Its name is a Taíno word. It comes from the Mao River, near the city. Its nickname is "Ciudad de los Bellos Atardeceres" ("City of the Beautiful Sunsets") because there are not many mountains to the west of the city. Instead, it is common to see a "red" sky during sunsets. It is a very dry region and there are much dust in the air which gives the red color to the sky.