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Department of Ancash

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Ancash ( Quechua : Anqash ; Spanish : Áncash pronounced [ˈaŋkaʃ] ) is a department and region in western Peru . It is bordered by the departments of La Libertad on the north, Huánuco and Pasco on the east, Lima on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Its capital is the city of Huaraz , and its largest city and port is Chimbote . The name of the region originates from the Quechua word anqash ('light, of little weight'), from anqas ('blue') or from anka ('eagle').

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85-572: Ancash is a land of contrasts: it features two great longitudinal valleys, which combine the mountain characteristics of the Callejón de Huaylas (Alley of Huaylas) with the sylvan ones of the Alto Marañón . Kilometres of sandy beaches and the blue waters of the Pacific. The territory of the coast, high plateaux and Andean punas of the department are flat, while the rest of the territory, in

170-586: A collection of Wari-style vases within an intentionally buried Chullpa . Elsewhere in the Callejón de Huaylas, at Honco Pampa , is evidence of Wari temples, ceramics, and even road construction along a major avenue into and out of the Santa Valley, which several archeologists have put forth as evidence for the imperial nature of Wari control. By this time, however, it seems clear that the Callejón had lost most of its cultural influence and had been relegated to

255-618: A decrease in ventilation within the system. This lack of ventilation is the primary driver of an intense oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) which is formed in the sub-surface to intermediate depths. In the north, the EUC ventilates the OMZ, and in the south the PCU advects low oxygen waters southward towards northern Chile. This OMZ is the fourth largest permanent hypoxic zone in the world's oceans. It occupies an area about 2.18 ± 0.66 × 10 km . The core of this zone

340-537: A few tours in the Department of Ancash that will let us know the main touristic and historical places of the zone. Among the principal ones are: The historical village Pativilca ( Lima Region ), where Simón Bolívar planned his expedition for the liberation of Peru, lies 202 kilometres (126 mi) north of Lima on the Pan-American Highway. At this point begins the highway that leads to

425-467: A major sardine fishery. Other common stocks include: a second anchoveta stock, jack mackerel , tuna , and swordfish . Anchoveta, jack mackerel, and sardines are the primary commercial stocks in central Chile. Anchoveta are found in more recently upwelled waters, close to the coast. Sardines, on the other hand, are typically found farther offshore. Seasonal upwelling plays a major role in the spawning behaviors of both sardines and anchoveta. By spawning at

510-561: A province within the Wari horizon. Most evidence points to the fact that the Wari left the region to be predominantly self-governing, however. By the eleventh century CE, the Wari influence had faded from the region, and the whole of premodern Peru descended once again into an Intermediate Period. The Late Intermediate Period represents a return to small-scale regionalism and a dearth of any major unifying control. Unfortunately, very few burials and artifacts from this period have been studied form

595-647: A short distance, many of the major eco-zones of the Andes, and Lynch suggests that this would have allowed considerable diversity of occupations. Guitarrero cave , on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Negra , serves as one of the primary preceramic sites for the region. Within, Lynch and his team have documented many preserved plant species, including varieties of domesticated maize and vegetal material from exclusively coastal species. Radiocarbon dating of these organic remains demonstrate that human habitation of

680-563: A significant tourist attraction. The climbing season coincides with the summer in the northern hemisphere, as the dry season spans from roughly May to September. Multiple climbing routes have been opened and detailed on most of the peaks of the Cordillera Blanca , ranging in difficulty from E to ES , and the Huaraz Guide Association guides climbers of all levels to virtually any peak in the region. Because of

765-668: A similarity between the Coscopunta pottery and that of nearby Chinchawas and Carhuaz . From this point onward, the Callejón de Huaylas fades from importance in the archeological record and is not mentioned in discussions of the Late Horizon and the rise of the Incas . José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar used the valley as a base during the Wars of Independence because of its strategic value. In 1885, Pedro Pablo Atusparía

850-478: A very worrisome topic for the Peruvian government. As glaciers continue to recede, there is much worry that many glaciers such as the popular tourist site Pastoruri will disappear in as little as 20 years. This will threaten the very existence of many towns who depend on glacial runoff as their primary water source, and will likely lead to increased migration to the cities as glacial rivers dry up. Furthermore, as

