Lima Department
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The Department of Lima (), known as the Department of the Capital () until 1823, is a department and region located in the central coast of
Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
; the seat of the
regional government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...
is
Huacho Huacho () is a city in Peru, capital of the Huaura Province and capital of the Lima Region. Also is the most populated city of the Lima Region and Norte Chico civilization, Norte Chico. It is located 223 feet (68 metres) above sea level and 148&nbs ...
. Lima Province, which contains the city of
Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
, the country's capital, is located west of the department; this province is autonomous and not under the jurisdiction of the regional government since 2003.


History

The remains of early Andean inhabitants,
hunter Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products ( fur/ hide, bone/tusks, ...
s and harpoon fishermen from more than 6500 years ago, are to be found in the department of Lima. These remains were found in Chivateros, near the
Chillón River The Chillón River is a river located in western Peru. It originates in the glaciers of the Andes, and its mouth is located in the Pacific Ocean coast of the Callao Region. Its volume gets higher during the summer months (December to March). Th ...
, and in various other places. These persons incorporated nets, hooks, farming, ceramics and weaving to their everyday objects. The inhabitants of the coast lived in the ''lomas'' and the valleys, where they built temples and dwelling complexes, leading to huge ceremonial centres, such as the Huacoy on the
Chillón River The Chillón River is a river located in western Peru. It originates in the glaciers of the Andes, and its mouth is located in the Pacific Ocean coast of the Callao Region. Its volume gets higher during the summer months (December to March). Th ...
; Garagay and La Florida on the
Rímac River The Rímac River is located in western Peru and is the most important source of potable water for the Lima and Callao Metropolitan Area. It belongs to the Pacific Slope, into which it flows after bathing the cities of Lima and Callao, togethe ...
, Manchay on the Lurín River; and Chancay, Supe and many other valleys to the north and south. There are finely ornamented temples with figures modelled in clay. Lithic prehistoric projectile points of Paijan type were found at Ancón, 40 kilometres northeast of Lima in the Chillón River Valley. The 5,000-year-old ruins known as El Paraíso are also located in this area. A temple at the site is believed to be about 5,000 years old. From 1784 to 1821, the area was administered as the Intendancy of Lima. After independence, its northern area was administered as the Department of the Coast. When the department was created in 1821 as the ''Department of the Capital'', the aforementioned department was annexed into it in 1823. In 2006, a team of
archeological Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes. Archaeology ...
researchers led by Robert Benfer announced their findings from a four-year excavation at Buena Vista in the
Chillón River The Chillón River is a river located in western Peru. It originates in the glaciers of the Andes, and its mouth is located in the Pacific Ocean coast of the Callao Region. Its volume gets higher during the summer months (December to March). Th ...
valley a few kilometres north of present-day Lima. They had discovered a 4200-year-old observatory constructed by an early Andean civilization, a three-dimensional sculpture, unique for the time period in this region, and sophisticated carvings. The observatory is on top of a 10-meter pyramidal
mound A mound is a wikt:heaped, heaped pile of soil, earth, gravel, sand, rock (geology), rocks, or debris. Most commonly, mounds are earthen formations such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded ...
and has architectural features for sighting the astronomical solstices. The discovery pushes back the time for the development of complex civilisation in the area and has altered scholars' understanding of Preceramic period cultures in Peru.Richard Lovett, "Oldest Observatory in Americas Discovered in Peru"
''National Geographic'', May 2006, accessed 2 Nov 2010
The Lima culture (100 A.D. to 650 A.D.) arose in this area, specially in the central valleys from Chancay to Lurín. It was distinguished by painted adobe buildings. During this time, the Huari conquest took place, thus giving rise to Huari-style ceramics, together with a local style known as Nievería. As the population grew, their culture changed. With the decline of the Huari, whose most important center was Cajamarquilla, new local cultures arose. The Chancay are the most well-known. They developed large urban centers and a considerable textile production, as well as mass-produced ceramics. At this stage in the mid-
15th century The 15th century was the century which spans the Julian calendar dates from 1 January 1401 (represented by the Roman numerals MCDI) to 31 December 1500 (MD). In Europe, the 15th century includes parts of the Late Middle Ages, the Early Re ...
, the
Incas The Inca Empire, officially known as the Realm of the Four Parts (, ), was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political, and military center of the empire was in the city of Cusco. The Inca civilisation rose fr ...
arrived from their base in the Andes. They conquered and absorbed the regional cultures and occupied important sites such as
Pachacamac Pachacámac () is an archaeological site southeast of Lima, Peru in the Valley of the Lurín River. The site was first settled around A.D. 200 and was named after the "Earth Maker" creator god Pacha Kamaq. The site flourished for about 1,300 ye ...
, turning it into an administrative centre.


