Ancash Region

Ancash is a region located in northern Peru. It is bordered by the La Libertad Region on the north, the Huánuco and Pasco regions on the east, the Lima Region 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", which means blue. Template:Peru region table

Contents

1 Geography 2 History 3 Tourism 4 Political division

Geography

The territory of the coast, high plateaus and Andean punas of the Ancash Region are flat, while the rest of its territory, occupied by the Andes, is very rough. In the west, slopes with strong declivity have been shaped in narrow canyons with abrupt and deserted sides. Also in the Pacific slopes, the Santa River has shaped a wide valley in the punas which is getting narrow each time until cut the Cordillera Negra ("black mountain range") where the majestic Del Pato Canyon has been formed. Most of the Ancash population is concentrated in the Callejón de Huaylas formed by the Blanca and Negra Cordilleras (mountain ranges). Two areas are the most outstanding surfaces in the topography of Ancash: the Cordillera Negra located on the west of the Callejón de Huaylas, which has peaks without glaciers; and the Cordillera Blanca located on the east, which has several peaks covered with snow and ice, such as the Huascarán, which is the highest peak in Peru (6768 m above sea level), and the Alpamayo. Likewise, there are many lagoons that originated from glaciers like Llanganuco and Paron.

History

Between the years 400 and 600 B.C. the Chavín civilization flourished in this zone. The importance of this culture does not only lie on its antiquity but also in the fact that a synthesis of a disperse and previous cultural process was started with this civilization and which was started in other places of the Andean and Amazonian territory. The name Chavin originates from the Quechua word "Chaupin" which means: center or headquarters. During the Inca age, the population of the Santa valley were incorporated to the Empire by Inca Pachakutiq.

The first Spaniards came to Huaylas attracted by the fame of the silver veins of the region. The search for silver and gold by Indians provoked the Spanish to destroy the Inca cities. Most of the Inca mines, explotated by the Spaniards, were very well appreciated like the San Luis de Huari mines. When Francisco Pizarro was in Cajamarca, he heard some stories about the richness of the Santa valley and decided to move there in order to found a city. After bloody battles against huaylas and conchucos, the indian were put under the control of the Spaniards. By that time, Jeronimo de Alvarado founded the city of Huaraz. In the Colonial Age, this city did not become important and its artistic and cultural life did not have much relevance.

During Independence, Simón Bolívar established his headquarters in Huaraz.

A strong earthquake which affected the whole Callejón de Huaylas, took place in 1970. More than 50 000 people died, and 186 000 houses were damaged. Yungay was the most damaged city: it practically disappeared.

Tourism

In Ancash, the geographical center of the region is formed by the Callejón de Huaylas, which is an area with intense touristic activities due to its large variety of natural attractions as well as facilities to practice many sports, and its large remains of the cultures that flourished in the region. The Cordillera Blanca, the highest in the Peruvian Andes, offers an interesting attraction for tourists visiting Peru.

The beautiful glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca, lagoons and thermal fountains, greenish valleys, progressive towns are most admired by visitors. The Alpamayo peak, among others are considered as some of the most beautiful ones in the world; this is why Ancash is sometimes referred to as the "Switzerland of Peru". The highest peak in Peru, the Huascarán, is located in the White Cordillera. The Huascarán National Park is located in this place and includes parts of the provinces of Recuay, Huaraz, Carhuaz, Yungay, Huaylas, Huari and Bolognesi.

Ancash has many vestiges of old cultures, such as Chavín. The Pre-columbian ruins of Chavín de Huántar, Willkawain, Sechín, and Pañamarca are well known.

Political division

The region is divided into 20 provinces (provincias, singular: provincia), which are composed of 165 districts (distritos, singular: distrito). The provinces, with their capitals in parenthesis, are:

1. Aija (Aija)
2. Antonio Raimondi (Llamellín)
3. Asunción (Chacas)
4. Bolognesi (Chiquián)
5. Carhuaz (Carhuaz)
6. Carlos Fermín Fitzcarrald Province (San Luis)
7. Casma (Casma)
8. Corongo (Corongo)
9. Huaraz (Huaraz)
10. Huari (Huari)
11. Huarmey (Huarmey)
12. Huaylas (Caraz)
13. Mariscal Luzuriaga (Piscobamba)
14. Ocros (Ocros)
15. Pallasca (Cabana)
16. Pomabamba (Pomabamba)
17. Recuay (Recuay)
18. Santa (Chimbote)
19. Sihuas (Sihuas)
20. Yungay (Yungay)

Template:Regions of Perude:Ancash es:Región Ancash fr:Région d'Ancash sv:Ancash