Loreto ( Spanish pronunciation: [loˈɾeto] ) is Peru 's northernmost department and region . Covering almost one-third of Peru's territory, Loreto is by far the nation's largest department, slightly larger than Japan ; it is also one of the most sparsely populated regions due to its remote location in the Amazon Rainforest . Its capital is Iquitos .
19-642: Yurimaguas is a port town in the Loreto Region of the northeastern Peruvian Amazon . Historically associated with the Mainas missions , the culturally diverse town is affectionately known as the "Pearl of the Huallaga" ( Perla del Huallaga ). Yurimaguas is located at the confluence of the majestic Huallaga and Paranapura Rivers in the steamy rainforests of northeastern Peru . It is the capital of both Alto Amazonas Province and Yurimaguas District, and had
38-670: A difficult journey. The width between banks of the Amazon sometimes measures a staggering 4 km (2.5 mi). The Yavari River runs from Peru to Brazil, the Putumayo River serves as part of the border with Colombia, and the Ucayali and Marañón rivers penetrate Loreto after going through the Pongo de Manseriche . The weather is warm and humid with an average temperature of 17 °C (63 °F) to 20 °C (68 °F) during
57-869: A population estimated at 62,903 inhabitants ( 2017 ). With a long and illustrious history, Yurimaguas is a tourist destination, especially during the August 15 annual Catholic festival of the Assumption . Long dominated by the presence of the Church, the town is home to the Apostolic Vicariate of Yurimaguas, Loreto Region . Visited in 1855 by the famed botanist Richard Spruce [1] , Yurimaguas remains an important commercial center for subsistence and market oriented farmers or ribereños (who cultivate sugar cane , bananas , cotton , tobacco , manioc and other comestible produce) and fishermen. Yurimaguas
76-660: Is a gorge in northwest Peru . The Marañón River runs through this gorge (and water gap ) before it reaches the Amazon Basin . The Pongo ('gate' in Quechua ) de Manseriche is 3 miles (4.8 km) long, located at 4° 27′ 30″ south latitude and 77° 34′ 51″ west longitude, just below the mouth of the Río Santiago , and between it and the old missionary station of Borja . According to Captain Carvajal , who descended
95-729: Is home to many Amazonian indigenous peoples such as the Amhuacas and the Urarina . According to the 2007 Peru Census , the mother tongue of most of the residents was Spanish (92.51%). The following table shows the mother tongue of the people of the Loreto Region by province: The typical dishes in Loreto are very similar to those of other places in the Amazon region. Motelo or turtle meat soup and juanes (rice tamales with chicken or fish) are typical Loretan dishes. Vendors in
114-964: Is in charge of the International Puerto de Yurimaguas, Peru ). Yurimaguas boasts a magnificent Cathedral built by the Passionist Order, and modeled after the Cathedral in Burgos , Spain. 5°54′S 76°05′W / 5.900°S 76.083°W / -5.900; -76.083 Loreto Region Loreto's large territory comprises parts of the High and Low Jungle, and is largely covered with thick vegetation . This territory has wide river flood plains, which are covered with rainwater and are usually swamped in summer. In these flood areas there are elevated sectors called restingas , which always remain above water, even in times of
133-551: Is notable for being the last urban center in Loreto connected by highway with the rest of Peru : a recently paved road links Yurimaguas with Tarapoto and Moyobamba , located in the tropical Andes ( high-jungle ), or as it is known in the vernacular, the montaña . While the Moisés Benzaquén Rengifo Airport was first established in Yurimaguas in 1937, it is now barely functioning (the collapse of
152-616: The Andean plateau. According to their accounts, the huge rent in the Andes, the Pongo, is about five or six miles (9.7 km) long, and in places not more than 80 feet (24 m) wide, and is a frightful series of torrents and whirlpools interspersed with rocks. There is an ancient tradition of the indigenous people of the vicinity that one of their gods descended the Marañón and another ascended
171-673: The Spanish arrived, the total population was almost 300,000. Later on, however, the natives were afflicted with diseases such as smallpox , malaria , and yellow fever , due to contact with the Spaniards. On February 12, 1542, and after a search of several months, Spanish conqueror Francisco de Orellana discovered the Amazon River , an adventure that began in the Sierra . Even though colonization had started several decades earlier,
