quito. In 1882, insurgents rose up against the regime of dictator Ignacio de Veintimilla . However, this did not end the violence that was occurring throughout the country. On 9 July 1883,
2106-522: The Norris Geyser Basin , and deposits can be found in many other western U.S. states including Arizona , Colorado , New Mexico , Texas , Utah , and Washington , Oregon and Idaho . There are only four major deposit areas in the central Mediterranean: Lipari , Pantelleria , Palmarola and Monte Arci ( Sardinia ). Ancient sources in the Aegean were Milos and Gyali . Acıgöl town and
2184-464: The Quito Revolt . On 10 August 1809, a movement was again started in Quito to win independence from Spain. On that date a plan for government was unveiled, which appointed Juan Pío Montúfar as president and prominent pro-independence figures in other government positions. This initial movement was defeated on 2 August 1810 , when colonial troops arrived from Lima , Peru , and killed the leaders of
2262-516: The Trole . These plans have been ruled out and replaced by the construction of the first metro line (subway) in 2012. It started to operate in December 2023, joining the existing public transportation network. Because Quito is about 40 km (25 mi) long and 5 km (3.1 mi) at its widest, most of the important avenues of the city extend from north to south. The two main motorways that go from
2340-405: The national polytechnic university . The largest eruption occurred in 1660 when more than 25 cm (9.8 in) of ash covered the city. There were three minor eruptions in the 19th century. The latest eruption was recorded on 5 October 1999, when a few puffs of smoke were seen and much ash was deposited on the city. Activity in other nearby volcanoes can also affect the city. In November 2002
2418-646: The Carondelet Palace. The presidential residence is located on the third level of the Palace, along with administrative offices. The monumental Basilica del Voto Nacional is the most important neo-Gothic building in Ecuador, and one of the most representative of the American continent. It was once the largest in the New World. The Quito Metropolitan Cathedral , is one of the largest religious symbols of spiritual value for
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2496-549: The Catholic Church, but with the secularization and liberalization of the Ecuadorian state, the political parishes were spun off the ones used by the church. Parishes are called urban if they are within the boundaries of the seat (capital) of their corresponding canton, and rural if outside those boundaries. Inside Quito (the city proper), subdivision into urban parishes depends on the organizations that use these parishes (e.g.,
2574-619: The Catholic community in the city. Construction of this church began in 1535, seventeen years after the Diocese of Quito was created in 1545. The church building was completed in 1799, during the administration of President of the Real Audiencia, Baron Héctor de Carondelet. Obsidian Obsidian ( / ə b ˈ s ɪ d i . ən , ɒ b -/ əb- SID -ee-ən ob- ) is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when lava extruded from
2652-670: The Christian & Missionary Alliance started the Alliance Academy, now called Alliance Academy International , which is currently a school containing around 500 students K-12, the majority being Ecuadorian and American but with students representing around 20 countries. There is also a church in English for this missionary community - English Fellowship church. Quito Quito ( Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkito] ; Quechua : Kitu ), officially San Francisco de Quito ,
2730-677: The Inca Emperor Huayna Capac defeated the Quitu , the region's original inhabitants, and incorporated Quito into the Inca Empire , designating it into the capital of the Inca Empire's northern region. The Spanish conquest of the city in 1534 is the date most frequently cited as the city's official founding, making Quito the oldest capital in South America . Quito's historic center is among
2808-776: The La Florida neighborhood of Quito. Dating to AD 800, they provide evidence of the high quality of craftsmanship among the Quitu, and of the elaborate and complex character of their funerary rites. In 2010, the Museo de Sitio La Florida opened to preserve some of the artifacts from the tombs and explain this complex culture. Incan uprising against the Spanish continued during 1534. The conquistador Diego de Almagro founded Santiago de Quito (in present-day Colta, near Riobamba ) on 15 August 1534, renamed as San Francisco de Quito on 28 August 1534. The city