935-493: A wide range of organisms including multiple species of plankton , mollusks , sea urchins , crustaceans , fish, and marine mammals. The food web starts with the phytoplankton . The conditions of the Humboldt current are prime for these organisms to thrive. This causes a cascade effect in which larger and larger organisms are drawn to the area. The Humboldt current produces some of the most successful commercial fisheries in

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1020-505: Is Huaraz. The provinces and their capitals are: The economy of Ancash, the third largest in Peru, is largely made up of gold, copper and zinc mining. Its coast is rich in fishing resources and it is the most productive fishing region of Peru (Peru is the world's largest exporter of fish meal ). Crops cultivated in Ancash include potatoes, wheat and barley. According to the 2007 Peru Census ,

1105-409: Is a highly productive ecosystem . It is the most productive eastern boundary current system. It accounts for roughly 18-20% of the total worldwide marine fish catch. The species are mostly pelagic : sardines , anchovies and jack mackerel . The system's high productivity supports other important fishery resources as well as marine mammals ( eared seals and cetaceans ) and seabirds . Periodically,

1190-405: Is an area of intense interest to tourists. This is due to its large variety of natural attractions, its sport and recreational facilities, and the nearby archaeological remains of the ancient cultures that once flourished there. The Cordillera Blanca offers an interesting attraction for tourists visiting Peru. Visitors also come to see the natural beauty of the area's glaciers and valleys and to enjoy

1275-581: Is an inter-andean valley in the Ancash Region in the north-central highlands of Peru . Due to its location between two mountain ranges, it is known as Callejón de Huaylas , the Alley of Huaylas, whereas "Huaylas" refers to the territorial division's name during the Viceroyalty of Peru . Going north from Lima , the road climbs to an altitude of 3,945 m, where the lake Conococha marks the head of

1360-574: Is based on the distinctive use of kaolin clay and complicated, red, white and black painting styles. The Recuay culture also had a characteristic underground funerary style. Eventually, around 600 CE, the Andes began to unify culturally once again into the Middle Horizon . During this age, two large cultures came to dominate: the Wari and the Tiwanaku , in the north and south, respectively. In

1445-428: Is centered off Peru, creating a shallow upper boundary that reaches from about 100 m (330 ft) down to 600 m (2,000 ft). Another factor contributing to the OMZ is sinking and decay of primary productive resources. Consequently, the OMZ forces many organisms to stay near the surface where nutrients and oxygen are obtainable. The presence of a shallow OMZ restricts the migration of zooplankton within

1530-461: Is composed by gigantic summits covered with snow, which are among the most beautiful of the world. The White mountain range is considered the highest tropical mountain range in the world. It borders the Callejón de Huaylas to the east. It has a length of 180 km (110 mi). It has 35 peaks that are higher than 6,000 m and many other smaller ones, a real symphony of summits with different grades of difficulty in climbing. This mountain range

1615-653: Is cooled by the current and thus is not conducive to generating precipitation (although clouds and fog are produced). The trade winds are the primary drivers of the Humboldt Current circulation. Variability in this system is driven by latitudinal shifts between the Intertropical Convergent Zone and the trade winds in the north. Shifts within the South Pacific High at mid-latitudes, as well as cyclonic storms and movement of

1700-446: Is evidence of a broader state which unified the Callejón de Huaylas with the coastal regions, but there is little other evidence for this. However, it is clear that the Coscopunta collection shares much of its design with other, locally derived potteries from around the Callejón de Huaylas and Callejón de Conchucos , suggesting that trade and inter-cultural contact continued on at least a regional basis. For example, George Lau demonstrates

1785-400: Is first attested in the record circa 250 CE. The Recuay settlements follow the trend of defensibility and are positioned in strategic positions to dominate the Santa Valley. Examples of this distinctive style include the sites of Chinchawas , Pashash , Honco Pampa , Huacarpón , and Yayno . The Recuay pottery style represents something entirely novel, distinct from its Chavin predecessors. It

