Peru is one of the nine countries that make up the Amazon. With an extension of almost 8 million square kilometers, the Amazon region is made up of parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
After Brazil, Peru is the second country in the territory of the Amazon jungle. Thus, the Peruvian Amazon comprises an area of 782,880.55 square kilometers to the east of the Andes mountain range. It is one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity and endemism (ecological status of a species that is unique for a defined geographical location) on the planet and occupies two natural regions: the high jungle and the low jungle, more than 60% of the Peruvian territory.
It is located in the northeast of the country, it has part of the mountains and jungle. It limits to the north with Ecuador; to the east with Loreto; to the southeast with San Martín; to the south with La Libertad; and to the west with cajamarca. Its Andean relief is formed by the so-called Cordillera del Cóndor.
Its surface area of 39,249 km² is similar to that of Switzerland. Its coordinates are 2º 59' south latitude and it is located between the meridians 77º 9' and 78º 42' west longitude.
Its population amounts to 375,993 inhabitants (National Population and Housing Census 2007, National Institute of Statistics and Informatics of Peru), of which 192,940 are men and 183,053 women.
Amazonas is a region of contrasts, with landscapes that combine the abrupt highlands and the northern jungle of Peru. Its geography is marked by the presence of mighty rivers, hidden mountain lakes, mountain ranges that cross the region, and natural passes that connect hard-to-reach areas.
The main rivers that run through the region are the Marañón, one of the most important tributaries of the Amazon, and others such as the Chinchipe, Utcubamba, Chiriaco or Imaza, Silaco, Nieva, Jumete or Vilaya, Cenepa, and Santiago, all vital for the local communities and the biodiversity of the area.
Among its best-known lakes are:
Laguna de los Cóndores (Chachapoyas - Leymebamba), famous for its Chachapoyas mausoleums.
Laguna Porvenir (Bagua - Aramango), surrounded by untouched nature.
Laguna Chonza (Bagua - Copallín), an ideal spot for hiking and photography.
Laguna de Pomacochas (Bongará), located at more than 2,000 meters above sea level, ideal for recreational activities and bird watching.
The topography of Amazonas is predominantly rugged, with inter-Andean zones that descend toward the jungle. Two mountain ranges stand out: the Cordillera del Cóndor, which forms part of the natural border with Ecuador, and the Cordillera Central Andina, which gives rise to important river basins, such as that of the Marañón river. To the north, the terrain is flatter and more jungly; to the south, heights, canyons, and steep slopes predominate.
Amazonas has various mountain passes (abras) and river narrows (pongos) that mark its geography:
Notable Abras: Barro Negro (3,680 m.a.s.l.) in Chachapoyas, Miguel Pardo (2,930 m) in Bongará and Rioja, Chanchilla (2,212 m) in Chachapoyas, and Campanquiz (1,200 m) in Condorcanqui.
Important Pongos: Dorpin (538 m), Manseriche and Rentema (both at 500 m) in Bagua; Huaracayo and Umari (450 m), Cumbinama or Sasa (450 m), and Escurrebraga (400 m) in Condorcanqui.
It varies from 40 °C in the north to 2 °C in the southern ranges. The average temperature is 25°C. In the Amazon jungle the temperature is high.
However, despite its extension, this demarcation is also characterized by being the least populated in Peru, since it is home to only 13% of the country's inhabitants.
The descendants of more than 51 indigenous peoples coexist in this area. In addition, a large number of indigenous communities considered isolated still survive in it.
Environmental pollution, illegal logging, wildlife depredation, biopiracy and desertification, and oil exploitation are the main factors that cause the destruction of the Peruvian jungle. The negative impact of all of them presents as primary effects the degradation of natural resources and the rapid decline in the living conditions of the population.
The Amazonian territory of the aforementioned nation has 10 ecclesiastical jurisdictions: 8 vicariates and 2 dioceses.
The folklore of the department of Amazonas is influenced by dances, songs and clothing found in other departments of Peru, for example, Puno or Cuzco. His Folklore is nourished rather by legends, stories and tales in which the mystery and the inexplicable. Towns, lagoons, hills, images, always have an origin that it invariably contravenes the rules of logic or biology.
Some of the most representative dances of the Amazonas Region are:
It is located in the Province of Luya. Well-preserved Archaeological remains above the Utcubamba River Valley, the most interesting place in the department of Amazonas. Located 3,072 meters above sea level, in the south west of Chachapoyas, on the bottom of a ravine cut into a peak on two sides. It is estimated that it has three times the volume of the Cheops pyramid (Egypt), which was abandoned before the conquest and was inhabited by about 2,000 people.
Opened in the year 2000, the Leymebamba Museum protects one of the most impressive collections in northern Peru. Its main attraction are more than 200 mummies and funerary offerings recovered from the mausoleums of the Lagoon of the Condors, an important archaeological find of the Chachapoyas culture. In addition to the mummies, the museum displays pottery, textiles, quipus, and objects that allow visitors to learn more about the life and customs of this ancient Andean civilization.
It is located two hours from the populated center of Arrayán. It is a series of buildings on the slopes of the central mountain range of the Andes, the structures are semi-circular in shape and possibly served as a surveillance place, since from there you can see the entire valley of the lower Utcubamba, Marañón and Chinchipe.
Located in the Quinjalca district, on the banks of the Imaza river, adjacent to the Olleros district, it is located in a beautiful ravine between trees and rocks, where a number of human remains of the ancient Quinjalcas were found.
The biodiverse potential of the Amazon basin, which encompasses many countries and areas, often feels threatened by interests, both from various companies in search of their raw material and from some nations to obtain economic benefits.
The exploitation of Amazonian biodiversity is palpable at every step, and day after day we can verify that biological diversity is disappearing at an accelerated rate.
In recent decades, the incentives have increased in which many express companies have developed different medicine, food and even cosmetic products, based on many of the natural and native species of the Amazon region, however, we continue with the constant plundering of the exuberant Amazonian ecosystem – we can see what biodiversity is from the reference article – which provides us with the largest lung on the planet.
We provide facts to learn the main data and characteristics of the Amazon's biodiversity and thus have an overview of its importance on the planet:
Although we all continue to know that the Amazon is unique; It is unique in its scale, in the diversity of its (indigenous) human societies and its wild nature, due to the global importance it occupies in global consciousness.
Unfortunately, society has become accustomed to hearing bad news, creating a normality in the consciousness of society, which in reality should not be. It is not an option to try to save the largest jungle in the world, it is already an obligation!
Exploring the Peruvian Amazon means entering a world full of wildlife, vast jungles, and communities that preserve their traditions. Each tour allows you to discover amazing landscapes and live with nature in its purest state, making the trip an unforgettable experience. Learn about the best tour options to discover the Peruvian Amazon:
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