Lambayeque Peru
The region of Lambayeque is in northwestern Peru, known for its rich Chimú and Moche historical past. Its capital is the city of Chiclayo. Its elevation ( lowest town 0 coastal area ) ( highest town 3078 m. Incahuasi ). Its population 1,122.421 ( last census 2005 ) this year 2007 is around 1,125.00.
Lambayeque region is divided into 3 provinces, which are composed of 33 districts. The provinces and their capitals are as fallows:
1.- Chiclayo ( Chiclayo ).
2.- Ferreñafe ( Ferreñafe )
3.- Lambayeque ( Lambayeque ).
ATTRACTIONS
Main Square or Plaza de Armas. Built during Colonial times, it is surrounded by the Cathedral, Town Hall, and the former Santa María Monastery.
Lambayeque. Beautiful city located at 11 km (6.8 ml) from Chiclayo, where the first outcry for independence was heard. It preserves beautiful Colonial mansions with big balconies.
Iglesia de San Pedro. Constructed in the sixteenth century, this church is considered a National Monument.
Bruning Museum. Founded by pre-Inca collector Enrique Bruning, it houses a great assortment of pre-Columbian works in gold and silver.
Eten and Pimentel, ports with beautiful and refreshing beaches.
Ferreñafe. A region of vast rice plantations with Colonial style mansions and a nice and hospitable population.
Sipán. At 35 km (22 ml) from Chiclayo, it is worldly known for the excavations in Huaca Rajada where the Lord of Sipán was found. The tomb holds golden, silver and copper ornaments, clothing, vases and personal objects of great value. It has a site museum.
GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
The territory of the Lambayeque Region is made up by large plains irrigated by rivers from the Andes, in most of the area farming takes place due to the lack of water. However the valleys that are found in this area generate half of the sugar cane that is produced in Peru. In addithion Lambayeque and Piura provide most of the rice crops consumed in Peru. This agriculture output is possible by a reservoir called "Proyecto Olmos" which holds an annual amount of 2,050 millions of cubic meters of water.
In a smaller scale in the last centuries, the Olmos Carob Tree Forest held goat herds that were fed with the food of this tree. This gave rise to the leather, cordobanes and soap industry.
There are two small islands off the Pacific coast of the Lambayeque Region: Lobos de Afuera, and Lobos de Tierra; there was a dispute with the Piura Region over ownership of the latter island.
The region is bordered by the Piura Region on the north, the Cajamarca Region on the southeast, the La Libertad Region on the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
Legend tells that in ancient times, a great float of strange rafts arrived at the beaches of the existing San José cove. Formed by a brilliant cortege of foreign warriors, this float was led by a man of great talent and courage, named Naylamp, who founded a civilization.
The descendants are the builders of the great Chimú civilization, forged in Lambayeque before the Inca Empire. The Chimú grew to acquire a notable state parallel to the Inca. Yet, unlike the Incas, the Chimú moved their capital to more propitious and strategic zones, establishing great urban centers there. They were great farmers, textile experts and, wonderful goldsmiths, with extraordinary works in gold.
The Inca conquest of what today is Lambayeque, lasted almost four decades. Pachacuti, Tupac Inca Yupanqui and Huayna Cápac, successively, ruled during the process.
Francisco Pizarro crossed the region in his way to Cajamarca to conclude the defeat of the Inca empire. He was amazed by the gold exposed in vases and utensils.
During Colonial times, a rivalry started between the people of Lambayeque and Santiago de Miraflores de Saña. The reason of the conflict was the opulence in which the latter lived, even provoking the greed of pirates. A flood in 1720, however, destroyed Saña and marked the end of a flourishing city.
The people of Lambayeque followed Juan Manuel Iturregui as their leader in the struggles for emancipation and independence from Spain. He spread the libertarian ideas and helped get arms for the cause.
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