190-602: The Peruvian airline Aero Continente left only two airlines serving the airport). For the majority of the populace, transit is dominated by river travel. In the ports of Yurimaguas trade is in tropical forest produce, particularly hardwoods , petroleum , contraband , and goods (licit and otherwise) from the Andean highlands or Pacific Coast sent down-river to Iquitos and beyond (the Port Authority of Yurimaguas, ENAPU
209-401: The Pongo in the little steamer Napo, in 1868, it is a vast rent in the Andes about 2,000 ft (610 m) deep, narrowing in places to a width of only 100 ft (30 m), the precipices "seeming to close in at the top." Through this dark canyon the Marañón leaps along, at times, at the rate of 12 mph (19 km/h). The Pongo de Manseriche was first discovered (by Europeans) by
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#1732782572474228-746: The Spanish Adelantado and conqueror Juan de Salinas y Loyola . He fitted out an expedition at Loja in Ecuador, descended the Rio Santiago to the Marañón, passed through the Pongo in 1557 and invaded the country of the Maina Indians . Later, the missionaries of Cajamarca and Cusco established many missions in the Maynas , and made extensive use of the Pongo de Manseriche as an avenue of communication with their several convents on
247-557: The city of Iquitos was founded in the 1750s. It is located between the Nanay River and the left bank of the Amazon river, which makes it an ideal starting point when traveling to surrounding regions. During colonial times, the Jesuits and Franciscans evangelized and founded different towns. During these years, they contributed by opening travel routes and cutting down distances between indigenous groups and colonial villages. When
266-576: The greatest swellings. There are numerous lagoons known as cochas and tipishcas , surrounded by marshy areas with abundant grass vegetation. Numerous rivers cross Loreto's territory, all of which are part of the Amazonian Hydrographical System. Most of them are navigable. The main river crossing the region is the Amazon , one of the world's most important rivers. Its numerous curves are always changing and sometimes make for
285-615: The local markets offer fried or steamed monkey or lizard meat considered delicious according to the local people. Other typical dishes include, cecina (dried and smoked pork), tacacho (coal cooked bananas, pork, and chopped onions), chonta salad, palometa (fish soup), carachama (fish) and paiche (a large fish). Among desserts there is a refreshing aguaje ice cream. To drink, they serve masato (a beer made of cassava ) or natural fruit juices such as aguaje, maracuyá (passion fruit), and cocona ( Solanum sessiliflorum ). Pongo de Manseriche The Pongo de Manseriche
304-412: The missions fell, a long period of relative national neglect followed, encompassing most of the 19th century. Nonetheless, this was the time when the foundations of the future political organization were laid. Also, this was the beginning of navigation via steamboats, the rubber heyday, and foreign immigration . The Golden Age of Iquitos started at the end of the 19th century with the rubber boom . Since
323-415: The months of June and July, and up to a high of 36 °C (97 °F) from December through March. The average humidity level is 84%, with strong rain all year round. The region is divided into eight provinces ( provincias , singular: provincia ), which are composed of 53 districts ( distritos , singular: distrito ). The provinces, with their capitals in parentheses, are: The first settlers in
342-576: The region expanded through the various eastern slopes of the Andes . Many of these ethnic groups settled in the Purús, Turúa and Yaraví river basins, receiving names different from those of their lineage. It is hard to determine the number of indigenous peoples in the region when the first European explorers and missionaries arrived. Numbers given by chroniclers indicate that within the first century of contact, 100,000 natives were baptized. Presumably, when
361-467: The region was very rich in rubber and it became so expensive, it turned into the center of attention and ambitions in the world. This period lasted 25 years and left behind gigantic development once the rubber boom had passed. In 1853, the Littoral Province of Loreto was established, comprising today's departments of Ucayali , San Martín , and parts of Ecuador and Colombia . Loreto
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