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A Mother and Child on the Streets of Riobamba, Ecuador

An indigenous woman carries a child on her back while standing in the street in Riobamba, Ecuador. Both woman and child are wearing wool ponchos with colorful accents, and weather-beaten felt hats.

The Ecuadorian highlands are home to several thousand Quechua-speaking Andean Indians who have blended the traditions of both their Inca ancestors and the Spanish conquistadors. Riobamba has a long and storied history. Its convenient location in the highlands between the coast and the jungle has made it an important crossroads in the development of Ecuador. It first was home to several indigenous communities before the arrival of the Inca empire. The town was an important outpost for the empire until the conquest of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. In fact, Riobamba was the first Spanish settlement in Ecuador.

In more recent days, Riobamba boasts of one of Ecuador's largest railway junctions and dozens of roads join at the town. Indeed, many residents claim "all roads lead to Riobamba." Because of its close proximity to the volcano of Chimborazo, Ecuador's tallest peak, the town is a popular jumping-off point for ecotourists. It is also an important city for domestic trade, since it is midway between Ecuador's two larges cities: Quito and Quayaquil. For all these reasons, Riobamba is a bustling city with a growing population. Even so, the city has managed to retain its wide streets, colonial architecture, and colorful flora.

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