Cusco Information

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Cusco Basic Facts

Area or Surface: 71,892 km².
Main Resources: corn, barley, quinoa, tea and coffee, gold.
Population: 1,097,000 inhabitants. The capital is Cusco and has approximately 300,000 inhabitants.
Number of Provinces and Districts: 13 provinces and 107 districts.
Date of Department Foundation: April 26, 1822.
Weather: The rainy season runs from May to September.

History Cusco

The fame achieved by archeological Cusco can be found well before the Inca Age. Cusco dates back about 1000 years before Christ when the Marcavalle culture was in force. From there, Chamepata began. The history of the contemporary culture of Pucara in Puno was lost until the Waris conquered the zone, including it in the Waris Empire. After the Waris, the region re-established itself, first with the Killke Culture and then with the Incas.

In the past, Cusco represented the center of Incan civilization. It was the capital of the Andean state of Tahuantinsuyo. According to legend, it was founded by Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo between the 11th and 12th centuries. Later, due to an order by Spaniard Francisco Pizarro, this city was founded again in March 23, 1534.

Geography Cusco

It is one of the most geographically diverse departments in Peru. Cusco has mountains, plains, deep valleys and canyons.

During the last thousands of years, the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes has eroded due to glaciers, as well as the complex system of water draining toward the jungle. Now only three chains of mountains remain from the old Eastern Cordillera: the Vilcabamba, the Vilcanota, and the Paucartambo. The two most important highlands zones are: Vilcabamba enclosing the valley of Cusco and whose most important peak is Huanacaure and the mountains of Cusco, located at the north of the city, which highest peak is Pachatusan.

Like in all Andean regions, the main rivers have formed deep valleys and canyons. The most notable valleys and canyons are those formed by the Urubamba, Apurimac and Paucartambo Rivers.

The valley of Urubamba has deep terraces where farmers grow some of their food. The Urubamba is a deep and narrow canyon whose beauty nearly rivals that of Machu Picchu. Due to the extreme altitude differences, the department has a variety of climates and landscapes. This has also had a strong influence on agriculture and the distribution of the local population.

Tourism

Cusco is considered to be the archaeological capital of America. It was nicknamed the "Worlds Navel" by the Incas. It is now the first cultural center of Peru and has been proclaimed as "Humankinds Cultural Heritage" by UNESCO.

Cuscos beauty and history make this a haven for tourists. Throughout the city there are important archaeological monuments like the Sacsayhuamans Fortress, Kenko, Tambomachays Baths, Pisacs terraces, and Ollantaytambos Fortress. And of course we cant forget Machu Picchu, which was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and now known as "the Capital of America" or "EternalCity".

The large numbers of museums and churches have made Cusco the most important tourist area in Peru. The Inca Trail also offers an amazing look at the beauty of the terrain surrounding Machu Picchu.

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