Guayas

Maritime province in southwest Ecuador; area 20,269 sq km/7,826 sq mi; population (1996) 3,128,791. The capital is Guayaquil. The land in Guayas is generally low-lying, well watered by rivers, and extremely fertile, except for some desert-like regions in the north. The chief products are cocoa, coffee, tobacco, sugar, pineapples, toquilla straw, rice, wine, and dairy products. There is some exploitation of oil and natural gas in the province, and coal is mined. There is also some economic activity relating to the motor vehicle industry.