Amazonas Region 713194 222221602 2008-06-28T04:32:18Z Athaenara 2460180 Removing links to articles which were deleted per [[WP:CSD#G12]]: blatant copyright infringement. {{For|the Region of Colombia|Amazonas Region (Colombia)}} {{Peru region |name = Amazonas |image = COA Amazonas Region in Peru.png |imagesize = 100px |image_caption = Regional logo |map = [[Image:Location of Amazonas region.png|Location of the Amazonas region in Peru]] |president = Miguel C. Reyes |capital = [[Chachapoyas, Peru|Chachapoyas]] 2334 m |largest = |area = 39,249.13 |pop = 443 025 (2004 estimate) |density = 11.3 |provinces = 7 provinces and 83 districts |lowest = |highest = |areacode = 41 |lat = |long = |resources = [[Coffee]], [[rice]], [[fruits]], [[wood]]<br>and cebu cattle. |poverty = |GDPshare = |website = [http://www.regionamazonas.gob.pe www.regionamazonas.gob.pe] |iso = AMA |ubigeo = 01 }} '''Amazonas''' is a region (called a "Departamento" in Spanish which is roughly equivalent to a province or state) in northern [[Peru]]. It is bordered by [[Ecuador]] on the north and west, the [[Cajamarca Region]] on the west, the [[La Libertad Region]] on the south and the [[Loreto Region|Loreto]] and [[San Martín Region|San Martín]] regions on the east. Its capital is the city of [[Chachapoyas, Peru|Chachapoyas]]. ==Geography== [[Image:maranon.jpg|thumb|left|250px|'''Valle del Marañón''' (Marañón Valley) between Chachapoyas and Celendin, Peru]] The '''Amazonas department''' consists of regions covered by [[rainforest]]s and [[mountain range]]s. The rainforest zone predominates (72.93%) and it extends to the north over its oriental slope, up to the border with [[Ecuador]] in the summits of the [[Cordillera del Cóndor]]. The mountain range zone is located in the southern [[Provinces of Peru|provinces]] of the Amazonas department and it only includes 27.07% of its whole territorial surface. One of the factors that help to give big importance to its [[geography]] is not only that the big valleys and [[plain]]s of its rainforest zone are the closest to the [[Pacific Ocean]], but also its connections with the routes of the coast are the lowest. This is because they use the [[Paso de Porculla]] (the mountain pass of Porculla) that is located at 2,144 m. This is the lowest pass of the whole Peruvian [[Andes]] to arrive to the [[Pan-American Highway|Pan-American road]] system. The vast and deep [[valle del Marañón]] (Marañon's valley), which constitutes one of the most important morphologic features of the department. [[Image:Utcubamba amazonas peru.jpg|thumb|right|250px|'''Valle del Utcubamba''', Amazonas, Peru]] The valle del Marañón crosses a big part of its territory and expands itself from south to north. It reaches its biggest largeness in the zone of [[Bagua Province|Bagua]]. It narrows when it crosses the [[Cordillera Oriental, Peru|Cordillera Oriental]] (the Oriental [[mountain range]]) in its most violent route towards the east, towards the [[Omagua|lowest part of the Amazon]]. It crosses those wonderful canyons and natural porches called [[pongo (geography)|''pongos'']], [[Quechua]] word that means doors. The [[valle del Utcubamba]] (Utcubamba's valley), which is the real axis of the Amazonas department, is located between 5° and 6° of south latitude and 78° and 79° of west longitude. It is longitudinally developed up to the [[Marañón River (Peru)|Marañon river]], in which it flowed at 400 m. This zone is the principal center of production and human groups location. It is developed in four very pronounced sectors: * Vertiente del Marañon (Marañon's [[spring (hydrosphere)|spring]]), that has important [[Stream|quebrada]]s ([[Quebrada Seca|Seca]], [[Quebrada Bocana|Bocana]], [[Quebrada Copallín Nuevo|Copallín Nuevo]] and [[Quebrada Choloque|Choloque]]). * Valle Medio (the middle valley) that has eleven quebradas in its both borders. * Valle Alto (the high valley) that has seven quebradas. The most important one is [[Quebrada Magunchal|Magunchal]]. * Planicie de Bagua (the Bagua's plain), wavy and picturesque, that is located at 550 m. In some places, it mounts up to 900 m., for example in the inhabited point called [[La Peca (Peru)|La Peca]]. The principal [[Tributary|tributaries]] of the [[Utcubamba River|Utcubamba]] are the [[Chiriaco River|Chiriaco]], the [[Nieva River|Nieva]], the [[Santiago River (Peru)|Santiago]] (that is born in [[Ecuador]]) and the [[Cenepa River|Cenepa]], that is born in the north zone of the [[Cordillera del Cóndor]]. The Cenepa River receives in its trip numerous tributaries like the [[Comaina River|Comaina]]. It flowed in the [[Marañón River (Peru)|Marañon river]], located near [[Orellana (Peru)|Orellana]] ([[Condorcanqui Province|province of Condorcanqui]]). ===Olmos-Marañon Route=== [[Image:Aguarunas.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The '''aguarunas''' in the Amazonas department, [[Perú]].]] The '''Olmos-Marañon highway''', also called Transcontinental road, tries to join the marine zone of the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific coast]] with a navigable point of the Marañon river – the [[Sarameriza (Peru)|Sarameriza]]. This place is located further down the [[Pongo de Manseriche]]. From this place, it is possible to carry out the navigation for major tonnage boats until they reach the [[Amazon River]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic coast]]. This [[highway]] has an indisputable importance not only from a strategic point of view but also for being a fully commercial penetration route. After many years of studies, this route was chosen. It was proved that this route really was the shortest and it also used the [[Paso de Porculla]], which is the lowest of the [[Andes]]. The most considerable landscape is constituted by the important [[Cordillera del Cóndor]]. It is located at the North-East of the Amazonas department and its heights are up to 1 500 m. The Cordillera del Cóndor serves as a natural and legal [[Border|boundary]], according to the [[Rio Protocol|Rio de Janeiro protocol]] signed with the [[Ecuador|Republic of Ecuador]] in 1942. Up to this moment, Ecuador refused systematically to place the corresponding [[milestone]]s ordered by the guarantors countries of the protocol. [[Image:Paisaje amazonense.