Huaraz - WikiHQ

Demographics

, the Huaraz metropolitan area has a population of 118,836. After the earthquake that the city suffered in 1970, fifty percent of people in the city died. Nonetheless, the city was rebuilt and attracted internal migrants, especially from rural areas in the region. During the decade of the 1990s, the Pierina gold mine was established in the region, attracting people from other parts of the country to settle in the city.

The official language in the city is Spanish, which is spoken for the majority of Huaraz's residents. A minority of people speaks Quechua, especially in rural areas where it is more predominant.

Economy

thumb|Hotels at Huaraz downtown.

Presently, mining is the main economic activity. Since the foundation of Pierina gold mine in 1996, for the Canadian company Barrick Gold Corporation. Industry is composed of medium and small companies dedicated to food industry, as the elaboration of soft drinks, beer, cheeses and milk derivates, and this activity occupies a 13% of the economically active population. Also exist companies dedicated to the building and housing industry. Those kind of companies are spread by different parts of the metropolitan area and Callejón de Huaylas basin.

Fifty percent of economical active population is dedicated to commerce and is service-oriented. Since the 1990s, have been increasing the number of small and medium companies, as a result, of the economical crisis and in order to survive the index of unemployment. Is important to notice that the laboral force of the small managements which impulse other activities as tourism and handicrafts industry. Moreover, Huaraz have ever been the center of business, commerce, and finances in the Callejón de Huaylas and the Andean part of Ancash, as if the city is the main supplier industry of farming products in the Region.

Despite tourism always was the main economic activity, for that reason Huaraz is one of the main tourist destinations of Peru, receiving every year 200,000 visitors between Peruvian and foreigners. Huaraz as main city of the region, has the majority of tourist services like good-quality hotels, restaurants, and pubs. Visitors are expected to visit the Huascarán National Park, also known as the biggest glacier in the tropics, and other historical sites as Chavín de Huantar.

Sports and recreation

Soccer is one of the most played sports in the city. There are many soccer fields in the city, located in the various neighbourhoods. Basketball and volleyball are also played, especially popular among women.

Adventure sports and mountaineering are also popular in the city, especially among young people and tourists. Adventure sports include trekking, rock climbing, trail running and mountain biking. Small half day walks to Rataquenua viewpoint and Pukaventana hills are also common.

Sports

thumbnail|right|Coliseum of Huaraz. The snowy peaks of [[Rima Rima and Churup can be seen in the background.]]

As in all of Peru, soccer is the most popular sport in Huaraz. The Rosas Pampa Stadium is the main site for soccer tournaments like the Peruvian Soccer League. This stadium has a capacity for 20,000 people. The most representative soccer team in the city is Sport Ancash, the only Huaraz team to participate in Peruvian first division soccer league from 2005 to 2009.

Transportation

Roads

Huaraz is connected to the Pacific coast by three highways. One goes generally westward, another goes south then west, and the other goes north then west. All three roads go from the Andes down into the desert coastal region.

The westward route rises into the Cordillera Negra, crests at about 4000 m (ca. 13,100 ft), then winds downward in altitude to the coastal city of Casma on the Pan American Highway. (Casma is the largest population center between the cities of Lima and Chimbote.)

The southward route from Huaraz goes about 40 km toward the town of Recuay, where it turns west. It rises to about 4,300 m (ca. 14,000 ft) where it crests the south part of the Cordillera Negra. From there the narrow winding highway in a distance of about 80 km (ca. 60 miles) descends to the town of Huarmey (south of Casma) on the coast. Here it connects with the Pan-American Highway (187 km north of Lima).

The northward route going north from Huaraz follows the Rio Santa to the north end of the Callejón de Huaylas, where it branches into two. The minor branch goes steeply westward up to the ancient town of Huaylas and then northwestward down to the coast. The main highway goes north beside the Cañón del Pato through a dozen one-lane tunnels, precipitously descends several thousand meters by switch-backs and hairpin curves on the one-lane rocky roadway, and arrives at the town of Huallanca. Here there is a connection with the Santa Railway. The highway again splits. The most heavily traveled fork continues generally west to the coastal city of Chimbote where it connects with the Pan-American Highway. The other fork goes from Huallanca northward and upward into the northern Peruvian Andes.

Travel by vehicle via any of the three highway routes from Huaraz to the coast generally requires seven to eight hours to either Lima or Chimbote.

Public transportation

thumb|right|Luzuriaga Avenue

Huaraz's mass transit is operated by private companies authorized by city hall and the transportation secretary of Peru. The system includes vans and buses, that has organized routes but in an informal way. People commute on them or in their private cars. Taxis can be taken at designated stops, and in comparison to another big Peruvian cities, is cheaper but depending on the distance the price can increase. Also there are colectivos (commuter taxis) that have routes similar to buses and can be shared with other passengers in comparison to taxis.

