The Cordillera Blanca (Spanish for "white range") is a mountain range in Peru that is part of the larger Andes range and extends for between 8°08' and 9°58'S and 77°00' and 77°52'W, in a northwesterly direction. The highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán, at high, is located there.

Snowmelt from the Cordillera Blanca provides part of northern Peru with its year-round water supply, while 5% of Peru's power comes from a hydro-electrical plant located in the Santa River valley. The area of permanent ice cover shrank by about a third between the 1970s and 2006.

Geography

alt=|left|thumb|One of the [[Llanganuco Lakes, with snow-covered Yanapaccha in the background.]]

The Cordillera Blanca is the most extensive tropical ice-covered mountain range in the world and has the largest concentration of ice in Peru. Based on analysis of satellite imagery, in 2003 there were 485 glaciers left, covering an area of 569.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.left|thumb|From left to right: Huandoy, [[Huascarán (highest mountain in the range) and Chopicalqui.]]

Lakes

Among the most important lakes in the range are the Llanganuco Lakes, which are located on the northern side of Huascarán, and are accessible from the town of Yungay; Lake Auquiscocha, Lake Palcacocha, Lake Querococha, and Lake Conococha.

Peaks

thumb|Taulliraju (5830&nbsp;m)There are several 6,000&nbsp;m peaks in the Cordillera Blanca with a 400&nbsp;m topographic prominence, and several other peaks over 5,500&nbsp;m. Huascarán Sur, the highest, has two commonly quoted heights: 6,746&nbsp;m from the Peruvian National Geographic Institute (IGN) map and 6,768&nbsp;m from the Austrian Alpine Club (OeAV) survey map.

Some of the highest peaks in the Cordillera Blanca are listed below.thumb|Chopicalqui (6354&nbsp;m)

thumb|Part of the Cordillera Blanca as seen from the [[International Space Station in 2006.]]

  • Huascarán,
  • Huantsán,
  • Huandoy,
  • Chopicalqui,
  • Chinchey,
  • Palcaraju,
  • Santa Cruz,
  • Copa,
  • Ranrapalca,
  • Pucaranra,
  • Hualcán,
  • Chacraraju,
  • Pucajirca,
  • Quitaraju,
  • Tocllaraju,
  • Artesonraju,
  • Caraz,
  • Contrahierbas,
  • Alpamayo,
  • Ocshapalca,
  • Pirámide,
  • Ulta,
  • San Juan,
  • Taulliraju,
  • Santa Cruz Norte,
  • Rinrijirca,
  • Santa Cruz Chico,
  • Tullparaju,
  • Pisco,
  • Paccharaju,
  • Champará,
  • Uruashraju,
  • Cayesh,
  • Cashan,
  • Shacsha,
  • Rúrec,
  • Mururaju,
  • Vallunaraju,
  • Caullaraju,
  • Queshque,
  • Jatuncunca,
  • Parón,
  • Perlilla,
  • Copap,
  • Jacabamba,
  • Andavite,
  • Millishraju,
  • Tantash,
  • Carhuascancha,
  • Churup,
  • Challhua,
  • Tuco,
  • Pucagaga Punta,
  • Yanapaccha,
  • Kima Rumi,
  • Huamashraju,
  • Urus,
  • Huapi,
  • Milluacocha,
  • Rocotopunta,
  • Raju Cutac,
  • Pucaraju,
  • Tarushcancha,
  • Tuctopunta,
  • Pomabamba,
  • Maparaju,
  • San Julián,
  • Vicos,
  • Carhuallún,
  • Chequiaraju,
  • Pilanco,
  • Rima Rima,
  • Tuctubamba,
  • Santón,
  • Yanamarey,
  • Tarush Huachanan,
  • Pacra,
  • Sentilo,
  • Ichic Jeulla,
  • Yanarrajo,
  • Pucaraju,
  • Arteza,
  • Tuctu,
  • Kunkush,
  • Cahuish,
  • Gaico,
  • Collpa Janca,

Hot springs

Among the most important hot springs in the area are Monterrey and Chancos, which have been transformed into thermal bath facilities. They are 7 and 27&nbsp;km respectively from the regional capital, Huaraz.

Climate

The dry season extends from May through September, June and July having the least rain and more stable weather. The data on the chart correspond to the village of Musho (elevation: 3084&nbsp;m), located at the foot of Huascarán.

Ecology

left|thumb|The papery bark of [[Polylepis racemosa, protects the tree from low temperatures.]]

Flora and fauna in the range have adapted to the climate and elevational range of mountainous areas. Almost all of the Cordillera Blanca is protected by Huascarán National Park.

Plants in the range have adapted to the intense solar radiation, low temperatures, and water availability. Most plant species have pubescent leaves, an adaptation that protects the plants from water loss due to the intense solar radiation and low nighttime temperatures of the mountain climate.

Examples of typical vegetation of this area include Polylepis racemosa, Escallonia resinosa, Alnus acuminata, Senna birostris, Vallea stipularis, Lupinus spp., Vaccinium floribundum, Puya raimondii, Calamagrostis vicunarum, Festuca dolichophylla, Jarava ichu, Azorella spp., and Ranunculus macropetalus.