Manta is a mid-sized city in Manabí Province, Ecuador. It is the second most
populous city in the province, the fifth most populous in the country and,
economically, the third most important city of Ecuador. Manta has existed
since Pre-Columbian times. It was a trading post for the Mantas. The city of
Manta has grown in the last 50 years to 192.322+ inhabitants. Its main
economic activity is tuna fishing. Other economic activities include tourism
and a chemical industry with products from cleaning supplies to oils and
margarine.
Manta has an international cargo airport, Eloy Alfaro International Airport
and an important military base (also known as Manta Air Base or Eloy Alfaro
Air Base). Manta possesses the largest seaport in the country.
Since 1999 Manta has been used as a military location for U.S. air forces in
conjunction with Ecuador for supporting anti-narcotics military operations
and for carrying out surveillance flights in a strategic warfare program
against Colombian drug trafficking cartels called Plan Colombia. It also
serves as a geographical look out point for the U.S. for any war craft
heading north from the Middle East and Asia. A regular stop for U.S. Navy
warships, Manta proves to be of importance for its location and for the
respite it offers the U.S. military with its beauty and untrampled
wilderness.
Manta was the port used by Charles Marie de La Condamine upon his arrival in
Ecuador when leading the French mission to measure the location of the
equator in 1735. From Manta, Condamine started his trip inland towards Quito
Manta is recognized thanks to its international film festival featuring
groups from different places in the world. The Ecuadorian actor Carlos
Valencia, once invited to Cannes Film Festival for his performance in Ratas
Ratones y Rateros (1999) directed by Sebastián Cordero, was born in the city
of Manta.
Economy
Manta possesses one of the most solid city economies in Ecuador. The main
industries are fishing and tuna canning and processing. Processed tuna is
exported to Europe and the U.S. International tuna corporations including
Bumble Bee, Van Camps, British Columbia Packers, and Conservas Isabel, as
well as leading national tuna processor Marbelize, have sizable factories in
Manta. Other important products include vegetable oil. Large Ecuadorian
corporations including La Fabril and Ales have their main factories in Manta
According to a recent survey by "Vistazo" (important Ecuadorian magazine),
Manta's metropolitan area possesses many of the largest (by revenue)
companies in Ecuador (following Quito and Guayaquil which have larger
companies than Manta). Tourism is increasingly important for Manta's economy
Various cruise ships will make a port of call visit to Manta while
traveling the southern Pacific Ocean. In addition, produced in Manabí and
known throughout the world are the original and official "Panama" hats,
which are made in the nearby town of Montecristi. Panama hats are favorite
souvenirs among visitors of Manta. Manabí is also famous for its delicious
cuisine. For those who enjoy seafood Manta is second to none.
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