2886-668: The Roman writer Pliny the Elder includes a few sentences about a volcanic glass called obsidian ( lapis obsidianus ), discovered in Ethiopia by Obsidius, a Roman explorer. Obsidian is formed from quickly cooled lava , which is the parent material . Extrusive formation of obsidian may occur when felsic lava cools rapidly at the edges of a felsic lava flow or volcanic dome, or when lava cools during sudden contact with water or air. Intrusive formation of obsidian may occur when felsic lava cools along
2964-814: The World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the line opened on Dic 1, 2023. Quito has the largest, least-altered, and best-preserved historic center in the Americas . This center was, together with the historic center of Kraków , Poland, the first to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 18 September 1978. The historic center of Quito
3042-522: The account of the Quitu-Cara kingdom. They think it was a legendary pre-Hispanic account of the highlands. These days most historians deny the existence of the kingdom of Quito in favor of a more fragmented region. The Quitu ruled over Quito at the time of the Inca invasion by Topa Inca Yupanqui under the reign of his father. In the early 21st century, there were spectacular new finds of 20-meter deep tombs in
3120-501: The ancient rectangular houses, there are burials with pottery and stone offerings. The Cotocollao people extracted and exported obsidian to the coastal region. The priest Juan de Velasco wrote about a Kingdom of Quito. His source was a lost work by Marcos de Niza , the existence of which has not been confirmed. His account said that another people, known as the Cara or the Schyris, came from
3198-514: The blade is only about three nanometers thick. All metal knives have a jagged, irregular blade when viewed under a strong enough microscope ; however, obsidian blades are still smooth, even when examined under an electron microscope . One study found that obsidian incisions produced fewer inflammatory cells and less granulation tissue in a group of rats after seven days but the differences disappeared after twenty-one days. Don Crabtree has produced surgical obsidian blades and written articles on
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3276-450: The bus lines of the Metrobus (Ecovia) were constructed, traversing the city from the north to the south. Many avenues and roads were extended and enlarged, depressed passages were constructed, and roads were restructured geometrically to increase the flow of traffic. A new subway system was opened with one line on 1 December 2023. Quito is located in the northern highlands of Ecuador in
3354-517: The city center within city limits. The old airport was replaced due to tall buildings and nighttime fog that made landing from the south difficult. The old airport was converted into a metropolitan park. There is a railroad that goes through the southern part of Quito and passes through the Estación de Chimbacalle . It is managed by the Empresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos (EFE). This form of transportation
3432-443: The city from south to north. It's divided into three sections—the green line ( the central trolleybus , known as El Trole ), the red line (the north-east Ecovía ), and the blue line (the north-west Central Corridor). In addition to the bus rapid transit system, there are many bus companies running in the city. The buses have both a name and a number, and they have a fixed route. Taxi cabs are all yellow, and they have meters that show
3510-419: The city's population was 2,239,191 people. Since 2002, the city has been renewing its historic center. The old airport, built on filling in a lagoon, was closed to air traffic on 19 February 2013. The area was redeveloped as the "Parque Bicentenario" (Bicentenary Park). The new Mariscal Sucre International Airport , 45 minutes from central Quito, opened to air traffic on 20 February 2013. During 2003 and 2004,
3588-405: The city. The majority of transnational companies with a presence in Ecuador are headquartered there. It is also one of the country's two major industrial centers—the port city of Guayaquil being the other one. The date of its first habitation is unknown, but archaeological evidence suggests that it was first settled by sedentary populations between 4400 and 1600 BC. In the late fifteenth century,
3666-496: The coast and took over the entire region by AD 890. He goes on by saying that this kingdom lasted until the Inca took over the territory in the 15th century. However archeological evidence does not indicate unity among the different ethnic groups in the region. The local Quitu or Quillaco tribe is distinct in its art and architecture from its neighbors. By the 20th century, many prominent historians who began more academic studies, doubted
