CUREXA, an inland town of Ecuador, and capital of a cognominous province. It stands on a plain at an elevation of about 8600 feet, near the hill of Farqui, chosen by the French astronomers as their meridian in 1742. It is a cathedral city, and contains several monasteries, besides a college and other educational institutions. Cuenca has an extensive trade in cheese, confectionary, hats, grain and other agricultural produce. Pop. 20,000; of whom a considerable portion are Indians.