Arequipa Information

• Medicinal waters
• Alpacas
• Colca Canyon

Arequipa Basic Facts

• Area or Surface: 63,345 km².
• Main Resources: wheat, cotton, rice, onion, garlic, quinoa seed fruits, milk.
• Population: 972,000 inhabitants. The capital is Arequipa and has 750,000 inhabitants.
• Number of Provinces and Districts: 8 provinces and 107 districts.
• Date of Department Foundation: April 26, 1822.
• Fauna: condors, vicuñas and alpacas.
• Weather: The average temperature is 20° C (68° F). The rainy season is from December to March.

History Arequipa

Arequipa is located in the point where the central Andean area and the Andean south center are divided. The valleys to the south of the Sihuas Rivers are incorporated into this area. This division was more notorious in the Wari Age, which embraces the valleys in the north up to Sihuas.

The most brilliant era is identified with the Churajon culture, which conducted big agricultural and irrigation projects. The Chuquibamba culture was developed at the same time as the Churajons. The settlements of this culture are generally identified with the Collaguas and are especially important in the Colca Valley.

The Incas descended to the Yunga region through Arequipa looking for new conquests. Lead by Manuel de Carbajal, the Spaniard conquistadors founded the city of Arequipa in the foothills of the Misti Volcano. In the Republican Age, important battles were waged in this department like the ones performed by Ramon Castilla, Mariano Prado, Nicolas de Pierola, and Sánchez Cerro among others.

Arequipa has become the economic center for the south of Peru. It is one of the most important milk producers in the country.

Geography Arequipa

Arequipa's terrain is rough and characterized by heavy layers of volcanic lava. Volcanic cones can be seen emerging above the plateaus and forming mountains like the Misti, Chachani, Ampato, Mismi, Solimana and Coropuna. There are deep and impressive canyons like the Majes, Colca, Sihuas and Ocoña where important aspects of the ecological evolution of this territory can be clearly observed.

On the coast, the desert dunes like the ones located in the Majes, Sihuas and La Joya are particularly beautiful.

The main rivers in this department are the Ocoña, Yauca, Camana and Quilca.