Riobamba

Riobamba (rēōbäm'bä) [key], city (1990 est. pop. 95,505), capital of Chimborazo prov., central Ecuador, near Chimborazo volcano, in a high basin of the Andes. Riobamba is the headquarters of the railroad from Quito to Guayaquil. It was founded c.1530 and was completely destroyed by earthquake in 1797. The convention that proclaimed Ecuador's independence from Greater Colombia met there in 1830. The city's manufactures include textiles and ceramics. It has an open-air market where indigenous artisans display their wares.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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