Loja

Loja is the capital of Ecuador's Loja Province. It was founded by Alonso de Mercadillo in 1548 and has the distinction of being the first city in the country to be wired for electric power provided by a hydroelectric dam that was completed in 1896.

Loja is also famous for having been visited by Simón Bolívar in his campaign to unite Gran Colombia.

Present-day population is approximately 140,000. It is on the route of the Pan-American Highway.