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1870-408: Is found both within and outside of the 200-mile economic exclusive zone. Jurel became an important fishery in the 1970s to alleviate the pressure put on the anchoveta stock. During the 1980s, however, the jurel decreased in population size due to poor recruitment and overfishing . Restrictions of jurel fishing were imposed in 1998 which led to regrowth of the population. Since 2002, the jurel population

1955-614: Is not a very highly travelled road. The highway begins with a paved path that arrives up to Yaután . Then it quickly begins to ascend through an unpaved path by the sides of the Cordillera Negra, following the course of the Casma River. This route becomes more steep once it arrives to Pariacoto . Along the road, there are not important towns at all, except for Pira that offers some traveler's services. Callej%C3%B3n de Huaylas The Santa Valley ( Quechua Sancta )

2040-521: Is now under full exploitation. Between 1993 and 2008, the hake fishery in Peru declined significantly. This was due to overfishing, environmental stress, and decreased reproductive capacity. The Chilean hake population in central-south Chile catch exceeded 100,000 tons, and dropped to 40,000 tons in 2007. The productivity of the Humboldt Current System is strongly affected by El Niño and La Niña events. During an El Niño event,

2125-606: Is very uneven. It has snowy summits, which altitudes vary between 5000 and 6768 MSL . It also has gullies , that are deeply encased because of the fluvioglacial erosion , and a great number of lagoons . Inside the borders of the park, there are 663 glaciers that are distributed throughout 180 km, from the Tuku in the south up to the Champara in the north. Regarding its climate, there are two very well defined seasons: The dry season from April to September becoming worse between

2210-430: The Cordillera Blanca . Snow conditions in the area are unlike those in the rest of the world, and many inexperienced climbers attempt to climb beyond their means or without spending enough time to acclimatise because of the relative technical ease of some of the lesser peaks. Although guide service prices may appear high when compared with the general prices of things in Peru, they are lower than in other climbing regions of

2295-548: The Early Intermediate Period , the region surrounding the Callejón de Huaylas descended into what archeologists have described as a ‘dark age.’ Where before, settlements were distributed amongst valleys and along river valleys, now they became concentrated on hilltops and in defensible positions, hinting at a new wave of warfare in the region. The next major culture which rose here was the Recuay culture , which

2380-501: The Equatorial Front . Sea surface temperatures off the coast of Peru, around 5th parallel south , reach temperatures as low as 16 °C (61 °F). This is highly uncharacteristic of tropical waters, as most other regions have temperatures measuring above 25 °C (77 °F). Upwelling brings nutrients to the surface, which support phytoplankton and ultimately increase biological productivity. The Humboldt Current

2465-729: The Fortress of Paramonga , between wide fields of sugarcane , and across the Fortaleza River , 206 kilometres (128 mi) from Lima. Along the coast of Ancash, from the Fortaleza River to the Santa River, the Pacific exerts great influence. The Peruvian current and the El Niño current exert considerable and sometimes tragic effect on local lives and regional economies. Normally, the Peruvian current, also known as

2550-688: The Huascarán and the Alpamayo . Between these two mountain ranges, the Santa River flows through the so-called Callejón de Huaylas . This valley narrows to form the Cañón del Pato ("duck canyon"). Also along the Pacific slopes, the Santa River has shaped a wide valley in the punas which narrows into the Cordillera Negra, where the Cañón del Pato canyon was formed. The snow-covered peak of Huascarán,

2635-495: The Humboldt Current , brings cold water and large numbers of fish. With the development of the shoals of anchoveta , the Ancash ports and creeks became commercial fishing centers. During the 1950s, the bay of Chimbote was the top fishing port of the world. However, when warmer waters from the north, such as the current of El Niño, bring catastrophic rains to the coast and sea, the shoals of anchoveta disappear, leaving

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2720-479: The Peru-Chile undercurrent (PCU) that moves poleward. Off the coast of central Chile, there is a coastal transition zone (CTZ), which is characterized by high eddy kinetic energy. This energy forms mesoscale eddies which extend 600–800 km (370–500 mi) offshore. The CTZ has three distinct regions within its boundaries: The limb of the Humboldt Current System that veers off the coast of Peru creates

