Cordillera Blanca

Cordillera Blanca
Cordillera Blanca
	Alpamayo (5,947 m)
Highest point
Peak	Huascarán
Elevation	6,768 m (22,205 ft)
Dimensions
Length	180 km (110 mi) N-S
Width	21 km (13 mi)
Geography
Country	Peru
Region	Ancash Region
Parent range	Andes

The Cordillera Blanca (Spanish for "White Range") is a mountain range in the Ancash Region of Peru. It extends between 8°08' and 9°58'S and 77°00' and 77°52'W. It contains 722 individual glaciers.^[1] Part of the larger Andes range, it includes 33 major peaks over 5,500 metres (18,040 ft) high in an area 21 kilometres (13 mi) wide and about 200 kilometres (124 mi) long.

Overview

The highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán (6,768 m), is located here. Huascarán National Park, established in 1975, encompasses almost the entire range of the Cordillera Blanca.

The 5,947 m (19,511 ft) Alpamayo mountain was declared "World's Most Beautiful Mountain" by an international survey led by former climber Toni Hiebeler in May 1966 in Munich.

Snow melt from the Cordillera Blanca has provided Peru with its year-round water supplies, while 80% of Peru's power comes from hydroelectricity. The area of permanent ice pack shrank by about a third between the 1970s and 2006.^[2]

Peaks

There are sixteen 6,000 m peaks in the Cordillera Blanca with a 400 m topographic prominence, and a further seventeen peaks over 5,500 m.^[3] Huascaran Sur, the highest peak, has two commonly quoted heights - 6,746 m from the Peruvian IGM map, and 6,768 m from the OEAV survey map.^[4]

A selection of some of the highest peaks of the Cordillera Blanca is listed below.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Huascarán, 6,768 metres (22,205 ft)
Wantsan, 6,369 metres (20,896 ft)
Huandoy, 6,360 metres (20,866 ft)
Chopicalqui, 6,354 metres (20,846 ft)
Rurichinchay, 6,309 metres (20,699 ft)
Pallqarahu, 6,274 metres (20,584 ft)
Pukarahu, 6,259 metres (20,535 ft)
Copa, 6,188 metres (20,302 ft)
Ranrapallqa, 6,162 metres (20,217 ft)
Pukaranra, 6,147 metres (20,167 ft)
Wallqan, 6,122 metres (20,085 ft)
Chakrarahu, 6,108 metres (20,039 ft)
Pukahirka, 6,046 metres (19,836 ft)
Kitarahu, 6,040 metres (19,816 ft)
Tuqllarahu, 6,034 metres (19,797 ft)
Artesonraju, 6,025 metres (19,767 ft)
Qaras, 6,025 metres (19,767 ft)
Yanarahu, 5,954 metres (19,534 ft)
Alpamayo, 5,947 metres (19,511 ft)
Uqshapallqa, 5,888 metres (19,318 ft)
Pirámide, 5,885 metres (19,308 ft)
Tawllirahu, 5,830 metres (19,127 ft)
Rinrihirka, 5,810 metres (19,062 ft)
Tullparahu, 5,787 metres (18,986 ft)
Pisco, 5,752 metres (18,871 ft)
Paqtsarahu, 5,749 metres (18,862 ft)
Champara, 5,735 metres (18,816 ft)
Urwashrahu, 5,722 metres (18,773 ft)
Kashan, 5,716 metres (18,753 ft)
Shaqsha, 5,703 metres (18,711 ft)

Mururahu, 5,688 metres (18,661 ft)
Wallunarahu, 5,686 metres (18,655 ft)
Qiwllarahu, 5,682 metres (18,642 ft)
Qishqi, 5,630 metres (18,471 ft)
Hatunkunka, 5,600 metres (18,373 ft)
Perlilla, 5,587 metres (18,330 ft)
Qupap, 5,570 metres (18,274 ft)
Antap'iti, 5,518 metres (18,104 ft)
Tantash, 5,504 metres (18,058 ft)
Kayish, 5,500 metres (18,045 ft)
Qaqapampa, 5,500 metres (18,045 ft)
Qarwakancha, 5,500 metres (18,045 ft)
Churup, 5,493 metres (18,022 ft)
Challwa, 5,487 metres (18,002 ft)
Tuku, 5,479 metres (17,976 ft)
Yanaphaqcha, 5,460 metres (17,913 ft)
Kima Rumi, 5,459 metres (17,910 ft)
Wamashrahu, 5,434 metres (17,828 ft)
Yanarahu, 5,423 metres (17,792 ft)
Tuqtupampa, 5,420 metres (17,782 ft)
Millwaqucha, 5,404 metres (17,730 ft)
Puka Qaqa Punta, 5,400 metres (17,717 ft)
Ruriq, 5,369 metres (17,615 ft)
Rahu Kutaq, 5,355 metres (17,569 ft)
Pukarahu, 5,346 metres (17,539 ft)
Tuqtu Punta, 5,343 metres (17,530 ft)
Map'arahu, 5,326 metres (17,474 ft)
Paqtsaruri, 5,315 metres (17,438 ft)
Pumapampa, 5,300 metres (17,388 ft)
Tarush Kancha, 5,300 metres (17,388 ft)

