Playas Canton
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = General Villamil
|other_name =
|native_name =
|nickname = Playas
|settlement_type = Canton
|motto =
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag = Flag of General Villamil.svg
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_map = Mapa Sageo de Guayas - General Villamil.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of Playas Canton in Guayas Province
|image_map1 = MapaSageo-Guayas-02.png
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 = Cantons of Guayas Province
|pushpin_map =
|pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_mapsize=
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name ={{flag|Ecuador}}
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = File:Flag of Guayaquil.svg Guayas Province
|subdivision_type2 = Capital
|subdivision_name2 = File:Flag of General Villamil.svg Playas
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Arq. Dany Mite
|established_title =
|established_date =
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref = Metric
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 = 270.2
|area_land_km2 =
|population_as_of = 2022 census
|population_footnotes = [https://www.citypopulation.de/en/ecuador/admin/guayas/0921__playas/ Citypopulation.de]
|population_note =
|population_total = 58768
|population_urban = 48156
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone = ECT
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|coordinates =
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 3
|elevation_ft =
|postal_code_type =
|postal_code =
|area_code = 593 4
|blank_name =
|blank_info =
|website = [http://www.vivaplayas.gov.ec/ www.vivaplayas.gov.ec]
|footnotes =
}}
General Villamil, also known as Playas, is a Guayas canton in Ecuador. The Playas canton is located at the south western area of the Guayas Province. Its Canton Capital is General José de Villamil, also known as Playas. It is located 96 kilómeters from the capital of the Guayas Province, Guayaquil. It borders to the north and east with Guayaquil Canton, on the west with Santa Elena Province, and to south with the Pacific Ocean.
Its territory has an area of 270.2 km2 (104.3 sq mi) and a population of 58,768.
Demographics
Ethnic groups as of the Ecuadorian census of 2010:{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/resultados/|title = Resultados}}
- Mestizo 74.2%
- Afro-Ecuadorian 10.8%
- White 6.6%
- Montubio 4.8%
- Indigenous 1.9%
- Other 1.7%
Weather
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first= yes
|single line= yes
|location = Santa elena
|Jan high C= 30 |Jan record high C= 42
|Feb high C= 33 |Feb record high C= 42
|Mar high C= 33 |Mar record high C= 40
|Apr high C= 32 |Apr record high C= 40
|May high C= 30 |May record high C= 36
|Jun high C= 28 |Jun record high C= 30
|Jul high C= 25 |Jul record high C= 30
|Aug high C= 23 |Aug record high C= 30
|Sep high C= 23 |Sep record high C= 30
|Oct high C= 23 |Oct record high C= 30
|Nov high C= 24 |Nov record high C= 32
|Dec high C= 26 |Dec record high C= 35
|year high C= 28 |year record high C= 35
|Jan low C= 23 |Jan record low C= 19
|Feb low C= 23 |Feb record low C= 18
|Mar low C= 23 |Mar record low C= 18
|Apr low C= 23 |Apr record low C= 18
|May low C= 23 |May record low C= 18
|Jun low C= 21 |Jun record low C= 16
|Jul low C= 17 |Jul record low C= 13
|Aug low C= 15 |Aug record low C= 13
|Sep low C= 15 |Sep record low C= 11
|Oct low C= 15 |Oct record low C= 13
|Nov low C= 16 |Nov record low C= 14
|Dec low C= 19 |Dec record low C= 15
|year low C= 17 |year record low C= 14
|source ={{Cite web
| url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=352267&refer=&units=metric | title= Weatherbase | access-date= Feb 13, 2008
| publisher= Weatherbase}}
|date=July 2011}}
Natural resources
The terrain at Playas canton is mostly plain, but to the north there are few hills like:
- cerro Colorado
- cerro Picón
- cerro Cantera
It has a large coastline; the main beaches are located to the south.
The main rivers in the Playas Canton are: Arena River, Moñones and Tambiche.
The weather is hot and dry. The beaches are freshened by the ocean wind.
The land is mostly arid due to the long term droughts and the hot weather. The most common native plant is the algarrobo, which sprouts the algarrobita, used as a high quality energizant.
One of the main activities of the canton is fishing. Along with local independent fishermen, there are mostly shrimp and tuna industries.
The Ecuadorian sea provides Playas a great variety of fish and seafood that along with the tourism and pool shrimp sowing conform the main activities of its population.
Tourism
Playas, being at 97 kilometers from Guayaquil, receives a large number of tourists from the province capital, as well as from the rest of Ecuador. The canton receives tourism boost on the hot months from January to April, period of time known as "the beach season".
Its main festivities, events and carnivals are:
JANUARY
- Cabalgata de los Reyes (Kings Horse riding)
FEBRUARY
- Carnival in Playas
- Election of Carnival's Queen
- International Skate Board championship "Playas Xtreme"
MARCH
- Beach Volleyball Southamerican circuit
- Bicycle racing
APRIL
- Master Championship of Nautic mile
- Surf Championship
- Raft Race
JUNE
- Fishermen "San Pedro" folk holiday
JULY
- Winter "Beach Season" opening
AUGUST
- Celebration and parade for tursm workers.
- Parties in canton-becoming day.
SEPTEMBER
- Merced Virgin honor celebrations.
References
{{reflist}}
{{coord|2.62333|S|80.3875|W|source:kolossus-eswiki|display=title}}
{{Cantons of Ecuador}}