2805-562: The equator , and extends 500–1,000 km (310–620 mi) offshore. The Humboldt Current is named after the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt even though it was discovered by José de Acosta 250 years before Humboldt. In 1846, von Humboldt reported measurements of the cold-water current in his book Cosmos . The current extends from southern Chile (~ 45th parallel south ) to northern Peru (~ 4th parallel south ) where cold, upwelled, waters intersect warm tropical waters to form

2890-724: The thermocline and upper region of the OMZ deepen to greater than 600 m. This causes a loss of nitrogen and decrease in export of carbon. El Niño also causes poleward currents to increase in velocity. During non-El Niño years, productivity is very high due to the high nutrient contents, nitrogen recycling through processes such as denitrification, increased carbon export, and remineralization. During El Niño events, fish abundance and distribution are significantly affected, often leading to stock crashes and cascading social and economic impacts. These events have led to sequential changes, where sardines and anchovies have replaced each other periodically as

2975-455: The Andes, is very rough. In the west, there are slopes with strong declivity form narrow canyons with abrupt and deserted sides. The rough territory of the department is crossed by two mountain ranges: on the western side, the Cordillera Negra ( Spanish for "black mountain range"), which has peaks without glaciers , and on the eastern side, the Cordillera Blanca ("white mountain range"), which has many peaks covered with snow and ice, such as

3060-480: The Callejón de Huaylas, the Wari became preeminent, and the first evidence of this is in funerary style. As the Recuay-Wari transition began, the record demonstrates a shift from the underground funerary style to surface Chullpa style . After a significant time of mixing, these tombs began to contain pottery in the Wari style. The Marca Jirca site, east of Huaraz , contains a good example of this. Here are found

3145-468: The Callejón de Huaylas. One of the best-attested discoveries, of 21 pottery pieces from Coscopunta , does suggest, however, that regional trade was still taking place. The pottery shares strong resemblances to the Casma-style pottery of the coastal valleys of Chao and Huarmey . Both styles contain pitcher necks and decorative lines of circles around their edges. Melissa Vogel has suggested that this

3230-446: The Callejón de Huaylas. This road is completely paved, although it often had to be repaired because of the extreme damage caused by the huaycos (flash floods) and the rains. The same problem affects most Peruvian roads, especially the ones in the mountains ( Quechua natural region and rainforest Rupa-Rupa natural region ). This highway is 287 kilometres (178 mi) long, with an extremely comfortable course, especially in

3315-541: The Cordillera Blanca is largely determined by the Cordillera Negra because this mountain range softens the winds that come from the Pacific Ocean. The Cordillera Negra, acting as a shield, avoids the thaw of the big glaciers from the Cordillera Blanca. The Cordillera Negra has rocky peaks with very little winter snowfall, reaching a maximum height of 5500 m. Its name comes from the comparison with

3400-719: The Quechua word Chawpin , which translates as center or headquarters . Tello believed that people came from the Amazonas , scaled the Andes, and developed the Chavín culture. During the Inca age, the population of the Santa valley was assimilated into the Inca empire by Pachacuti . The first Spaniards came to Huaylas attracted by the fame of the silver veins of the department. In time,

3485-556: The Regulations to Law 29735, published in the state-owned newspaper El Peruano on 22 July 2016, adequate spellings of the toponyms in the normalised alphabets of the indigenous languages must progressively be proposed with the aim of standardizing the namings used by the National Geographic Institute (Instituto Geográfico Nacional, IGN) . The National Geographic Institute realizes the necessary changes in

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3570-531: The Southern Westerlies southward also contribute to system changes. Atmospheric variability off central Chile is enhanced by the aggravation of coastal low pressure systems trapped between the marine boundary layer and the coastal mountains. This is prominent poleward from 27th parallel south to 42nd parallel south . The Humboldt current, occupying the upper ocean, flows equatorward carrying fresh, cold Sub-Antarctic surface water northward, along

3655-622: The Spanish destroyed the Inca cities. It was during this time that Jerónimo de Alvarado founded the city of Huaraz. Though in the Colonial Age this city held little importance and its artistic and cultural life did not have much relevance, it became the headquarters for Simón Bolívar during his campaign to liberate Peru. The department of Ancash was created following the defeat of the Peru-Bolivia Confederation by

