Cotahuasi Canyon

Coordinates: 14°40′22″S 72°19′15″W / 14.67278°S 72.32083°W / -14.67278; -72.32083 Cotahuasi Canyon near the city of Arequipa in Peru is the deepest canyon in the world.^[1] The canyon is an impressive chasm that the river has eroded between two enormous mountain massifs: the Coropuna (6,425 m or 21,079 ft ASL) and the Sulimana (6,093 m or 19,990 ft ASL). One extends from spurs of the snow-covered Sulimana to the confluence with the Ocoña river. Cotahuasi Canyon was cut by the Rio Cotahuasi, a tributary of the Rio Ocoña, to a depth of approximately 3354 meters - over twice the depth of the Grand Canyon.^[2]

It is formed by the Cotahuasi River, arising at more than 4,750 m (15,580 ft) ASL in the lake Wansuqucha. It receives the tributaries of the Wayllapaña river in the neighborhood of Pampamarka, to the north, and the Huarcaya near Tumipampa, to the west, and is later joined by the Maran River to form the Ocoña River (Chaucalla village) that ends at the Pacific Ocean.

Location

Cotahuasi is located at the highest Andean point of Arequipa, in the south of Peru : UTM 683,370 & 790,415 East & 8’275,582 & 8’380,125 North. Between 14°40´22" & 15°35´27" south latitude, 72°19´15" & 73°18´08" west longitude.

This province is characterized by its steep relief: incised by rivers and gullies, ranging between 1,000 and 6,093 metres, with 19 ecological zones. As is the case with cultures all over the world, the people of highland Arequipa Province are also changing with the times. Nonetheless, the altitude and remoteness of this region mean that residents have retained many of the practices that are now no longer common in neighboring regions.

Access

The only road leading to the canyon goes through Chuquibamba in the Condesuyos province, then Aplao in Castilla Province. It begins on the Panamerican Highway near Arequipa. Four bus companies start daily from the Arequipa bus terminal, between 4 and 6 pm. The bus drive is 10–12 hours long, on a road which is unpaved after Chuquibamba. It also goes quite high, through a 4500m pass between Coropuna and Sulimana.

Protected area

The Cotahuasi Subbasin is a landscape park set up by a 2005 decree. It covers 1,212,175 acres (76x50 miles). This natural reserve preserves an integrated environment where man and nature are living in close harmony, in a preserved cultural microcosm. The difficult topographic conditions have generated specific landscapes like agricultural terraces.

Agriculture

Organic agriculture includes many plants in the reserve : kiwicha, quinoa, mint, dark maize, llacon, fava, oca, beans, arveja (pea), chulpi maize, anise, tarwi. These products are meant to give priority to food supplies to the province. Therefore, very little is produced for export. Food autonomy is reached thanks to ecological techniques, rational use of water, promotion of improved seeds, conservation of biodiversity, strengthening of producer associations, and complementary livestock breeding.

Tourism

The Cotahuasi landscape reserve is a preserved area where the beauty of nature makes your trip a really pleasant experience. The landscapes are extraordinary, with a large biodiversity including many endemic medicinal plants : muña, retama, tara, coca, jara (malva sylvestris), ruda (ruta graveolens), kiwicha, yareta (azorella compacta).

The landscapes are quite many, from the rivers at the bottom of the canyon to the cold desert areas of the summits. There are 12 different ecosystems in Cotahuasi reserve. There are also a number of Inca and pre-Inca works including the many agricultural terraces still in use today. The region is also rich with culture and traditions, preserved by ancient Andean people : weaving, colonial churches, inca tracks, numerous festivals.

Panorama of Cotahuasi city with canyon & mountains in the background

References

External links

Protected areas of Peru

National Parks	Alto Purús Amotape Hills Bahuaja-Sonene Cordillera Azul Cutervo Huascaran Ichigkat muja – Cordillera del Condor Manú Otishi Rio Abiseo Güeppi-Sekime Sierra del Divisor Tingo María Yanachaga-Chemillén

National Sanctuaries	Ampay Calipuy Cordillera de Colán Huayllay Lagunas de Mejia Manglares de Tumbes Megantoni Pampa Hermosa Tabaconas Namballe

Historical Sanctuaries	Chakamarka Machu Picchu Pampas de Ayacucho Pómac Forest

National Reserves	Allpahuayo-Mishana Calipuy Junin Lomas de Lachay Matsés Pacaya-Samiria Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille Paracas Pucacuro Salinas y Aguada Blanca San Fernando System of Islands, Islets and Guano Sites Tambopata Titicaca Tumbes

Wildlife Refuge	Laquipampa Pantanos de Villa Udima Cloud Forests

Landscape Reserves	Cotahuasi Nor Yauyos-Cochas Qhapiya

Communal Reserves	Amarakaeri Asháninka Chayu Nain El Sira Machiguenga Purús Tuntanain Yanesha

National Forests	Alexander von Humboldt Biabo Cordillera Azul Mariscal Cáceres Pastaza–Morona–Marañon

Protection Forests	Aledaño Bocatoma del Canal Nuevo Imperial Alto Mayo Pagaibamba Pui–Pui Puquio Santa Rosa San Matías–San Carlos

Hunting Enclosed Lands	El Angolo Sunchubamba

Reserved Zones	Ancón Bosque de Zárate Qhapiya Chancaybaños Waywash Huacachina Humedales de Puerto Viejo Illescas Lomas de Ancón Nieva River Santiago-Comaina Yagua

Areas of Regional Conservation	Choquequirao Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Titankayuq Waytapallana

Private Conservation Areas	Qusqu Qhawarina

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