3744-495: The distant site of Casa Diablo Hot Springs in the Sierra Nevada . Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans' use of obsidian was extensive and sophisticated; including carved and worked obsidian for tools and decorative objects. Mesoamericans also made a type of sword with obsidian blades mounted in a wooden body. Called a macuahuitl , the weapon could inflict terrible injuries, combining the sharp cutting edge of an obsidian blade with
3822-496: The earliest Mesopotamian urban centers, dating to the late fifth millennium BC. Obsidian was valued in Stone Age cultures because, like flint , it could be fractured to produce sharp blades or arrowheads in a process called knapping . Like all glass and some other naturally occurring rocks, obsidian breaks with a characteristic conchoidal fracture . It was also polished to create early mirrors . Modern archaeologists have developed
3900-620: The eastern Mediterranean and southern Red Sea regions. Obsidian scalpels older than 2100 BC have been found in a Bronze Age settlement in Turkey. In the eastern Mediterranean area the material was used to make tools, mirrors and decorative objects. The use of obsidian tools was present in Japan near areas of volcanic activity. Obsidian was mined during the Jōmon period . Obsidian has also been found in Gilat ,
3978-411: The edges of a dike . Tektites were once thought by many to be obsidian produced by lunar volcanic eruptions, though few scientists now adhere to this hypothesis . Obsidian is mineral-like, but not a true mineral because, as a glass, it is not crystalline ; in addition, its composition is too variable to be classified as a mineral. It is sometimes classified as a mineraloid . Though obsidian
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#17330849986204056-473: The fare. There are nearly 8,800 registered taxicabs . In August 2012, the Municipality of Quito government established a municipal bicycle sharing system called Bici Q. In March 2023, a new bicycle sharing system was established in order to promote the bicycle as a sustainable, healthy and fast mean of transport. With this service, the objective is to reduce mobilization times, air pollution and improve
4134-458: The highest level of tax collection in Ecuador, exceeding the national 57% per year 2009, currently being the most important economic region of the country , as the latest "study" conducted by the Central Bank of Ecuador. The top major industries in Quito includes textiles, metals and agriculture, with major crops for export being coffee, sugar, cacao, rice, bananas and palm oil. Petroecuador ,
4212-603: The island outcrops of the central Mediterranean . Through trade, these artifacts ended up in lands thousands of kilometers away from the original source; this indicates that they were a highly valued commodity. John Dee had a mirror, made of obsidian, which was brought from Mexico to Europe between 1527 and 1530 after Hernando Cortés's conquest of the region. In the Ubaid in the 5th millennium BC , blades were manufactured from obsidian extracted from outcrops located in modern-day Turkey . Ancient Egyptians used obsidian imported from
4290-459: The largest and best-preserved in the Americas . In 1978, Quito and Kraków were the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO . Quito is the capital city closest to the Equator , which runs through the northern part of the metropolitan area in the parish of San Antonio . The oldest traces of human presence in Quito were excavated by American archeologist Robert E. Bell in 1960, on
4368-412: The largest company in the country and one of the largest in Latin America is headquartered in Quito. Headquarters and regional offices of many national and international financial institutions, oil corporations and international businesses are also located in Quito, making it a world class business city. In "The World according to GaWC " global cities report, which measures a city's integration into
4446-434: The lava, which inhibits the first step ( nucleation ) in the formation of mineral crystals . Together with rapid cooling, this results in a natural glass forming from the lava. Obsidian is hard, brittle , and amorphous ; it therefore fractures with sharp edges. In the past, it was used to manufacture cutting and piercing tools, and it has been used experimentally as surgical scalpel blades. The Natural History by
4524-460: The liberal commander Eloy Alfaro participated in the Battle of Guayaquil , and after further conflict he became the president of Ecuador on 4 September 1895. Upon completing his second term in 1911, he moved to Europe. He returned to Ecuador in 1912 and attempted to return to power unsuccessfully; he was arrested on 28 January 1912, and imprisoned, then lynched by a mob that stormed the prison. His body