Political divisions

The department is divided into nine provinces, which are composed of 171 districts. *
Barranca Barranca (Spanish for "canyon" or "ravine"), may refer to: Geography Argentina * Barranca Yaco, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, Argentina Chile * Barrancas, Pichilemu, a village in Pichilemu Colombia * Barrancas, La Guajira, town and ...
(
Barranca Barranca (Spanish for "canyon" or "ravine"), may refer to: Geography Argentina * Barranca Yaco, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, Argentina Chile * Barrancas, Pichilemu, a village in Pichilemu Colombia * Barrancas, La Guajira, town and ...
) *
Cajatambo Cajatambo or Kashatampu is the capital of the Cajatambo Province in the Lima Region of Peru. History Founded during the Tawantinsuyu (Inca Empire) before the advent of the Spanish conquistadors, with the name of ''Kasha Tanpu'', it was one of ...
(
Cajatambo Cajatambo or Kashatampu is the capital of the Cajatambo Province in the Lima Region of Peru. History Founded during the Tawantinsuyu (Inca Empire) before the advent of the Spanish conquistadors, with the name of ''Kasha Tanpu'', it was one of ...
) * Cañete (
San Vicente de Cañete San Vicente de Cañete, commonly known as San Vicente or Cañete, is a city and capital of the Cañete Province, in southern Lima Region. With a population of 85,533 (2015 estimate). The warm and peaceful town of Cañete is located just one and ...
) *
Canta Canta is a town in the Lima Region, in western Peru. The town is located on the Chillón River and is the capital of the Canta Province. With a population of 2,385 ( 2017 census), it is also the capital of Canta District. It is frequently visit ...
(
Canta Canta is a town in the Lima Region, in western Peru. The town is located on the Chillón River and is the capital of the Canta Province. With a population of 2,385 ( 2017 census), it is also the capital of Canta District. It is frequently visit ...
) *
Huaral Huaral is a town in central Peru, capital of the Huaral Province, Huaral Province in the Department of Lima. It is located within the jurisdiction of the Regional Government of Lima-Provinces and is located on the central coast of the country. Et ...
(
Huaral Huaral is a town in central Peru, capital of the Huaral Province, Huaral Province in the Department of Lima. It is located within the jurisdiction of the Regional Government of Lima-Provinces and is located on the central coast of the country. Et ...
) * Huarochirí (
Matucana ''Matucana'' is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae), containing approximately 20 species of mostly globular plants. The genus is known only from Peru, mostly along the Marañón River. Some species are endangered due to collection for the speci ...
) *
Huaura Huaura is a city in Peru. It is the capital of the homonymous district located in the province of Huaura in the department of Lima. It had an estimated population of 24,668 according to the 2017 census. It ceased to be the provincial capital in ...
(
Huacho Huacho () is a city in Peru, capital of the Huaura Province and capital of the Lima Region. Also is the most populated city of the Lima Region and Norte Chico civilization, Norte Chico. It is located 223 feet (68 metres) above sea level and 148&nbs ...
) * Oyón ( Oyón) *
Yauyos Yauyos is a town in Central Peru, capital of the province Yauyos in the region Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is loca ...
(
Yauyos Yauyos is a town in Central Peru, capital of the province Yauyos in the region Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is loca ...
)