3740-496: The city of Caraz where the Santa River leaves the valley. It is bordered by two mountain ranges, the snow-covered Cordillera Blanca (White Mountain Range) to the east, where many climbable peaks boast year-round snow above 5,000 m, and the Cordillera Negra (Black Mountain Range) to the west, reaching over 4,000 m but typically getting no snow as it is exposed to warm coastal winds on its western flank. Nevado Huascarán (6,746 m),

3825-520: The city of Huaraz is home to a variety of local tour agencies that organize trips to the major attractions. Tourists come primarily for trekking and mountaineering, though the region also offers opportunities for adventure sports such as skiing, paragliding and rafting, as well as archaeology and botany. Pre-Inca ruins such as those at Chavín de Huantar , a relic of the Chavín culture which spanned 900 to 300 BCE have been preserved and studied and provide

3910-460: The combined forces of the Peruvian restoration army and the Chilean army at the battle of Yungay in 1839. The 1970 Ancash earthquake devastated the department, killing more than 50,000 people and damaging 186,000 houses in one of the deadliest natural disasters in Peru. Today, most of the Ancash population is concentrated in the Callejón de Huaylas . Beginning in 2011, the department has been

3995-464: The cordillera is at least 10,000 years old, and perhaps even more. Elsewhere, the preceramic site of Quebrada Perrón in the northern Callejón contains evidence of complex stone-working and continuous use for thousands of years as a stone workshop. While these preceramic civilizations precede it, the development of the Chavin Culture at Chavin de Hunatár is often the first discussed due to

4080-402: The diets of marine mammals, seabirds, and larger fish. Shifts in these populations ultimately cause a shift in the energy processing within the Humboldt Current System. Jack mackerel (jurel) is the second largest fishery in the Humboldt Current System. As with the anchoveta in Peru, this species is believed to be composed of a single stock. Jurel are a straddling species. This means the species

4165-468: The dominant species in the ecosystem. These species changes can have negative consequences for the fishing industry and the economies of the countries that fish the system. The anchoveta fishery in Peru was booming during the 1960s. In 1970, catches were reported to exceed 12 million tons per year. This accounted for 20% of the world's catches. An El Niño event occurred during 1972 and caused the anchoveta population to collapse. However, sardine populations saw

4250-403: The end of winter, egg and larval survival is greatly enhanced. This is due to the moderate upwelling, which causes lower turbulence, as well as a weakened Ekman drift offshore. These two species experience population shifts related to climate changes and environmental events such as El Niño . This is due to changes in the availability of each species habitat. Anchoveta are an important component in

4335-467: The first Peruvian civilization, known as Chavín , originated and flourished in this zone. The importance of this culture lies not only in its antiquity but in the history and culture it shares with other cultures along the Andean and Amazonian territories. As archaeologist Julio C. Tello put it, " Chavín was the mother of all the cultures that later bloomed in the old Peru. " The name Chavín comes from

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4420-697: The fishing fleets plants paralysed, and flooding rivers cause serious damage to the lands and cities. The cycles of these two sea currents that affect Peru are hard to predict. Further north along the Pan-American highway, numerous islands and islets dot the sea near the coast. Most are home only to guano seabirds . From south to north, the most important islands include Tortuga Island (Turtle Island), La Viuda Island (The Widow Island), Isla Blanca (White Island) and Santa Island (Holy Island). The coastal region of Peru includes many peninsulas , creeks , warm bays and sand beaches, full of colour. Because of

4505-403: The high biological productivity of the Humboldt current. Upwelling within the current is not uniform across the entire system. Three notable upwelling subsystems are produced by this current: Due to the upwelling zones within the Humboldt current, biological diversity is extremely high. The Humboldt Current is considered a Class I, highly productive (>300 gC/m /yr) ecosystem. The current hosts

4590-412: The highest peak of Peru , is located in the Cordillera Blanca above the town of Yungay. The Callejón de Huaylas has a rich history going back thousands of years. Relatively little survives from the preceramic period in this region, but modern work by Thomas F. Lynch and his team has suggested a civilization which was integrated with the cultures living on the coastal plain. The Callejón contains, within

