Map - Alausí Canton (Cantón Alausí)

Alausí Canton is a canton in the Chimborazo Province in Ecuador. Its seat is Alausí. The canton is being promoted as a tourist region, and was named a Pueblo Mágico (magical town) by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) in 2019.

Alausi is located at an average altitude of 2,340 meters (7,677 feet) above sea level. The lowest level in the canton is 1,225 meters (4,019 feet )above sea level, in the Huigra parish and the highest is 3,340 meters (10,958 feet) above sea level in Achupallas.

It has an area: 1,707 km² (659 square miles ).The average temperature is 14 to 15 ° C ( 57 to 59 °F)

Alausí is 97 km (60 miles) from Riobamba, in a small valley at the foot of Cerro Gampala, in the depression where the Chanchán River is located.

The canton is divided into 10 parishes, one urban parish, Alausí, and nine rural parishes: Achupallas, Guasuntos, Multitud, Pistishi, Pumallacta, Tixán, Sibambe, Sevilla, Huigra.

Saint Peter of Alausí is the capital of the Canton Alausí, and located in the western mountain range.

It was founded on June 29, 1534 by Sebastián de Benalcázar and it is considered that it was the first population in the Royal Audience of Quito. Pirámide de la población del Cantón Alausí. During the survival period of Quito State (1811-1812), Alausí was one of the eight cities that sent their representative to the Supreme Congress that settled on October 11 of 1811 in the Royal Palace of Quito; obtaining the deputation the doctor José Antonio Pontón.

Similarly, during this period the city and its surroundings were elevated to the category of Province.While the urban center was elevated to the category of town on November 16 of the same year.

The arrival of the railway on September 8, 1902 constituted a promising reality for the urban, architectural and social development of Alausí. It is located 97 km south of Riobamba, in a small valley, at the foot of the Gampala hill in the depression that follows the course of the Chanchán river.