4602-409: The mineral cristobalite in the black glass produce a blotchy or snowflake pattern ( snowflake obsidian ). Obsidian may contain patterns of gas bubbles remaining from the lava flow, aligned along layers created as the molten rock was flowing before being cooled. These bubbles can produce interesting effects such as a golden sheen ( sheen obsidian ). An iridescent , rainbow -like sheen ( fire obsidian )
4680-412: The municipality, the electoral tribunals, the postal service, the Ecuadorian statistics institute). The urban parishes of different types are not necessarily coterminous nor the same in number or name. As of 2008 , the municipality of Quito divided the city into 32 urban parishes. These parishes, which are used by the municipality for administrative purposes, are also known as cabildos since 2001. Since
4758-409: The northern part of the city to the southern are Avenue Oriental (Corridor Periférico Oriental) on the eastern hills that border the city, and Avenue Occidental on the western side of the city on the Pichincha volcano. The street 10 de Agosto also runs north to south through most of the city, running down the middle of it. The historic center of the city is based on a grid pattern, despite the hills, with
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#17330849986204836-548: The production technique for these tools, and the care taken in their storage, may indicate that beyond their practical use they were associated with prestige or high status. Obsidian was also used on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) for edged tools such as Mataia and the pupils of the eyes of their Moai (statues), which were encircled by rings of bird bone. Obsidian was used to inscribe the Rongorongo glyphs . Obsidian can be used to make extremely sharp knives, and obsidian blades are
4914-412: The quality of life of the citizens. Although public transport is the primary form of travel in the city, including fleets of taxis that continually cruise the roadways, the use of private vehicles has increased substantially during the past decade. Because of growing road congestion in many areas, there were plans to construct a light rail system, which were conceived to replace the northern portion of
4992-518: The ragged cut of a serrated weapon. The polearm version of this weapon was called tepoztopilli . Obsidian mirrors were used by some Aztec priests to conjure visions and make prophecies. They were connected with Tezcatlipoca , god of obsidian and sorcery, whose name can be translated from the Nahuatl language as 'Smoking Mirror'. Indigenous people traded obsidian throughout the Americas. Each volcano and in some cases each volcanic eruption produces
5070-658: The site to collect surface materials. Graffham's previous interest in Paleo-Indian remains, and his experience with early human-made materials in Kansas and Nebraska in the Central Plains of the United States, led him to believe that the site was an important discovery. The second important vestige of human settlement was found in the current neighborhood of Cotocollao (1500 BC), northwest of Quito. The prehistoric village covered over 26 hectares in an area irrigated by many creeks. Near
5148-530: The slopes of the Ilaló volcano, located between the eastern valleys of Los Chillos and Tumbaco. Hunter-gatherers left tools of obsidian glass, dated to 8000 BC. This archeological site, called EI Inga, was brought to Robert Bell's attention by Allen Graffham. As a geologist in Ecuador, Graffham pursued his amateur interest in archeology. He made surface collections at the site during 1956. The discovery of projectile points, particularly specimens with basal fluting, stimulated his interest, and he made several visits to
5226-471: The start of its next phase of urban development . In 1563 Quito became the seat of a Real Audiencia (administrative district) of Spain. It was classified as part of the Viceroyalty of Peru until 1717, after which the Audiencia was part of the new Viceroyalty of New Granada . Under both Viceroyalties, the district was administered from Quito, (see Real Audiencia de Quito ). The Spanish established Roman Catholicism in Quito. The first church ( El Belén )
5304-439: The streets Venezuela, Chile, García Moreno, and Guayaquil being the most important. The Mariscal Sucre International Airport serves as the city's principal airport for passenger travel and freight. The airport is located 18 km (11 mi) east of the city's center in the Tababela parish. It began operations on 20 February 2013, replacing the Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport located 10 km (6.2 mi) north of