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Landscape of the Amazon Region.]] All this extensive north area, from the left side margin of the [[Marañón River (Peru)|Marañon River]], virtually represents a big gap because there aren't any [[highway]]s of access. Rivers are the only means of transport for [[tribe]]s like the [[aguaruna]]s and the [[huambisas]]. The Cordillera del Cóndor is located in the district of [[El Cenepa]], in the [[Condorcanqui Province|province of Condorcanqui]]. It covers a southeast - northeast direction, extending itself towards the south with the branches of [[El Cenepa|Cenepa]], [[Shamatak]], [[Sierra Gallinera]] and [[Paku-Yaku]]. The importance of the northern territories of the Amazonas department is not only because it's strategic but also because noteworthy [[Gold|auriferous]] and [[petroleum]] possibilities have been detected in this zone. Some other important places inside this route are: * Paso de Porculla * Pongos in Amazonas, the natural porches * [[Pongo de Manseriche]], "The one who frightens" ===Route to Huallaga Central: The plain of Bagua=== [[Image:Peru - HotSprings.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hot springs in a the '''Rupa-Rupa Region''']] The [[Valle del Utcubamba|Utcubamba valley]], that is born in the high [[Suni (geography)|''jalcas'']] of [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]] and that runs from southeast to northwest to mix with the waters of the Marañón river, forms the immense [[plain of Bagua]]. This plain has a of warm climate, which temperature can reach a maximum of 40 °C, being the minimum one 21 °C. Like in the whole [[Rupa-Rupa|high jungle]] region of [[Peru]] –head of mountain-, its water regimen is irregular and sometimes without rains. Some of the important places inside this route are: * Touristic corridor of the Utcubamba * [[Pomacochas lagoon]] ===The Aguarunas=== The real origin of the [[Aguaruna]] people is still a mystery. In accordance with the racial characteristics of the majority, some anthropologists suppose that they came down the [[Andes]] centuries ago and adapted themselves to the geographical conditions of the region. Others believe that they are emigrants of [[Central America]] who came either by the coast or through rivers. They established themselves in a zone much wider than the one they occupy now. Apparently this zone also included the actual [[Jaén, Peru|Jaén]]. It is also said that they were influenced by cultural groups that were immigrants from the islands of [[Melanesia]]. They have always had the reputation of being brave warriors, standing out for their skills in war. Physically there are differences between the aguarunas and the other inhabitants of the [[Amazon Rainforest|Peruvian rainforest]]. Their average height is taller – especially between men – and their physical constitution denotes strength. The Aguarunas have a traditional, ideological and material culture, and they communicate with each other in their own language. For this reason, there is a book called the ''[[Vocabulario aguaruna del Amazonas]]'' (Aguaruna's Vocabulary of the Amazon) written by [[Mildred Larson|Mildred L. Larson]] and published by [[SIL International]] in 1966. The Aguarunas are located in the geographical area of the Marañón river, that is to say on the banks of the Marañón river and of its tributaries, the rivers [[Santiago river|Santiago]], [[Nieva River|Nieva]], [[Cenepa River|Cenepa]], [[Numpatakay River|Numpatakay]] and [[Chiriaco River|Chiriaco]]. The Aguarunas' families, either [[Monogamy|monogamous]] or [[Polygamy|polygamous]], occur in a dispersed form, grouped in extensive families or forming major magnitude towns. Examples of the last case constitute the towns of [[Yutupiza (Peru)|Yutupiza]] on the [[Santiago river]] and [[Japaime (Peru)|Japaime]] on the Nieva. In the cases in which there exists a pattern of nucleate population, these towns, called in their native language ''yáakat'', do not have streets, footpaths, or squares, are formed by houses of traditional construction. These houses are distributed in a kind of asymmetric form and the tendency is usually to be placed in a linear form along the river. Another typical aspect of the Aguarunas consists in the fact that they have traditionally worked as a seminomadic population, due to the poverty of the agricultural soil and the extremely elementary, traditional agrarian technology, which brings as a consequence the depletion of the soil in a short period of two or three years. Inside their major hunting activities, the natives hunt members of [[White-lipped Peccary|sajino]], [[White-lipped Peccary|huangana]], [[Brazilian Tapir]] ([[Brazilian Tapir|sachavaca]]), [[Little Red Brocket]], [[ocelot]] and [[Jaguar|otorongo]] ([[jaguar]]). In their minor hunting activities, they hunt [[Paca|majaz]], [[Capybara|ronsoco]], [[Coatimundi|achuni]], [[Black Agouti|añuje]], [[Carachupa (Dasypus novemcinctus)|carachupa]], [[Giant Otter|otter]], diverse classes of [[monkey]]s and other animals. They also hunt birds. [[Image:Pupunha (Bactris gasipaes) 7.jpg|thumb|250px|left|''pijuayo'' fruits]] Traditionally they used a [[spear]] made from ''[[Bactris gasipaes|pijuayo]]'' (palm tree of very hard wood) and the [[Blowgun|blowpipe]] for hunting. At present the spear has been almost completely displaced by the [[shotgun]] with [[pellet]]s but they still use the blowpipe. From the animals taken in hunting, they use the meat, the leather, the skins, the feathers, the teeth and the bones. These animal products serve a double purpose: a nutritive purpose and a handmade, medicinal and/or a [[witchcraft]] purpose. They gather wild fruits of some [[Arecaceae|palm tree]]s, like the [[Pouruma cecropiifolia|uvilla]] and some [[shrub]]s. Also they gather [[bud]]s of [[palm tree]]s, [[Plant stem|stem]]s, [[bark]], and [[resin]]s. They extract the [[leche caspi (Couma macrocarpa)|''leche caspi'']] and gather edible [[worm]]s ([[suri]]s) and [[Beetle|coleopterous]] and the [[honey]] of wild [[bee]]s. Finally, they gather [[Herbalism|medicinal plants]] and [[liana]]s. They use everything gathered to provide food, to make [[crafts]], to make [[traditional medicine]], to use in [[witchcraft]] and to use as [[fuel]], inside an ancestral pattern of self-sufficiency. For agricultural instruments, they use the traditional ''[[tacarpo]]'' (a stick with sharp top, made of wood from the palm tree called ''[[Bactris gasipaes|pijuayo]]''); together with the [[axe]], the [[machete]] and the [[shovel]]. The principal crafts of masculine activities are [[rope]]making, [[Basket weaving|basketry]], the construction of [[canoe]]s, the making of [[textile]]s. The principal crafts of feminine activities are [[Pottery|ceramics]] and the making of necklaces made of seeds, the small wings of insects and [[bead]]s. The men make crowns of exquisite feathers as well as [[cotton]] [[ribbon]]s in whose ends they places feathers and human hair. These adornments are kept in containers made of [[bamboo]]. Between the Aguarunas, there is the traditional institution of mutual help known in their language as ''ipáámu'', which works principally in the construction of young couples' housing, in the cleanliness of the small farms and, with less frequency, in sowing the [[cassava|yuca]] and [[peanut]]. ===The Jíbaros=== [[Image:Jaguar tier 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Peruvian jaguar, most of them are located in the Amazonas Region.]] It is impossible to speak about the Peruvian rain forest and its different [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|tribe]]s, without mentioning the one that attracts most of the civilized world's attention by its peculiarity of reducing their victims' heads, the tribe of the [[Jíbaro (Peru)|Jíbaro]]s. Most of them do not practice this ancient custom anymore. But even now, it is said that there are people who practice it, in the deepest northern part of the impenetrable rain forest. The Jíbaros have split themselves into several different tribes who are declared enemies among themselves, who, although they fear each other, do not waste an opportunity to destroy themselves with such cruelty. [[Image:Jibaros.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A jíbaro, one of the most combative ethnic groups that inhabits the Amazonian forest.]] An innate quality of the Jíbaros is that of hiding from the other tribes and also hiding their movements to try to trap the others. For this reason people affirm that Jíbaros rarely pass two times by the same place. In their appearance, Jíbaros do not differ much from the other natives, although they don't have many tattos and they are not lovers of the adornments that characterize the other tribes. The adornment they use the most is the [[Black-mandibled Toucan|toucan]]'s feather, which is a demonstration of their ability in the use of the blowpipe, since it is very difficult to hunt this class of birds. Another typical occupation of the Jíbaros is the [[Spinning (textiles)|textile]]. Although women are the ones who spin, men are the ones who [[Weaving|weave]] the cloth they use as garments. But what distinguished them from the other tribes was their hobby to cut off their enemies' heads and make them extraordinarily tiny, by means of a procedure that has been investigated by specialists. Today such practice is almost extinguished with the exception of the tribes of the [[Huaorani|aucas]]. They think it is a cause of pride to have the biggest number of tiny heads, which they usually wear like necklaces in their holidays. ==History== The archaeological centers lost in the rain forest emerge as a testimony of presence of humans in the area since remote times. Most of the Pre-[[Spain|Hispanic]] cultures that became prosperous in the area are still a mystery due to the lack of research. The Kuélap's Fortress is the most representative monument of this age. It is a huge construction of military architecture which shows the high level of civilization achieved by the people of this region. The [[Chachapoyas culture]] developed during the Inca age and represented a strong opposition to the Incan conquest by repelling the first Inca attempts to incorporate the region to their empire. The region's capital, Chachapoyas, was founded in 1538 by Alonso de Alvarado. During the same year, its first church was built and later, the Santa Ana, San Lázaro and Señor de Burgos churches were built. In April 1821, the city's inhabitants expelled the Spaniards and ignored their authority, following the steps taken by the [[José de San Martín|San Martín]] liberating army. The area of the Amazonas Region was strongly linked to the independence thoughts and actions. The cleric [[Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza]] was its most outstanding representative, encouraging the patriots of this era and signing the National Act of Independence. The Cordillera del Condor, located in this region, was the scenery of the war between Peru and Ecuador in 1981. ===The Conquest=== The natives of the region received in a jubilant and cordial way to the first Spanish who came into Amazonas. They knew about their arrival in Peru by the news that they had received from [[Cajamarca Region|Cajamarca]]. In this city it had been said to [[Francisco Pizarro]] that [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]] was an excellent agricultural region which settlers possessed a lot of gold and silver. The big conqueror did not lose time and formed immediately an expedition of 20 men, putting the distinguished captain [[Alonso de Alvarado]] in charge of it, with an express indication: founding a [[Christian]] city. The chroniclers say that, when the Spanish arrived to the region, the Chachapoyas people gave big