Carchi
Province
Province of Carchi
Flag
Nickname(s):  Heir of the Sun, and Earth
Carchi Province in Ecuador
Cantons of Carchi Province
Country	Ecuador
Legal establishment	November 19, 1880
Capital	Tulcán
Area
• Total	3,776 km2 (1,458 sq mi)
Population  (2022 census)[1]
• Total	172,828
• Density	46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (ECT)
Vehicle registration	C
HDI (2017)	0.727[2] high · 12th
Website	www.carchi.gov.ec

Carchi (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkaɾtʃi]) is a province in Ecuador. The capital is Tulcán. The Carchi River rises on the slopes of Chiles volcano and forms the boundary between Colombia and Ecuador near Tulcan. Rumichaca Bridge is the most important land route between Colombia and Ecuador.

Economy

The provincial economy is based on industrial, and agriculture productions. Carchi produces food, drinks, tobacco, and dairy products. The agriculture sector produces potatoes, maize, etc.^[3]

Cantons

The province is divided into 6 cantons. The following table lists each with its population at the 2010 census, its area in square kilometres (km²), and the name of the canton seat or capital.^[4]

Demographics

Ethnic groups as of the Ecuadorian census of 2010:^[5]

• Mestizo 86.9%
• Afro-Ecuadorian 6.4%
• Indigenous 3.4%
• White 2.9%
• Montubio 0.3%
• Other 0.1%

Tourist destinations

• Tulcán Cemetery - topiary garden cemetery;
• El Ángel ecological reserve, El Ángel - extensive páramo ecosystem with diverse biotopes, including the visually striking páramos de frailejones - moorland with a forest of ancient, up to 10 m tall Espeletia pycnophylla plants;
• Arrayanes Forest, San Gabriel - 16 ha large forest with rare trees whose bark is in cinnamon color;
• Lagunas Verdes on the way from Tufiño to Maldonado. Three lakes of volcanic origin with blue - green water, rich with sulphur;
• Gruta de la Paz, San Gabriel - show cave with a shrine of Virgin Mary;
• Laguna del Salado, San Gabriel - a serene lagoon with translucent water;
• Tufiño Hot Springs, Tulcán;
• "El Voladero" lagoons, El Angel;
• De Paluz Falls, San Gabriel;
• Guanderas Scientific Station, Huaca - a biological research station for montane ecosystems.