4675-552: The highest peak of Peru and second of the Americas, reaches a height of 6,768 m (22,205 ft; 4.205 mi) and contrasts with the 6,263 m (20,548 ft) deep trough of Chimbote found in the ocean west of Ancash. Remnants of glaciers created many lakes such as Llanganuco Lakes and Lake Parón . Following the Pan-American Highway north from Lima , the territory of the department begins just beyond

4760-497: The highway passes between wide fields planted with sugarcane in extensive fields, parallel to the Fortaleza River bed . At the town Huaricanga the road enters the department of Ancash. At this point, the highway begins a slow ascent of the first spurs of the Cordillera Negra. This stretch continues for about 50 kilometres (31 mi). The climb gets suddenly steeper beyond the towns Chasquitambo and Chaucayán , with many bends and serpentines . This mountain range

4845-475: The importance of the site. Chavin de Hunatár is a ruined ceremonial complex located on a pass between the Conchucos Valley and the Callejón de Huaylas itself. Its relatively low elevation lends it access to the many nearby biomes, from the tropical forest to the mountain peaks to the coastal region. Chavin de Hunatár developed over several hundred years, from 900 BCE to 200 BCE, before later fading from

4930-471: The lack of roads and difficult terrain, many of these are inaccessible by land. The most important beaches include Grande Beach , La Gramita Beach and Las Salinas Beach . Much of this coast is a monotonous stretch of huge sand deserts, a common denominator in all Peruvian coastal regions because of the influence of the Humboldt Current . Along the rivers, there are green valleys, cultivated mainly with sugarcane , rice and cotton . From south to north,

5015-401: The language learnt first by most of the residents was Spanish (68.34%) followed by Quechua (31.36%). The Quechua variety spoken in Ancash is Ancash Quechua . The following table shows the results concerning the language learnt first in the Department of Ancash by province: Ethnicity in Ancash (2017) Most of the population identifies Mestizo or Quechua . As of 2017, 85.3% (923,542) of

5100-438: The main rivers of the Ancash coast are the following: Huarmey , Culebras , Casma , Sechín , Nepeña , Lacramarca and Santa. Of these rivers, the only one with water year-round is the Santa River. Its sources are the glaciers and lakes of the Cordillera Blanca. The other rivers, as with most rivers of the Peruvian coast, are intermittent, depending on the highland rains or the advance of El Niño. Between 400 and 600 BC,

5185-722: The many lakes and thermal fountains. Ancash is sometimes referred to as the "Switzerland of Peru". There is the four mile high Huascarán, home to the Huascarán National Park . There is also the Alpamayo peak, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Among archaeological sites of interest, Ancash has many vestiges of old cultures, including the Guitarrero Cave (10,000 BC), the pre-Columbian ruins of Chavín de Huantar , Hunsakay, Willkawayin, Sechín, and Pañamarka are also well-known. There are

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5270-508: The months of June and August and the wet season from October to May whose highest rainfall is between January and March. Its flora is countless and beautiful, including important groups of Puya Raimondi . In its fauna, there are tarucas , spectacled bears , vicuñas , pumas , foxes , vizcachas , weasels , Andean mountain cats , opossums , hog-nosed skunks , etc. There is also a great number of birds, predominantly ducks , American coots and hummingbirds . The route Casma-Huaraz

5355-506: The new Chavin cult. Chavin art includes designs such as jaguars , caymans and other jungle animals, hinting that the Chavin network extended far distant from its home in the Callejón de Huaylas, to the coasts and the jungle beyond. Beginning around 200 BCE, Chavin de Hunatár faded from its previous preeminence, and soon was abandoned entirely and inhabited principally by squatters. From this point to around 600 CE, known to anthropologists as

5440-472: The official maps of Peru. Contrarily to intentions to replace indigenous toponyms by other names like Santa Cruz or Contrahierbas , the Ministry of Culture proposes to the municipalities of the provinces to recover ancient indigenous toponyms and that these names should be spread by the local and communal authorities on posters and other signage. The geographical centre of Ancash, the Callejón de Huaylas,