parties in their honor and gave them many rich gifts willingly, also numerous examples of appreciation, including showing some interest to become Christians. Pizarro decided to send a second expedition, this time with instructions to take possession of the zone, delivering [[Alonso de Alvarado|Alvarado]] a provision so he would be able to found the city of [[San Juan de la Frontera de los Chachapoyas]]. But this time Pizarro's envoy met the bellicose resistance of a ''[[curaca]]'' called [[Huamán]], whom they had to defeat before coming to their destination, where they founded the mentioned city on [[September 5]], [[1538]]. Alvarado had chosen a place called [[Jalca]], which apparently did not have the demanded conditions. This was the reason why the location of the flaming city was changed several times. According to the papers of the epoch, the last time that a change was made was in 1544, but it is unknown when the city was established in its current place. The same day of Chachapoyas' foundation, the members of the first [[Cabildo (Peru)|cabildo]] were elected, turning out to be designated the [[councillor]]s [[Gómez de Alvarado]], [[Alonso de Chávez]], [[Gonzalo de Trujillo]], [[Gonzalo de Guzmán]], [[Luis Valera]] (father of the [[chronicler]] [[Blas Valera]]), [[Pedro Romero (España)|Pedro Romero]], [[Bernardino de Anaya]] and [[Francisco de Fuentes]]. According to the Spanish custom, the layout of the city was made by means of rectilinear design streets. ===The Colony=== [[Image:Turibius de Mongrovejo.jpg|thumb|250px|right|St. Turibius de Mongrovejo]] A few years after its foundation, the prosperity of the region began to demonstrate itself in magnificent constructions in the city of Chachapoyas, with big [[Courtyard|courts]], wide lounges and architectural characteristics adapted to the zone. The colonial aspect of Chachapoyas stays almost intact until now, and it is one of the most attractive characteristics of this old city. A refined religious feeling was one of the characteristics that distinguished the settlers of this department during the colony. In the same year of the foundation of Chachapoyas, the first [[church]] was built. Its first [[priest]] was [[Hernando Gutiérrez Palacios]]. Later the churches of [[Santa Ana Church, Amazonas|Santa Ana]], [[San Lázaro Church, Amazonas|San Lázaro]] and [[Señor de Burgos Church, Amazonas|Señor de Burgos]] were built. Three religious [[Abbey|convents]] were also established: San Francisco, La Merced and that of the betlehemitas. The majority of the persons who settled in Chachapoyas from the time of its foundation were people with [[nobility]], but poor. They were living in a modest and worthily way and they devoted themselves to [[agriculture]] and [[mining]]. Many settlers achieved a loose economic position, keeping, nevertheless, the austerity of the customs that was one of the highlight points of Chachapoyas' social life. With time the settlers were spreading to other zones of the region, such as [[Luya Province|Luya]], city that was established in 1569 by the governor [[Lope García de Castro]], ratified later in its administrative organization by the [[viceroy]] [[Francisco de Toledo]]. There it bloomed an [[agriculture]] of varied production and the upbringing of [[dairy]], [[Domestic sheep|sheep]] and [[Horse|equine]] cattle. In one of his pastoral visits, [[Turibius of Mongrovejo|Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo]] visited the principal populations of this department in this epoch. ===Independence=== In an active and enthusiastic way, the inhabitants of Chachapoyas incorporated themselves to the cause of freedom. In April 1821, helping the action of [[José de San Martín|San Martin's]] liberating army, they ignored the Spanish authorities, exiling the subdelegate [[Francisco Baquedano]] and the [[bishop]] of [[Maynas Province|Maynas]] [[Hipólito Sánchez]], who were fighting openly against the [[independence]]. Between the patriots that were born in Amazonas, history remembers: * [[Mariano Aguilar]] * [[Manuel Rodríguez, Peru|Manuel Rodríguez]] * [[Luis Zagaceta]] * [[Lucero Villacorta]] * [[Juan Reina]] * [[José Fabián Rodríguez]] * [[Dionisio Hernández]] Facing this act of rebellion, the military chief of [[Moyobamba]], colonel [[José Matos]], organized an army of 600 men, who met the patriots on [[June 6]], [[1821]] in [[Higos Urco pampa]]. The organization and discipline of the Spanish could not do anything in front of the heroism of the patriots who without training, military knowledge or discipline, faced the realistas determined to give their lives in defense of the proclaimed freedom. A woman from Amazonas is represented in this battle by [[Matea Rimachi]] that has gone on to posterity as the heroine of [[Higos Urco battle|Higos Urco]]. Between the important men that Amazonas gave to Peru in this decisive epoch for nationality, figures [[Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza]], the [[professor]], [[politician]], [[philosopher]] and [[jurist]] who formed a generation of patriots. Rodríguez of Mendoza signed the record of national independence in [[Lima]]. He was the [[rector]] of the [[Convictorio de San Carlos]], member of the [[Sociedad Académica de Amantes del País|Sociedad Amantes del País]] (Lovers of the Country Society), founder and collaborator of the newspaper [[Mercurio Peruano]], deputy of the [[Cortes Generales|Spanish Parliament]] and [[Congressperson|congressman]] of the [[Primer Congreso Constituyente del Perú de 1822|first Constituent Congress]], in which the majority of its members were his disciples. ===The Republic=== The department of Amazonas was created by a law issued by the government of the [[marshal]] [[Agustín Gamarra]], promulgated on [[November 21]], [[1832]]. The initiative belonged to two illustrious children of Chachapoyas: [[José Modesto de la Vega|Modesto de la Vega]] and [[José Braulio de Camporredondo]]. [[José Braulio de Camporredondo|Camporredondo]] was in charge of the presidency of the