The region of Ancash is located in northern Peru. It is bordered by La Libertad Region on the north, Huanuco and Pasco region on the east, the Lima Region on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Its capital is Huaraz situated at an altitude of 3,100 m.above sea level. It is in the Andes mountains, 450 km north of Lima. The elevation of the Ancash region ( 0 sea level ) ( highest town 6768 above sea level. Huascarán ) its population 1,086.604 ( last census 2005 ) this year is around 1,088.00.
Ancash region is divided into 20 provinces which are composed of 165 districts. The provinces with their capitals are as follows:
1.- Aija ( Aija ).
2.- Antonio Raimondi ( Llamellín )
3.- Asuncion ( Chacas )
4.- Bolognesi ( Chiquian )
5.- Carhuaz ( Carhuaz )
6.- Carlos Fermin 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 )
ATTRACTIONS
El Callejon de Huaylas is a circuit including the towns of Recuay, Aija, Marcará, Carhuaz, Mancos, yungayYungay and Caraz, which are different and comprehensive. So, even if Huaraz is the starting point of the circuit, after visiting its traditional sites, such as, the Plaza de Armas or Main Square, the Cathedral, doingthe Callejón de Huaylas circuit, which is not very far, is a necessity and a great opportunity to be in contact with nature, people and their folklore. Along the route, the footprints of a wonderful cultural past in sculpture and architecture can still be appreciated, such as, the chulpasor graves of Willcahuín and Honcopampa; a tomb at Janku; and sites like Huallac, Kekamarca, Marcún and Keyash.
Huascarán National Park. Created in 1975 with the objective of preserving the flora and fauna, geological lands, archeological sites, and the beauty of the Cordillera Blanca, the park comprises not only the famous Huascarán, but all the area that surpasses 3,300 km² (1,300 sq. ml). Huascarán is the highest mountain in Peru, and the fourth-highest mountain in South America. The top is 22,205 feet (6,768 meters) high. It is located in the Ancash Region of Peru.
The mountain is all that is left of an ancient volcano. The volcano is now extinct, and has been getting smaller and smaller. As recently as 1970, the Ancash Earthquake caused a big part of the mountain to crumble and fall off. That part of the mountain was all rock and ice, and it killed almost 17,000 people in small towns around the mountain.
Today, Huascarán has turned into a tourist attraction for mountain climbers.
Yungay.The province that was buried together with its 50,000 people during the 1970 earthquake and stands today in the same place. At 25 km (15 ml) from this site, the Yanganuco Lagoon, a beautiful natural wonder of blue waters and Edenic scenery, is located.
Laguna de Conococha. Located over 4,100 m.a.s.l. (13,400 ft), this lagoon is where the Callejón de Huaylas and the Santa river start.
Cañon del Pato. This canyon is famous for its hydroelectric plant and for being at the northern end of the Callejón de Huaylas.
Monterrey Thermal Baths. They are located at only 7 km (4 ml) from Huaraz, with waters that reach up to 49°C (120° F).
Chancos Thermal Springs. At a distance of 30 km (18 ml) from the capital, with temperatures ranging from 68° to 72° C (155° to 160° F).
Archeological Complex Chavín de Huantar. Located in the Callejón de Conchucos, Chavín de Huantar was once one of the main religious and cultural centers in the western hemisphere. An example of its outstanding architecture in stone is the castillo or castle and its labyrinth, a mysterious construction of narrow paths and a multitude of enigmatic figures in carved stone, such as, the Cabezas Clavas, sculptures with ferocious faces. Chavín de Huantar is an archaeological site containing ruins and artifacts originally constructed by the Chavin, a pre-Inca culture, around 900 B.C. The site is located 250 kilometers north of Lima, Peru at an elevation of 3150 meters, between the Andean mountain ranges of the Cordillera Negra and the Cordillera Blanca. Chavín de Huantar has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the Chavín reliefs from this archaeological site are on display in the Museo de la Nacion in Lima.
Chavin de Huantar was initially built around 900 B.C. While the fairly large population was based on an agricultural economy, the city's location at the head waters of the Marañon River, between the coast and the jungle, made it an ideal location for the dissemination and collection of both ideas and material goods.
Findings at Chavin de Huantar indicate that social instability and upheaval began to occur between 500 and 300 B.C., at the same time that the larger Chavin civilization began to decline. Large ceremonial sites were abandoned, some unfinished, and were replaced by villages and agricultural land. At Chavin de Huantar, no later than 500 B.C., a small village replaced the Circular Plaza. The plaza was occupied by a succession of groups, and building stones and stone carvings were salvaged for use in house walls. Multiple occupation floors indicate the village was continuously occupied through the 1940’s.
The site contains a number of major structures, including Temples A, B, and C, and areas and buildings designated as the Circular Plaza, the Old Temple and New Temple.