5382-436: The subject. Obsidian scalpels may be purchased for surgical use on research animals . The major disadvantage of obsidian blades is their brittleness compared to those made of metal, thus limiting the surgical applications for obsidian blades to a variety of specialized uses where this is not a concern. Obsidian is also used for ornamental purposes and as a gemstone . It presents a different appearance depending on how it
5460-456: The times of the Metropolitan District of Quito, parishes of this type are also grouped into larger divisions known as municipal zones ( zonas municipales ). These parishes are as follows: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quito divides the city into 167 parishes, which are grouped into 17 zones. The MetrobusQ network, also known as "Red Integrada de Transporte Público", is the bus rapid transit system running in Quito, and it goes through
5538-458: The uprising and about 200 other settlers. A chain of conflicts climaxed on 24 May 1822, when Antonio José de Sucre , under the command of Simón Bolívar , led troops into the Battle of Pichincha , on the slopes of the volcano. Their victory established the independence of Quito and the surrounding areas. In 1833, members of the Society of Free Inhabitants of Quito were assassinated by the government after they conspired against it. On 6 March 1845,
5616-608: The volcano Reventador erupted and showered the city in fine ash particles, to a depth of several centimeters. The volcanoes on the Central Cordillera (Royal Cordillera), east of Quito, surrounding the Guayllabamba valley, include Cotopaxi , Sincholagua , Antisana and Cayambe . Some of the volcanoes of the Western Cordillera, to the west of the Guayllabamba valley, include Illiniza , Atacazo , and Pululahua (which
5694-572: The world city network, Quito is ranked as a Beta city: an important metropolis instrumental in linking its region or state into the world economy. [1] Quito is governed by a mayor and a 15-member city council. The mayor is elected to a five-year term and can be re-elected. The position also doubles as Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Quito (the canton). The current mayor is Pabel Muñoz Lopez. In Ecuador, cantons are subdivided into parishes , so called because they were originally used by
5772-430: Was 998.2 hPa (29.48 inHg), and the highest was 1,015.2 hPa (29.98 inHg). Despite the absence of high pressure, Quito can still experience settled weather. Generally, the highest pressure is around midnight and the lowest in the mid-afternoon. Quito is divided into three areas, separated by hills: Quito is the largest city in contribution to national GDP, and the highest in per capita income. Quito has
5850-553: Was built before the city was officially founded. In January 1535 the San Francisco Convent was constructed, the first of about 20 churches and convents built during the colonial period. The Spanish converted the indigenous population to Christianity and used them as labor for construction. In 1743, after nearly 210 years of Spanish colonization, Quito was a city of about 10,000 inhabitants. Quito briefly proclaimed its de facto independence from Spain between 1765 and 1766 during
5928-560: Was dragged through the streets of Quito to a city park, where it was burned. In 1932, the Four Days' War broke out. This was a civil war that followed the election of Neptalí Bonifaz and the subsequent realization that he carried a Peruvian passport. On 12 February 1949, a realistic broadcast of H. G. Wells ' novel The War of the Worlds led to citywide panic, and the deaths of more than twenty people who died in fires set by mobs. In 2011,
6006-455: Was later refounded at its present location on 6 December 1534 by 204 settlers led by Sebastián de Benalcázar , who captured leader Rumiñahui , effectively ending all organized resistance. Rumiñahui was executed on 10 January 1535. On 28 March 1541, Quito was declared a city. Further, on 23 February 1556, it was given the title Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de San Francisco de Quito ("Very Noble and Loyal City of San Francisco of Quito"), marking
6084-599: Was mainly used for production of chipped tools which were very sharp due to its nature. Artifacts made of obsidian can be found in many Neolithic cultures across Europe. The source of obsidian for cultures inhabiting the territory of and around Greece was the island of Milos ; the Starčevo–Körös–Criș culture obtained obsidian from sources in Hungary and Slovakia, while the Cardium -Impresso cultural complex acquired obsidian from
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