republic, in absence of the marshall [[Agustín Gamarra|Gamarra]]. The same law contained a series of norms to promote the economic development of the new department including exonerations of rights in its commerce with Ecuador or Brazil. In accordance with this law, the regions of [[Pataz Province|Pataz]], [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]] and [[Maynas Province|Maynas]] will stay inside the limits of the Amazonas Region. [[Image:President Don Manuel Prado.JPG|thumb|right|250px|President Don Manuel Prado]] [[Felipe Santiago Salaverry|Salaverry]] tried futilely to annul the creation of this department that, later, according to diverse demarcating dispositions was diminishing in its area. Most of its territory was dismembered in 1866, when the [[Loreto Region|department of Loreto]] was created. The creation of its current provinces was realized in the following dates: * On [[February 12]], [[1821]], [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]]. * On [[February 5]], [[1861]], [[Luya Province|Luya]]. * On [[December 26]], [[1870]], [[Bongará Province|Bongará]]. * On [[October 31]], [[1932]], [[Rodríguez de Mendoza Province|Rodríguez de Mendoza]]. * On [[September 1]], [[1941]], [[Bagua Province|Bagua]]. * On [[May 18]], [[1984]], [[Condorcanqui Province|Condorcanqui]]. * On [[May 30]], [[1984]], [[Utcubamba Province|Utcubamba]]. The colonial splendour of [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]], almost a complete city, was disappearing during the Republic because it had been imposed in the country new means of transport that were turning it in a cloistered and outlying city from the rest of the country. Chachapoyas remained this way during more than one century in the Republic. Without highways of access, the route had to be done on horse, in long and painful caravans from the coast, or by the rivers from the region of the east. Such situation continue until 1960, date in which the highway arrived to Chachapoyas, although it had been already preceded by air transport. Later, during the last government of the doctor [[Manuel Prado Ugarteche|Manuel Prado]], there was constructed and inaugurated the highway that joins Chachapoyas with the big route of penetration Olmos-Marañon. With this, Amazonas was put in direct communication with [[Lima]] and the rest of the Republic. ==Political division== [[Image:Provinces.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Political division of Amazonas]] The region is divided into 7 [[province]]s (''provincias'', singular: ''provincia''), which are composed of 83 [[district]]s (''distritos'', singular: ''distrito''). Its capital is the Province of [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]]. ===Provinces=== The provinces and their capitals are: {| class="wikitable"; style="width:50%; height:200px" border="1" |- |- style="background:IndianRed; color:white" ! '''PROVINCE''' ! '''CAPITAL''' ! '''DISTRICT''' |- | [[Bagua Province|Bagua]] | [[Bagua, Peru|Bagua]] | 5 |- | [[Bongará Province|Bongará]] | [[Villa de Jumbilla|Jumbilla]] | 12 |- | [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]] | [[Chachapoyas, Peru|Chachapoyas]] | 21 |- | [[Condorcanqui Province|Condorcanqui]] | [[Santa María de Nieva|Sta. María de Nieva]] | 3 |- | [[Luya Province|Luya]] | [[Lamud]] | 23 |- | [[Rodríguez de Mendoza Province|Rodríguez de Mendoza]] | [[Mendoza (Peru)|Mendoza]] | 12 |- | [[Utcubamba Province|Utcubamba]] | [[Bagua Grande]] | 7 |} ==The Amazonas' Ancestors== [[Image:Cochabamba fortress.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The fortress of Cochabamba, in the province of Leimebamba, Amazonas.]] The [[Amazonas before the Inca Empire|department of Amazonas]] possesses a great past that is still precariously evaluated and spread. On its borders, there are fabulous archaeological testimonies like [[Kuelap|Cuélap]], the most extensive monument of the Peruvian ancestral past. Cuélap was the main city of the [[Chachapoyas culture|Chachapoyas]] in the times of their cultural climax. ===The Chachapoyas=== When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 16th century, the Chachapoyas were one of the many nations that were part of the [[Inca Empire]]". Their incorporation to the Inca Empire had not been easy, due to the sprouts of resistance that the chachapoyas offered repeatedly to the Inca's troops. The chronicler [[Pedro Cieza de León]] offers some picturesque notes about the chachapoyas: {{cquote|''"They are the whitest and most handsome of all the people that I have seen in [[Indies]], and their wives were so beautiful that because of their gentleness, many of them deserved to be the Incas' wives and to also be taken to the [[Coricancha|Sun Temple]] (...) The women and their husbands always dressed in woolen clothes and in their heads they wear their ''[[llauto]]s'', which are a sign they wear to be known everywhere."''}} Cieza adds that, after their annexation to the Inca Empire, they adopted the customs imposed by the people from the [[Cusco Region|department of Cuzco]]. The meaning of the word chachapoyas is unknown. If it is a Quechua voice, perhaps it might come from ''sacha-p-collas'', that could be the equivalent of "colla people who live in the woods" (''sacha'' = wild ''p'' = of the ''colla'' = nation in which [[Aymara language|aimara]] is spoken). The Chachapoyas' territory was very extensive. It included the triangular space that is shaped by the confluence of the Marañón River and Utcubamba River in the zone of [[Bagua Province|Bagua]], up to the basin of the [[Abiseo river]]. In this place are the chachapoyas' [[Gran Pajáten|ruins of Pajatén]]. This territory included even more to the south, up to the [[Chontayacu river]]. In this way it exceeded, in a southern direction, the limits of the current department of Amazonas. But the center of the Chachapoyas culture was the basin of the Utcubamba river. Not only the defined architectural style known as chachapoyas testify the above mentioned, but also the historical news. For this reason, [[Inca Garcilaso de la Vega|Garcilazo de la Vega]] records that the chachapoyas' territory was so extensive that, {{cquote|''"We could easily call it a kingdom because it has more than fifty leagues long per twenty leagues wide, without counting the way up to [[Moyobamba|Muyupampa]], thirty leagues long more (...)"''