Circular Plaza appears to have been a sacred and ritually important open-air space within a ceremonial center. Prior to 800-700 B.C., this location had a number of functions, including serving as an atrium for entering Temple A through the temple's north staircase. The plaza in the classic period, after 700 B.C., is bounded on three sides by major Temples A, B, and C. The plaza is perfectly circular and is very close to 20 meters in diameter, with a floor consisted of pillow-shaped pavers of yellow diatomite. It appears that a center line of black limestone blocks runs on its architectural east-west axis. Walls of the plaza were constructed of cut stone, principally granite, laid in courses of varying width. The two broadest courses were carved in arcs closest to the western staircase and in two pairs of terminal stones flanking the eastern staircase. The Old Temple, constructed early in the site's history, was an inward-facing structure composed primarily of passageways built around a circular courtyard. The structure contained obelisks and stone monuments with relief carvings depicting jaguars, caymans, and various other anthropomorphic forms. The Lanzón Gallery, located at the very center, contained a sculpture of the Lanzón, which is assumed to be a supreme deity of Chavin de Huantar. The figure is anthropomorphic, with a feline head and human body. Mortars, pestles, conch-shell trumpets, and many other items have also been found. Many of these artifacts have an anthropomorphic design or decoration and are thought to be associated with Chavin rituals.
The New Temple, constructed between 500 and 200 B.C., is also based on a gallery and plaza design and contained many relief sculptures. The Lanzon deity is also present, holding a Strombusshell in the right hand while the left hand holds a Spondylus shell.
Excavation of burial sites gave evidence of a small elite class with elaborate burial goods. Tombs contained precious metals, colorful textiles, and other valuables. The majority of burials were more simple, with bodies interred in shallow pits with cotton clothing and a simple tool kit.
Local style in art and decoration included scrolls, simple curves, straight lines, and images of wild animals. Chavin sculpture is usually of white granite and black limestone. Carved stone mortars and pestels, conch-shell trumpets, bone tubes and spatulas, and metal spatulas and spoons were found decorated in Chavin style as were various textiles including tapestries. Pottery was found in a wide variety of forms, including bottles and bowls, decorated with a wider range of distinctive elements.
Paramonga Fortress.This fortress is located in the Coast, within the limits between the departments of Lima and Ancash. In spite the fact that some archeologists believe this imposing construction was a religious ceremonial site, the majority coincide in that it was used as the last bastion of the Chimús, before submitting to the forces of Inca Pachacutec in the middle of the fifteenth century.
Nepeña. At 35 km (22 ml) from Casma in the Coast, this valley is near the huaca (tomb) of Pañamarca, built from adobe and which still shows vestiges of a Mochica past, with paintings unique in their style.
Sechín. This was the first cultural site in the Peruvian Coast. It houses an archeological complex by the same name with an antiquity of over 3,000 years. It is impressive on account of its architecture and stone ornaments, uncommon to the cultures of the Coast. It is located at 5 km (3 ml) from Casma.
Huarmey. Coastal province with several fish mill industries and beautiful beaches along its coast, specially Tortugas.
Chimbote. Once considered the most important fishing port in the world. The city is located in the broad bay of El Ferrol, one of the most sheltered and safe in the world.
Chimbote is the largest city in the Ancash Region of Peru. It is also the capital of the Santa Province and the Chimbote District. The city is located on the coast in Chimbote Bay, south of Trujillo and at 420 kilometers north of Lima in the North Pan-American highway. It is the start of a chain of important cities like Trujillo, Chiclayo and Piura. The advantages of this geographic location turns Chimbote into a transshipment junction for all the area of the Santa River valley. Chimbote is the largest fishing port in Peru. Chimbote has more than 30 fish factories, and has some of the world's finest fish-packing equipment. The immediate surroundings of Chimbote are conformed by two natural bays, the one of Chimbote or Ferrol and the one of Samanco, both with excellent harbor conditions. Chimbote forms a conurbation with Nuevo Chimbote District to the south. Between these districts, the Humedales de Villa María, a beautiful swamp, is home to a local species of heron, along with many species of frogs and fish. The swamp is formed by the Lacramarca River.
To the south of the city, there are many beaches, such as Vesique, Los Chimús, Tortugas, Caleta Colorada and el Dorado.
Also located near Chimbote is the Isla Blanca (white isle, in English), that takes its name from the white color of the ground.
This land measures approximately 3200 meters in length, 920 meters in width and about 204 meters in height.
Located next to the city is, Cerro de la Juventud (Mountain of Youth), also called Cerro de la Paz (Mountain of Peace). Since 1985, this tourist attraction brings hundreds of people from all over. The visitor will appreciate a panoramic view of Chimbote's bay from the top of this mountain.
The tourist can also visit the Isla Blanca Boulevard - which has many beautiful marble sculptures and fountains.
Chimbote has two important celebrations during the year: Holy Week and The Festivity of San Pedrito of Chimbote (also called Chimbote's Civic Anniversary). Welcome to Ancash . Peru
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