QUITO, Ecuador Threat: Volcanic eruptions It is a city in Ecuador (country). It is found in South America (continent).

Topographical zones Quito is divided into three zones, separated by hills. Central part: It is historical (colonial buildings, monuments, etc.) tourist zone

UNESCO recognized Quito's historical center as a World Heritage site in 1978. The historic center is one of the best-preserved districts in Latin America.

b) Southern part: mainly industrial, residential & working-class neighborhood.

C) Northern part: This is modern Quito, with high-rise buildings, shopping centers, the financial district and upper class neighborhoods, and some working-class neighborhoods.

Public Transportation Close to 2 million people commute per day. Most commuters use public transportation Commuter - A person who travels quite a long distance between home and work/school. Quito’s public transportation includes: Privately-owned buses Trolley buses or cable cars City transit buses (city-owned, like in Montreal)

Although the majority of Quito’s population uses public transportation and taxis to commute around the city, more and more people are buying cars.

In Montreal… Public transit is operated by the STM. Its services include network of buses, subways, and commuter trains that extend across and off the island

Problems in Quito: Population: Approximately 3 million people A) Infrastructure is in bad shape: Infrastructure includes:: Roads (need to be repaired) Water supply (shortage of water) Sewage system (above ground – risk of contamination) Emergency services (not enough doctors, police etc.) Trash collection (lots of trash left behind in the city) Parks (not well maintained)

Quito’s Water Supply Issue

Quito gets all of its water from the rivers draining from high volcanic ridges (a range of mountains) of the Andean mountains.

Water pipes transport this water from the mountains to Quito. Not enough water reaches Quito to have a steady and reliable supply of water. The Salve Paccha Aquaduct, which transports water from Cayambe Coca to the city of Quito, runs through the páramos landscape at the foot of Ecuador’s Andean range. Photo credit: ©Bridget Besaw/TNC - See more at: http://blog.nature.org/science/2014/06/04/urban-water-footprint-extensive-and-expensive/#sthash.Spm1Lp1r.dpuf

Quilotoa (water source) Quilotoa is beautiful crater lake.

B) There is a lot of poverty, particularly among native people like the Andeans. http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/slum_in_quito.jpg

Despite the poverty and disrepair of many buildings, the churches and cathedrals are really beautiful.

Strictly controlled development has kept it wonderfully preserved.

Natural Hazard in Quito: Volcanic eruptions

Pululahua volcano Its located near Quito. It is believed to be one of only craters in the world with human inhabitants.

Quito lies at the foot of the Pichincha volcano, and has been damaged several times by the area's frequent earthquakes.

Quito is the only capital city in the world to be directly threatened by an active volcano. Guagua Pichincha volcano, only 21 km west of Quito, has continuing activity and is under constant monitoring. The largest eruption occurred in 1660 when over 25 cm of ash covered the city.

The latest eruption was recorded on October 5 and 7, 1999, when a large amount of ash was deposited on the city. The eruption caused significant disruption of activities, including closing of the international airport.

Nearby volcanic eruptions can also affect Quito. The city was showered with ash for several days after an eruption occurred in the Reventador volcano (2002).

The region also is vulnerable to earthquakes. The worst-known earthquake to have hit Quito occurred in 1797 and killed 40,000 people. In 1987, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale, occurred in 1987 with an epicenter about 80 km from the city. It killed an estimated 1,000 near the epicenter, but Quito itself suffered only minor damage.

The Richter scale The intensity of an earthquake can be measured using the Richter scale A magnitude 7.0 on a Richter scale is a major earthquake. The Northridge Earthquake, which hit Southern California in 1994, was magnitude 6.7 6.0 is considered strong 5.0 can cause damage Below 4.0 usually does not cause damage Anything below 2.0 usually can’t be felt

Epicenter: The point of the earth's surface which is directly above the focus* of an earthquake Focus point of origin of an earthquake.

Top Ten Natural Disasters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg-6whkbZXs