}} (The [[league (unit)|league]] was a measurement that covered about 5 [[kilometer]]s.) The area of the Chachapoyas corresponds to a region that, being part of a mountain range because of its land, was characterized for being covered by dense tropical woods. Talking in general terms, it was named as [[Amazonian Andes]], in replacement of the old and vague word "mountain region". As fast as the population was growing, the forests of the Amazonian Andes were felled in order to extend the agrarian border. This act caused that the tropical scenery was diminishing and instead, a place marked by its dryness was outcropping, due to the soil erosion that supervenes when these soils remain unprotected from its ancient green mantle. Nowadays, the Amazonian Andes resemble the barren scenery of the Andean moorlands. The Amazonian Andes are constituted by the oriental flank of the Andes, covered originally by a dense Amazon vegetation. It spread from the [[cordillera]] spurs until reaching surprising altitudes where the forests have not been felled, in certain cases exceeding the 3 500 m. Culturally focused, the Amazonian Andes only included between 2 and 3 thousand meters of altitude. This means that they are limited to the altitude occupied by the Chachapoyas. This is certified by the location of their numerous architectural remains. {{further|[[Incorporation of the Chachapoyas to the Inca Empire]]}} ===Times previous to the Inca Empire=== [[Image:Sarcofagi of Carajía.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Sarcofagi of Carajía used by the Chachapoyas culture in the Amazonas Region of Peru.]] The Amazonas Region has a millennial history. There are some testimonies exhibited on rocky walls dated from the most remote times. Such is the case of the [[Cave painting|rock paintings]] of [[Chiñuña-Yamón]] and [[Limones-Calpón]] in the [[Utcubamba Province|province of Utcubamba]]. A part of these haughty pictorial samples was made by people that had a hunting economy. These people perhaps left their trace 6 or 7 thousand years ago. At the times in which the formation of Peruvian civilization was consolidated, it appeared a type of ceramics mainly identified in [[Bagua Province|Bagua]]. From the Chachapoyas culture, there are innumerable architectural remains, such as [[Cuélap]], [[Gran Vilaya|Congón]] (place that was re-baptized by the name of [[Gran Vilaya|Vilaya]]), [[Cerro Olán|Olán]], [[Purunllacta]] (place that was re-baptized by the name of [[Purunllacta|Monte Peruvia]]), [[Gran Pajatén|Pajatén]], etc. All these expressions of architecture show a model that allows to identify them like if they are related to each other. What has not been established yet is the age of these architectural remains, neither which one would be the most ancient and which one the last in the cultural development of the chachapoyas. {{further|[[Chachapoyas culture]]}} {{further|[[Origin of the Chachapoyas]]}} ===Main cultural testimonies=== [[Image:Cuelap ruins.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The massive walls which protected the fortress.]] Some of the [[Archaeology|archaeological]] testimonies that talk about the cultural splendour reached by the Chachapoyas in pre-Inca times are fantastic. These principally refer to two forms of grave and one wall painting. These are some of the most important cultural testimonies that are found in the Amazonas Region: **[[Sarcofagi of Carajía]] **[[Revash's mausoleums]] **[[Tunnels of San Antonio]] **[[Kuelap|Cuelap]] {{clear}} ==Folklore== [[Image:Peasants.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Peasants in Carajía taking a rest from their daily work.]] The folklore of Amazonas is not as varied as in other departments of Peru. The profusion of dances, songs and clothing is not seen in here, like in [[Puno]] or [[Cusco Region|Cuzco]]. Its folklore is nourished from [[legend]]s and [[Tall tale|stories]] in which mystery and inexplicable things are always present. Towns, [[lagoon]]s, hills, religious images, always have an origin that violates in an invariable way the rules of logic or [[biology]]. For example, if you ask people about the [[lagoon of Cochaconga]], they will say that it is enchanted. They say it has the "form of a neck" and that with the smallest noise provoked by an animal or the scream of a person, there will be a tremendous thunderstorm in which an enormous [[monster]] will appear in the shape of cow. This monster will become mad with the strangers. That's why, whoever passes by this remote place, does it with maximum precautions for not altering the local silence. To give accommodation to travelers is an elementary norm of good behaviour with people. To deny it can provoke the most tremendous evil on the selfish person. An irrefutable evidence is the [[marsh of Mono Muerto]] (Dead Monkey's marsh), in the district of [[Huambo District|Huambo]] ([[Rodríguez de Mendoza Province|Rodríguez de Mendoza]]). A dramatic story that people tell, with more or less details, but with the same respect. A very rich man was living in his house. The [[marsh]] was a part of his [[Estate (house)|estate]], in which he was happy and lacking of nothing, until the day a traveler asked him for home and he denied it to him. A [[Curandero|witch doctor]] of the surroundings, who found out about the attitude of the wealthy neighbor, entrusted that all the curses fell on him. All his goods disappeared and his grounds became a stinking marsh. Mysterious power are also assumed to the four lagoons of Puquio, in which there are monsters that influence the crops, as well as to the [[lagoon of Santa Barbara]], which disappears before the view of the walkers and