CUENCA (kwān′kä), a city of Ecuador, on the Rio Paute, 190 miles S. S. W. of Quito; on a fertile tableland, 8,469 feet above the sea, and enjoys a perpetual spring, with a mean temperature of 58° F. Its streets are wide, and several canals intersect the town; the principal buildings are the cathedral and high school. There is some trade in cheese and grain, and manufactures of hats, woolens, earthenware, and candied fruits. Pop. about 30,000.