Geography

The department of Lima is bordered by the departments of
Ancash Ancash (; ) is a department and region in western Peru. It is bordered by the departments of La Libertad on the north, Huánuco and Pasco on the east, Lima on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Its capital is the city of Huaraz, an ...
on the north,
Huánuco Huánuco (; ) is a city in central Peru. It had a population of 196,627 as of 2017 and in 2015 it had a population of 175,068. It is the capital of the Huánuco Region and the Huánuco District. It is the seat of the diocese of Huánuco. The met ...
, Pasco, and Junín on the east,
Huancavelica Huancavelica () or Wankawillka in Quechua is a city in Peru. It is the capital of the department of Huancavelica and according to the 2017 census had a population of 49,570 people. The city was established on August 5, 1572 by the Viceroy ...
on the southeast, Ica on the south, and the
Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...
and the Lima Province on the west. The department has a coastal and an
Andean The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long and wide (widest between 18°S ...
zone, and has a great diversity of natural regions: the Coast or ''Chala'' (0 to 500 meters above sea level) up to the ''Janka'' or ''Mountain range'' (, over 4800 meters). The predominating regions are the ''Yunga'' (500 to 2300 meters above sea level) and ''Quechua'' (2300 to 3500 meters)


Points of interest

Points of interest in the department include
Caral The Sacred City of Caral-Supe, or simply Caral, is an archaeological site in Peru where the remains of the main city of the Caral civilization are found. It is located in the Supe valley of Peru, near the current town of Caral, 182 kilometers n ...
,
Lachay National Reserve Lachay National Reserve () is a protected area in the region of Lima, Peru.https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/informes-publicaciones/1718927-reserva-nacional-de-lachay Lomas de Lachay - SERNANP (in spanish) The reserve is located north from ...
and
Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve The Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve () is a protected area in Peru located in the Lima Region, Yauyos Province and in the Junín Region, Jauja Province. It lies with the Peruvian Yungas and Central Andean wet puna ecoregions. Sima Pumaqu ...
.


Lachay National Reserve

The
Lachay National Reserve Lachay National Reserve () is a protected area in the region of Lima, Peru.https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/informes-publicaciones/1718927-reserva-nacional-de-lachay Lomas de Lachay - SERNANP (in spanish) The reserve is located north from ...
, in the Huaura province, is a unique mist-fed
eco-system An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by organisms in interaction with their environment. The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Ecosystems are controlled by external ...
of wild plant and animal species, is a natural reserve located in the north of the department.


Huacho - The capital of the Lima Region

Huacho Huacho () is a city in Peru, capital of the Huaura Province and capital of the Lima Region. Also is the most populated city of the Lima Region and Norte Chico civilization, Norte Chico. It is located 223 feet (68 metres) above sea level and 148&nbs ...
is the capital of the Lima Region and the most populous city of the department (excluding
Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
which is administered by an autonomous government, the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima). Sitting at the bottom of a wide bay, it has a pleasant and dry climate. In its vicinity is the Huaura River where rice, cotton, sugar cane and different fruits and cereals are grown. This has given rise to an important cotton industry as well as soap and oil factories.


Lunahuaná

Lunahuaná District Lunahuaná is a district in the middle Cañete Province in Peru. It is bordered by Imperial District on the west, San Vicente de Cañete District San Vicente de Cañete District is one of sixteen districts of Cañete Province in Peru. Instituto ...
of
Cañete Province Cañete may refer to: Places * Cañete, Chile, a city in Chile * San Vicente de Cañete, a town in Peru * San Vicente de Cañete District, Peru * Cañete Province, Peru *, in Cañete Province, Peru *Cañete, Cuenca, a municipality in Cuenca, Spain ...
, is located away from the south city of
San Vicente de Cañete San Vicente de Cañete, commonly known as San Vicente or Cañete, is a city and capital of the Cañete Province, in southern Lima Region. With a population of 85,533 (2015 estimate). The warm and peaceful town of Cañete is located just one and ...
. The
Incahuasi Incahuasi (; possibly from Quechua: ''inka'' Inca, ''wasi'' house) is a volcanic mountain in the Andes of South America. It lies on the border of the Catamarca Province of Argentina and the Atacama Region of Chile. Incahuasi has a summit eleva ...
Archeological complex is located there. Lunahuaná has a dry climate and the sun shines during most of the year. Lately, Lunahuaná has become an adventure sports paradise, such as: ''Canotaje'' (Whitewater Rafting), ''Parapente'' & ''Ala Delta''. Whitewater rafting is possible due to the Cañete River, which has rapids up to level 4. The main settlement in this district is the town of Lunahuaná.


References


External links

*
Lima Region Information Hub
– Lima Region Information Hub official website
Lima Region Tourism Board
– Lima Region Tourism Board (CEPTUR) official website
North Lima Region
– Lima Region: Social, Cultural and Tourist Information

– General facts and travel information about Lima {{Authority control
Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...