Huaraz: History

Pre-20th-Century History

Lasting roughly from 1000 to 300 BC, the Early Horizon period in Peru has also been called the Chavín Horizon, after the site of Chavín de Huántar, east of Huaraz. It's termed a 'horizon' because artistic and religious phenomena appeared, perhaps independently, within several cultures in different places at about the same time, indicating some kind of interchange of ideas and increasing cultural complexity.

The salient feature of the Chavín influence is the repeated representation of a stylized feline (jaguar or puma) face with prominently religious overtones, perhaps symbolizing spiritual transformations experienced under the influence of hallucinogenic plants. Other animal faces, some mythical, and human faces were also apparent. Most importantly, this period represents the region's greatest early development in weaving, pottery, agriculture, religion and architecture - in a word, culture. Around 300 BC, the Chavín culture inexplicably lost its unifying influence.

Following the rise and fall of the Incan empire, and the Spanish conquest, Huaraz became a small village. In 1538, Francisco Pizarro granted the right to collect taxes in Huaraz to the conquistador, Sebastián de Torres. It wasn't until 1574, however, that Alonso de Santoyo founded the village.

Modern History

Records of aluviónes , deadly combinations of avalanche, waterfall and landslide, date back almost 300 years, but three recent ones have caused particular devastation. The first occurred in 1941, when an avalanche in the Cojup valley, west of Huaraz, caused the Laguna Palcacocha to break its banks and flow down onto Huaraz, killing about 5000 inhabitants and flattening the city. Then, in 1962, a huge avalanche from Huascarán roared down its western slopes and destroyed the town of Ranrahirca, killing about 4000 people. The worst disaster occurred on May 31, 1970, when a massive earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, devastated much of central Peru, killing an estimated 70,000 people. All but 10% of Huaraz was destroyed, and about half of the city's 30,000 inhabitants were killed. Unsurprisingly, only a small percentage of Huaraz's typically Andean architecture remains - the city has been almost entirely rebuilt.

Parque Nacional Huascarán is located nearby in the Cordillera Blanca, a range of the Andes. Not only is it recognized as a Natural Heritage of Humanity and a Reserve of Biosphere Core, but it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985. However, the Peruvian government initially arranged its protection 10 years earlier to safeguard flora and fauna, geological formations and archaeological remains, and to encourage research into the region's resources.

Recent History

Modern Huaraz is the capital city of the Ancash region and one of the major tourist centers for outdoorsy types in the country. Trekking, rock climbing and mountain biking have all taken off in a big way in the Cordillera Blanca. The hot-springs in nearby Monterrey, which have minerals with apparently curative qualities, are also a drawcard.

The promotion of Parque Nacional Huascarán as a tourist attraction continues to increase outside interest in its protected status, which is a great source of wealth for its inhabitants.

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