it is destined to initiate the end of the world with the overflow of its waters. Next to the city of Chachapoyas there is a hill called [[Piscohuañuna hill|Piscohuañuna]], in the way towards the forest. This name means "where birds die", because the mountain kills all the birds that approach it. People attribute pernicious influences to certain animals like the [[Little Owl|mochuelo]] that "freezes the soul", or "[[Cyanocorax yncas|quien-quien]]", that makes fun of the travelers in the roads; or the [[Cricket (insect)|cricket]], which singing in certain circumstances, like when it has sound of bells, presages big evil. People have big respect to the antique remains. They firmly believe that there will be terrifying punishments for those who violate the graves of the "agüelos" ([[Mummy|mummies]]). Most of the population of the department of Amazonas is [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous]] and [[mestizo]], being notable the people' quantity, in some cases entire communities, in which the Spanish type predominates. Since the time of the Incas, there are legends about the existence of white people in these places. There are also versions gathered by chroniclers in which they assure that women were chosen here for the Inca, precisely because they were white. ===Dances=== Some of the dances most representative of the Department of Amazonas are: * [[Chumaichada|The Chumaichada]] * [[Huanca (dance)]] * [[Danzantes de Levanto|The Danzantes de Levanto]] (Levanto's Dancers) * [[Carnaval en Amazonas]] (Carnival in Amazonas) ===Religious festivities=== Religiousness is an outstanding note in the most of these towns and they demonstrate it through the enthusiasm and withdrawal that they put into these celebrations. But, faithful to their tradition, their religious believes are mixed with fantastic apparitions and there is almost always a [[cave]] in them. There are three Virgins who are famous: *[[Virgen de Belén]] (Virgin of [[Bethlehem]]) in [[Chachapoyas, Peru|Chachapoyas]]. *[[Virgen de Sonche]] (Virgin of [[Sonche District|Sonche]]) *[[Virgen de Levanto]] (Virgin of [[Levanto District|Levanto]]) Well, there is no one who does not believe the story that said that the three Virgins were found in a cave to which a young [[shepherd]] was mysteriously attracted. And when the ''[[Virgen de Levanto|Virgin of Levanto]]'' goes to [[Chachapoyas, Peru|Chachapoyas]] "her sisters" go to the outer parts of the town for "receiving her". The venerated image of ''Santa Lucía'' ([[Saint Lucy]]) was also found by a girl in a cave. [[Cristo de Bagazán]] (Christ of Bagazán), who is venerated in [[Rioja Province|Rioja]], was also found by a [[Animal husbandry|stockbreeder]] who was looking for a lost ox. Near Almirante, he heard a voice that was calling him by his name from the interior of a cave, in which he found a [[Jesus|Christ]] image that told him: "take me". In days of long [[drought]], [[Cristo de la Contradicción]] (the Christ of Contradiction) disappears from the [[chapel]] of the [[cemetery]] of [[Chachapoyas, Peru|Chachapoyas]] and he is "discovered" when it begins to rain, beginning then big celebrations up to the time of taking him to his place again. [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Corpus Christi]], [[Holy Week]], [[Assumption of Mary|the Assumption]], [[Day of the Dead|Dia de los Difuntos]] (Day of the death), and [[Christmas]] are classic dates in the calendar of this department. In [[Christmas]] Days there are groups of little shepherds that walk around the streets singing and dancing in front of the [[Nativity scene|cribs]]. With the same splendour, the patronal feasts are celebrated in all the towns. One of the most well-known and traditional celebrations is known as: *[[Los pastorcillos de Navidad]] (Christmas's little shepherds) ===Typical dishes=== Some of the most well-known and delicious typical dishes of this region are the following: *[[Tamalito]]s *[[Cazuela (Peru)|Cazuela]] *[[Carne arrollada]] (rolled beef) *[[Purtumute]] *[[Humitas de choclo]] (sweet [[tamale]] made of [[corn]]) *[[Chipasmute]] *[[Plátanos rellenos]] (stuffed [[banana]]s) ==Economy== [[Image:sona-masuri.jpg|left|250|thumb|right|250px|Rice is the most important cultivation in this region.]] This department includes [[Suni (Geography)|inter-Andean]] and [[Omagua|forest]] regions. It has a strong forestal and hydro energetics potential. The [[Bagua Province|province of Bagua]], because of geographical factors, has an incipient development based on cultivations like [[rice]], [[Coffea arabica|coffee]], [[cacao]], [[fruit trees]] and [[livestock]]. The department of Amazonas presents three well-defined geographical fields: * The [[El Cenepa District|district of El Cenepa]] ([[Condorcanqui Province|province of Condorcanqui]]) that has a climate of [[Tropical climate|humid tropical]] forest * The [[Bagua Province|province of Bagua]], which has a climate of dry tropical forest; and * The other provinces with a typical formation of very humid low mountainous forest, humid subtropical forest and dry low mountainous forest. The provinces of [[Bongará Province|Bongará]], [[Luya Province|Luya]] and [[Chachapoyas Province|Chachapoyas]] present a very hilly geographical configuration, that gives them [[mountain range]] characteristics. Amazonas has an eminently agrarian economy. In its extensive territory, it concentrates valuable [[natural resources]]: [[Agriculture|agricultural]], [[mining]] and [[energy]]. The department has excellent and favorable conditions in both: [[climate]] and [[pasture]]s availability for the [[agricultural]]-[[livestock]] development. The information about structure of the agricultural surface, size of the agricultural units, main cultivations and [[cattle]] population is taken from what was recorded in the III National Agricultural Census 1994 (III [[CENAGRO]]), made by the [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática]] (INEI) (National Institute of Statistics and Informatics). The department