5525-416: The outskirts of the subtropical gyre . The main flow of the current veers offshore in southern Peru, as a weaker limb continues to flow equatorward. Around 18th parallel south the fresh, cold waters begin to mix with the warm, high salinity Subtropical Surface waters. This collision causes partial subductions . Within this region, the equatorial undercurrent (EUC) flows eastward along the equator, feeding

5610-452: The population in recent decades. Most Quechua families adhere to traditional forms of food, music, and dress, yet still have cell phones and typically raise Guinea Pigs and other farm animals in their farms. Although men have typically adopted modern pants, collared shirts and sweaters, Quechua women continue to wear llikllas and layered colored skirts called polleras in Spanish. Both men and women wear llanq'is , rudimentary sandals in

5695-478: The population is literate and 14.7% (158,839) of the population is illiterate. Many of the toponyms of the Department of Ancash originate from Quechua . In and around the Cordillera Blanca , in provinces like Huaylas and Yungay , these names are overwhelmingly predominant. Their Spanish-based orthography, however, is in conflict with the normalized alphabet of the language. According to Article 20 of Decreto Supremo No 004-2016-MC (Supreme Decree) which approves

5780-570: The record. Its influence extended from the Callejón de Huaylas hundreds of kilometers away, as far as the Jequetepeque and Lambayeque Valleys , as evidenced by Chavin-style pottery and construction being found at these sites. In distant Karwa , there are Chavin-style textiles, demonstrating Chavin’s cultural reach. Chavin also served as a religious and pilgrimage center, and we see distant cultures, such as Pacopampa and Kuntur Wasi , changing their temple architecture and craftsmanship to reflect

5865-446: The region heats up, parasites such as mosquitoes are able to survive the rainy season and live at increasingly high altitudes that were previously uninhabitable for them. These trends pose a danger to public health in the region, and will also likely contribute to pressures on the government to address the changing environment of the Callejón de Huaylas. The valley is an excellent tourist destination both for Peruvians and foreigners, and

5950-439: The site of an ongoing anti-mining protest over allegations of water contamination and public versus private rights to the natural resources of the zone. Clashes between protesters, mining company security, and the federal police have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. The department is divided into 20 provinces ( provincias , singular: provincia ), which comprise 166 districts ( distritos , singular: distrito ). Its capital

6035-442: The steep climbing stretches through the Cordillera Negra (Black Range) up to the summit of Conococha , 4,100 metres (13,451 ft) above sea level. From there, the road descends toward the Callejón de Huaylas. The trip Lima-Huaraz-Caraz of 468 kilometres (254 mi) takes seven hours by car. Modern buses spend eight hours over the same stretch. East of Pativilca, for about 20 kilometres (12 mi)

6120-523: The traditional style, although they are now made from recycled rubber from car tires. One can buy them in any size from the various markets in the region, for around 5 soles a pair. The climate in the valley is subtropical and dry. The rainy season lasts from October to April, during which time it can rain nearly every afternoon. The yearly average temperature is 16.6 °C in the daytime and 12.6 °C at night. As rainy seasons get less rainy and dry seasons get hotter and drier, climate change has become

6205-399: The tropical heat of the Callejón, the snow line sits above 5,000 m during the dry season. Most climbs between 5,000 m and 6,000 m are typically done in two days: one day of approach and one day to summit. Nevado Huascarán , the highest peak in the range, is typically climbed in three days by a variety of routes. There are many difficult climbs in the region, and many have died on the peaks of

6290-581: The upwelling that drives the system's productivity is disrupted by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event, often with large social and economic impacts. The Humboldt has a considerable cooling influence on the climate of Chile , Peru and Ecuador . It is also largely responsible for the aridity of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile and coastal areas of Peru and also of the aridity of southern Ecuador. Marine air

6375-510: The valley north of Huaraz there are the towns Carhuaz , Yungay (the site of a major earthquake and landslide in 1970 that buried the town and killed over 20,000 people) and Caraz which is considered the last city in the valley. The Callejón de Huaylas stretches for 150 km in the Ancash Region of Peru. The Santa river runs along the valley floor in a north-westerly direction. The valley's southern extreme begins at 4,000 m above sea level, and descends to 2,000 m at its northern end past

