The Cerro de Arcos (English: Hill of arches) is a windswept

rock formation A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop. Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term ''rock formation'' can also refer to specific sediment ...

in the high páramo of the

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

ian southern sierra. It is situated on the border between the provinces El Oro and Loja, on the elevated plain between the

Cordillera A cordillera is an extensive chain and/or network system of mountain ranges, such as those in the west coast of the Americas. The term is borrowed from Spanish, where the word comes from , a diminutive of ('rope'). The term is most commonly u ...

de Chilla and the Cordillera de Timbayacu at an altitude of 3,700 m (12,140 ft). The rock formation features towers, columns, and several of the eponymous arches formed by wind and weather erosion. The formation covers an area of about . Nearby populated places are Bellavista and Sabadel and the nearest villages or small towns are

Zaruma Zaruma, officially Villa Real de San Antonio del Cerro de Oro de Zaruma is a town in the south of Ecuador, El Oro Province. It is located in the south-east of this province, at an altitude of 1200 metres above sea level, on an inter-Andes route ...

and Manu.

References

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External links

Local Cerro de Arcos information with pictures

Cerro de Arcos The Cerro de Arcos (English: Hill of arches) is a windswept rock formation in the high páramo of the Ecuadorian southern sierra. It is situated on the border between the provinces El Oro and Loja, on the elevated plain between the Cordillera ...