Puerto Maldonado Information
Reserve of Tambopata
Reserve of Tambopata
Tambopata RiverPuerto Maldonado Basic Facts
- Basic Facts
- Area or Surface: 85,183 km².
- Main Resources: rice, yuca, coconut, rubber, wood, gold.
- Population: 76,000 inhabitants. The capital is Puerto Maldonado and has 46,732 inhabitants.
- Number of Provinces and Districts: 3 provinces and 10 districts.
- Date of Department Foundation: December 26, 1912.
- Ethnic Groups: machiguengas, mashcos, campas.
- Typical foods: pataraschca, sopa de motelo, timbuche, masato, tacacho.
- Fauna: reptiles (boa constrictor, shushupe, naka naka), lizards (white lizard and black lizard), birds (blue partridge, sharara, cushuri, herons, camungo, parrots, guacamayos), monkeys (frailecillo, pichicos), felines (jaguar, tigrillo, puma), and fish (zúngaro and paiche).Flora: cedar and mahogany.
History Puerto Maldonado
The territory of Madre de Dios, in the areas near the Cusco provinces of Paucartambo and Quispicanchis, was known since the Inca Era. First Inca Roca and then Túpac Yupanqui arrived to the higher part of the watershed of Alto Madre de Dios, incorporating it into the empire.
In 1566, Mr. Juan Alvarez de Maldonado, heading an important expedition, went through the territory of Madre de Dios and navigated this river. However, in 1860 the most important expedition was lead by Mr. Faustino Maldonado. After traveling the Ucayali and UrubambaRivers, Maldonado arrived in Cusco. After staying two months in this city, he departed to Madre de Dios navigating by the Piñipiñi, Madre de Dios, and MadeiraRivers with the purpose of going back to the starting point. However, he died after drowning in the Madeira. His son continued the expedition and completed the scheduled route with the other survivors.
By the end of the 19th century, the "caucheros" (rubber men) would go scout the territory in search of rubber and shiringa trees. The most famous rubber man was Fermín Fitzcarrald. In 1893 he discovered an isthmus, which has since been named after him as the "Varadero de Fitzcarrald".
Geography Puerto Maldonado
Es el departamento menos poblado del Perú, su riqueza aurífera torna prometedor su futuro, cuenta con abundante flora y fauna silvestre. Su territorio es accidentado en el sector meridional, debido a los contrafuertes de la Cordillera de Carabaya. En las zonas central y norte, dominio de la Selva Baja, presenta un relieve constituído esencialmente por llanuras sin accidentes de importancia. Se trata de llanuras aluviales formadas por tres y hasta cuatro niveles de terrazas. Las más bajas están sometidas a inundaciones anuales y son generalmente pantanosas. Al oeste del departamento, en la zona donde están las nacientes del Río Manu, existen colinas de poca elevación que forman divisoria de aguas entre los Ríos Madre de Dios y Urubamba. En estas colinas, y separando las nacientes del Río Cashpajali, está el Itsmo de Fitzcarrald, llamado así en homenaje a su descubridor.
El territorio del departamento está cruzado por una densa red hidrográfica que tiene como eje el Río Madre de Dios, navegable y con importante riqueza forestal. Entre los ríos que más destacan se encuentran el Manu, Tahuamanu, Tambopata, Inambari y Heath.
Tourism Puerto Maldonado
Puerto Maldonado is the capital of the department. Tourists come from around the world to discover Madre de Dios' treasure: ManuNational Park. You can see wonderful landscapes, mysterious forests and beautiful lakes.
Its flora and fauna are unique and indescribable. Much of it has not even been classified yet. It covers more than a million and a half hectares, which hold a surprising variety of ecosystems of great scientific interest.
Booking Hotels, Transfers and Tours in Peru
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