of Amazonas has 48,173 agricultural units (UA) with 9,811.75 km². 99.9% of the UA have lands and 0.1% do not have them. This 0.1% are exclusively dedicated to the [[Animal husbandry|breeding of animals]]. ===Structure of the agricultural area=== {| class="wikitable"; style="width:50%; height:200px" border="1" |- |- style="background:LightCoral; color:white" ! '''AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE''' ! '''SURFACE ([[Hectare|ha]])<sup>*</sup>''' |- |- style="background:MistyRose" | '''a. Total''' | '''975,034''' |- |- style="background:MistyRose" | '''b. Agricultural surface''' | '''159,934''' |- | - Farming lands | 71,595 |- | - Permanent cultivations | 69,579 |- | - Associate cultivations | 18,760 |- |- style="background:MistyRose" | '''c. Non agricultural surface''' | '''815,100''' |- | - Natural [[grasslands]] | 212,371 |- | - [[Scrubland]]s and [[forest]]s | 538,032 |- | - Other types of lands | 64,697 |} <sup>*</sup> It only considers the area of the agricultural units that have worked lands. ''From the total of agricultural lands (9750.34 km²), only 16,4% includes the agricultural area and 83,6% includes the non-agricultural area.'' ===Size of the agricultural units and principal cultivations=== {| class="wikitable"; style="width:70%; height:85px" border="1" |- |- style="background:Salmon; color:white" ! '''MAIN VARIABLES''' ! '''AGRICULTURAL UNIT<sup>*</sup>''' ! '''SURFACE ([[Hectare|ha]])''' |- |- style="background:LavenderBlush" | '''a. Main transitory cultivations''' | '''34,363''' | '''69,794''' |- | - [[Rice]] | 4,294 | 12,942 |- | - Dry yellow [[maize]] | 9,634 | 12,508 |- | - [[Cassava|Yucca]] | 11,186 | 10,896 |- | - [[Banana]] | 8,058 | 8,448 |- | - [[Sugarcane]] for producing [[alcohol]] | 5,702 | 4,156 |- | - Soft [[corn]] | 3,376 | 4,112 |- |- style="background:LavenderBlush" | '''b. Main permanent cultivations''' | '''18,610''' | '''29,865''' |- | - [[Coffea|Coffee]] | 12,232 | 19,819 |- | - [[Cacao]] | 2,282 | 3,121 |- | - (soft) Sharp [[lemon]] | 351 | 409 |- | - [[Coca]] | 290 | 254 |- | - [[Moriche Palm|Aguaje]] | 235 | 253 |} <sup>*</sup> It only considers the area of the agricultural units that have worked lands. ''Agricultural units with 0.5 km² and more only represent 4.4% of the whole department, but concentrate 61.8% of the agricultural surface.'' ''[[Rice]] is the main transitory cultivation of the department. It brings together 18.5% of the agricultural surface with transitory cultivations (129.42 km²). Dry yellow [[maize]] with 125.08 km² (17.9%) is the second important one.'' ''[[Coffea|Coffee]] concentrates 66.4% of the agricultural area with permanent cultivations (198.19 km²), followed by the [[cacao]] with 31.21 km² (10,5%).'' ===Livestock population according to its Species=== {| class="wikitable"; style="width:80%; height:85px" border="1" |- |- style="background:DarkSalmon; color:white" ! '''[[LIVESTOCK]] SPECIES''' ! '''AGRICULTURAL UNIT''' ! '''QUANTITY OF ANIMALS''' |- | [[Cattle]] | 21,857 | 139,267 |- | [[Sheep]] | 5,476 | 27,180 |- | [[Pig]]s | 14,573 | 34,421 |- | [[Camelid|South American Camelid]]s ([[alpaca]], [[llama]] and [[guanaco]]) | 29 | 282 |} ''[[Cattle]] is the most important one in the department. It is raised in 21,857 AU (Agricultural units) with a population of 139,267 head of [[cattle]]. [[Pig]]s are the second one with 34,421 head, distributed in 14,573 AU.'' ==Climate, rates and distance information== {| style="width:500px; height:200px" border="1" |- | style="background:LightSalmon; color:White" |'''Weather''' | Warm, with very well defined rainy and dry seasons. |- | style="background:LightSalmon; color:White" |'''Temperature''' | Annual average 14.5° C |- | style="background:LightSalmon; color:White" |'''Road network''' | 1,600 km |- | style="background:LightSalmon; color:White" |'''Illiteracy rate''' | 20% |- | style="background:LightSalmon; color:White" |'''Child mortality rate''' | 52 per thousand |- | style="background:LightSalmon; color:White" |'''Distances''' | From Chachapoyas to Lima 1,191 km<br/> From Chachapoyas to Moyobamba 193 km<br/> From Chachapoyas to Cajamarca 335 km |} ==Culture== ===Institutions that are linked with the Amazon Region=== There are several institutions that are linked with the Amazon region in [[Peru]] and that help with the development of it. Between the principal institutions, we have: * [[Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva]] (AIDESEP) - Interethnic Association for the Rainforest Development * [[Centro Amazónico de Antropología y Aplicación Práctica]] (CAAAP) - Amazon Center of Anthropology and Practical Application * [[Instituto Lingüístico de Verano]] - Linguistic Summer Institute ===Important figures=== The department of Amazonas has been the cradle of important figures, whose life and works have reverberated in the National history of [[Peru]]. Some of these famous people are: * [[Blas Valera]] * [[Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza]] * [[Manuel Antonio Mesones Muro]] * [[José del Carmen Marín Arista|José del Carmen Marín]] ==See also== * [[Amazonas before the Inca Empire]] * [[Origin of the Chachapoyas]] ==External links== *[http://www.regionamazonas.gob.pe Amazonas region official website] *[http://www.peru.com/peruinfo/ingles/info_dptos/amazonas/amazonas.htm Peru Info: Amazonas Region] *[http://www.inkanatura.com/mapnorth.asp. Chachapoyas map] {{Regions of Peru}} [[Category:Amazonas Region| ]] [[Category:Regions of Peru]] [[Category:Divided regions|Amazonas, Peru]] [[be-x-old:Амасонас]] [[bg:Амасонас (регион, Перу)]] [[ca:Regió de l'Amazones]] [[da:Amazonas (region)]] [[de:Amazonas (Region)]] [[et:Amazonase piirkond]] [[es:Departamento de Amazonas (Perú)]] [[fr:Région d'Amazonas]] [[gl:Amazonas, Perú]] [[id:Region Amazonas]] [[it:Amazonas (Perù)]] [[la:Amazonae Regio]] [[lt:Amazonės departamentas (Peru)]] [[nl:Amazonas (regio)]] [[no:Amazonas, Peru]] [[nn:Amazonas i Peru]] [[pt:Amazonas (região)]] [[qu:Amarumayu suyu]] [[sv:Amazonas (region)]] [[zh:亚马孙区]]