Pichincha

Pichincha ('boiling mountain'), the most populous province (205,000 in 1896) of Ecuador, embraces the Quito plateau and its slopes. Area, 8300 sq. m. The soil is fertile in the west. The province takes its name from the active volcano of Pichincha, 8 miles NW. of Quito, the chief town. It has five peaks, two of which (15,918 feet) Mr Whymper ascended in 1880. The enormous crater, nearly a mile across at the top and perhaps 1500 feet in diameter at the bottom (which is 2500 feet below), is said to be the deepest in the world.