Loja, an inland city of Ecuador, capital of a province of the same name, 250 m. S. by W. of Quito; pop. about 10,000. It is situated in a delightful valley nearly 7,000 ft. above the sea, near the southern frontier of the republic. The streets are very regular, and the houses, though of adobes, present a neat and cheerful appearance. The public buildings comprise a church, three convents, a hospital, a college for Latin, philosophy, and Spanish, and a number of other schools. In the vicinity of Loja are found gold, quicksilver in a state of comparative purity, coal, and a species of beautifully veined marble; but the chief product of the region is cinchona, of which Loja is the original home, and which is extensively exported.

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Loja, a town of Spain, in the province and 25 m. S. W. of the city of Granada, in a valley between two mountain ranges, on the shores of the Genii; pop. about 16,000. It contains five squares of respectable appearance, but most of the streets are irregular and steep. There are about 20 woollen factories, and various other industrial establishments. The prosperity of the town has been much increased by the completion of the railway to Granada. Various relics found here evince that Loja was of some importance under the Romans. The Moorish castle, ruins of which still exist, was taken by Ferdinand III. in 1226. As the key to Granada the town possesses great strategical importance. In 1486 Ferdinand and Isabella besieged and captured it after about a month's investment, during which the English archers under Lord Rivers greatly distinguished themselves.