6460-472: The valley. This lake is the main source of Santa River . From here the road descends into the Callejón de Huaylas, demarcated by the Cordillera Blanca ("white range") to the east and the Cordillera Negra ("black range") to the west. To the south rise the summits of the Huayhuash mountain range . Huaraz , the capital of Ancash , is the largest city in the Callejón, located at 3,000 m above sea level. In

6545-418: The water column. Between 0 and 600 m (0–1,969 ft), many species of zooplankton occupy this space within the OMZ. This allows for a substantial exchange of carbon between the euphotic layer and the OMZ. 75% of the total zooplankton biomass move in and out of the OMZ. The OMZ also serves as a refuge for organisms that can live in hypoxic conditions. Coastal upwelling is the main factor contributing to

6630-433: The white snowy peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. The Huascarán National Park is one of the most outstanding conservation parks in Peru, due to its landscapes that are full of peaks, lakes, canyons , torrents and waterfalls. Inside its borders, it can be observed the whole Cordillera Blanca and seven peaks of more than 6000 m height. They constitute one of the main international focuses for climbers and mountaineers. It

6715-462: The world and are an important way to minimize risk. 9°16′S 77°07′W  /  9.267°S 77.117°W  / -9.267; -77.117 Humboldt Current The Humboldt Current , also called the Peru Current , is a cold, low- salinity ocean current that flows north along the western coast of South America . It is an eastern boundary current flowing in the direction of

6800-513: The world". This statement was achieved by the distinguished Peruvian mountaineer César Morales Arnao who sent the photo of Alpamayo to the world contest of scenic beauty made in 1966 in Munich , Germany. Huandoy N reaches 6,395 m, Huantsán reaches 6410 m, Chopicalqui reaches 6354 m, Copa N reaches 6173 m, Artesonraju reaches 6025 m, Santa Cruz S reaches 6,259 m and Hualcán reaches 6,126 m. The beauty of

6885-417: The world. The major catches include: sardines , anchovies , mackerel , hake , and squid . Three major stocks of anchoveta are distributed between 4°S and 42°S within the Humboldt Current System. North-central Peru's fishery is primarily composed of one stock of anchoveta. Sardines, chub mackerel , and bonito are also common catches, but not as prominent, in Peru. Southern Peru and Northern Chile host

6970-520: Was called White, not only for its eternal snow but also for the chemical constitution of its quartz and feldspar rocks. It has the highest summit in Peru and the fifth one in America after Aconcagua , Ojos del Salado , Bonete and Mercedario : Huascarán, whose south peak reaches 6768 msnm. Huascarán's north peak reaches 6655 m. Alpamayo whose height has been estimated in 5,947 m, has been considered as "the most beautiful snow mountain of

7055-566: Was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977 to protect the local flora, fauna and archaeological sites. The population of the Callejón de Huaylas is primarily Quechua and Spanish-speaking Andeans, most of them small-scale and subsistence-farmers living in mountain villages, mixed with Spanish-speaking Mestizos in the small towns and cities along the Santa river . The richer Mestizos dominate politically and economically, but migration, education and tourism have brought changes in

7140-422: Was stated as a National Park on July 1, 1975, with a surface of 340,000 ha and a length of 158 km (98 mi). This National Park includes parts of the following provinces: Recuay, Huaraz, Carhuaz, Yungay, Huaylas, Pomabamba, Mariscal Luzuriaga, Huari, Corongo, Sihuas and Bolognesi. This park has also been listed as a biosphere reservation and as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . The park territory

7225-419: Was the leader of a peasant uprising in the valley. On 31 May 1970 a landslide caused by the 1970 Ancash earthquake buried the town of Yungay, killing 25,000 persons. Only 92 people survived, most of whom were in the cemetery and stadium at the time of the earthquake. The regional capital, Huaraz, as well as Caraz and Aija were partially destroyed. Located in the Callejón de Huaylas, Huascarán National Park

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