Air transportation

Less than 40 minutes drive north from Huaraz lies the Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport located in the village of Anta; the airfield serves small planes from the two largest mining companies in the region.

Tourism

thumb|right|Huascaran Mountain seen from Huaraz

thumb|right|Park of International Friendship

thumb|right|Snow peaks in Cordillera Blanca

In the city, prairies, forests and snow peaks can be seen from the urban center. But inside Huaraz, there are some tourist sites to visit. At La Soledad, there is the Lord of Soledad Chapel, which contains crucified Christ, that was founded during colony times. Also there are pre-Hispanic ruins, 3 miles from the city in Wilcahuain, where there are stone palaces of Wari culture. Other ruins are located 1 mile from Huaraz in Waullac, surrounded by big prairies with views of snow peaks and mountains.

At downtown across from the Plaza de Armas (main Square) is located the Museum of Ancash, which contains a lot of value pieces of the Recuay culture, and in this museum there is the Monolithic Park, which is considered one of the largest in America.

8 miles north from Huaraz, the Monterrey Baths are located, which contain hot springs with medicinal properties, and also is an ecological place surrounded by forests, where there are lodges and some upscales hotels.

Huaraz is the touristic operation center of the region, drawing thousands of visitors that practice adventure and winter sports. Also, Huascarán National Park, which is considered a biosphere reserve, is a destination for tourists.

The peaks of the region have for many decades been the testing grounds for mountain climbers anticipating future expeditions into the Himalayas. Huaraz is a base for expeditions into the Cordillera Blanca and the Huayhuash mountain range south of the Callejón del Huaylas.

In the streets surrounding the farmers' market, the paraditas (street markets) of local sellers offer handicraft products such as ponchos, alpaca textiles (carpets, sweaters, etc.); jewelry made of locally mined tin, copper, and silver; cuarteados (a typical dessert from the nearby town of Caraz made by mixing manjarblanco and fruit cake); boxes of manjarblanco, butter, cheese, honey, smoked and salty hams, jerky (Quechua charqui), etc.

Huaraz is known as the 'Switzerland of the South' because of the mountain peaks that are visible from the city centre.

Pre-Inca trail trekking is most popular in the region, featured by its stone paved trail that leads to Chavin, and also uses llamas for packing while on trekking.

Culture

Museum and the arts

Huaraz is home to some museums. Across from Main Square is located the Archaeological Museum of Ancash. This museum presents three levels divided in four rooms, and in each one, there is an exhibition of cultural manifestations made by the different human groups have inhabited the Ancash Region. At this museum there is the Monolithic Park, that is considered the biggest stone park in South America.

Huaraz also is home of the Cultural Center of Huaraz that became a new arts hub. It opened in 2012 and it is considered one of the biggest theaters of Peru.

Cuisine

thumb|Ceviche de chochos, a popular dish in Huaraz based on beans of [[Lupinus mutabilis, onions, ají and lemon juice]]

The cuisine of Huaraz is considered to be one of the most recognized in the Peruvian Andes. Among the most popular dishes are Picante de Cuy (a roasted guinea pig in a sauce of red spices, served with boiled potatoes), Llunca de gallina (a chicken soup prepared with boiled wheat and yellow spices), Charqui de Chancho and res (roasted pork and beef salted and dried), Pachamanca (a dish prepared on the ground with hot stones, made of different kind of meats as beef, chicken, pork with baked corn and potatoes), Pataska (a hot soup, made with boiled corn and pork or beef skin), Ceviche de Chocho (raw fish marinated in lemon juice served with chocho, a typical legume), and Jamón Huaracino (salty and dried ham). There are some desserts like Api de Calabaza (sweet cream made of mashed pumpkin) and beverages, such as Chicha de Jora (sour yellow corn).

Media

Huaraz has many local newspapers and three local television channels that run in the early morning. Most media organizations are located around the main square in the Municipality of Huaraz and share information during the day. Governmental information comes from the office Imagen. There are many printing companies, most of which specialize in business cards and leaflets. You can find them crossing the bridge towards Centenario or on Gamarra Street. The national post service, can be found on the Plaza de Armas. Channel three and thirteen are the local TV channels that operate in the morning.

Newspapers

Most national newspapers as El Comercio, Peru 21 and Correo can be purchased early in the morning as those are flown in from Lima. Among the newspapers published in the city of Huaraz; one is Diario Ya, another newspaper is Prensa Regional.

English language newspaper

Since the beginning of April 2012, Huaraz also had a free English language newspaper called The Huaraz Telegraph, read by students of the language schools and tourists. The newspaper covered the story of a missing Canadian backpacker, Jesse Galganov.

References

External links

Municipality website