Chiqllarahu, 5,286 metres (17,343 ft)
Pilanku, 5,286 metres (17,343 ft)
Rima Rima, 5,248 metres (17,218 ft)
Yanamaray, 5,237 metres (17,182 ft)
Tarush Wachanan, 5,200 metres (17,060 ft)
Tuqtu, 5,200 metres (17,060 ft)
P'aqra, 5,100 metres (16,732 ft)
Santun, 5,100 metres (16,732 ft)
Sintiru, 5,100 metres (16,732 ft)
Ichik Qiwlla, 5,091 metres (16,703 ft)
Yanarahu, 5,055 metres (16,585 ft)
Pukarahu, 5,025 metres (16,486 ft)
Puma Wayin, 5,008 metres (16,430 ft)
Artisa, 5,000 metres (16,404 ft)
Kunkush, 5,000 metres (16,404 ft)
Misk'iqucha, 5,000 metres (16,404 ft)
Puka Mach'ay, 5,000 metres (16,404 ft)
Pukarahu, 5,000 metres (16,404 ft)
Qiwlla Hirka, 5,000 metres (16,404 ft)
Wira Wira, 4,946 metres (16,227 ft)
Wishka Hirka, 4,934 metres (16,188 ft)
Kunkush Punta, 4,907 metres (16,099 ft)
Millu Hirka, 4,900 metres (16,076 ft)
Qawish, 4,900 metres (16,076 ft)
Awki, 4,800 metres (15,748 ft)
Pukarahu, 4,800 metres (15,748 ft)
Qulluta, 4,716 metres (15,472 ft)
Kuntur Sinqa, 4,630 metres (15,190 ft)
Rukutu Punta, 4,400 metres (14,436 ft)

The main groups of peaks from north to south are:^[7]

Champara
Millwaqucha, Pilanku
Pukarahu (Huaylas Province), Allpamayu, Kitarahu, Pukahirka, Pukarahu (Lucma District), Rinrihirka, Tayapampa, Tawllirahu, Tuqtupampa
Huandoy, Artesonraju, Chakrarahu, Qaras, Pirámide, Pisqu, Yanaphaqcha
Huascarán, Chopicalqui
Yanarahu (Asunción Province)
Qupa, Chiqllarahu, Chukllarahu, Paqtsarahu, Paqtsaruri, Ulta, Wallqan
Perlilla, Qaqapampa, Qupap, Tarush Kancha, Tarush Wachanan
Antap'iti, Kayish, Churup, Hatun Kunka, Map'arahu, Pallqarahu, Pukaqaqa Punta, Pukaranra, Ranrapallqa, Rima Rima, Rurichinchay, Tullparahu, Tuqllarahu, Urus, Uqshapallqa, Wallunarahu, Wamanripa
Wantsan, Kashan, Puka Matarahu, Ruriq, Shaqsha, Urwashrahu, Wamashrahu
Yanamaray, Pukarahu (Recuay Province)
P'unqu, Qishqi
Parya (Raria)
Qiwllarahu, Challwa, Tuku, Santun, Qiwlla Hirka, Wishka Hirka

Glaciers

The estimated number of glaciers is 260 glaciers of the Cordillera Blanca are very important to life in the valley of the Callejón de Huaylas. They provide water for the irrigation of the puna grasslands and keep the main Santa river drought free year round. They also support the hydroelectric powerstation of Cañón del Pato and form many attractive lagoons. All are over 4000m above sea level, 185 on the western slopes and 75 on the eastern.

As with all Andean glaciers, the Cordillera Blanca has witnessed a major retreat of its during the 20th century due to global climate change. Studies have shown a retreat of over 15% since the 1970s.^[9] Some glaciers, such as the Broggi Glacier, have disappeared altogether, with many experts warning that all of the glaciers may be gone within the coming decades.

Lakes

Parun Lake, the biggest in the Cordillera Blanca, is considered the most beautiful of all glacial lakes. Located just north of the mountain Tullparahu in Caraz, it has a deep turquoise blue.

Other famous lakes include the two Llankanuku Lakes: the green-turquoise Chinanqucha (Quechua for "female lake") and Urqunqucha ("male lake") in the Llankanuku valley. Located in the quenoa forests at the foot of Huáscarán, they are reachable via a 25 km gravel road off the Callejón de Huaylas highway near the re-built town of Yungay.

The two lakes Ichikqucha and Hatunqucha lie beneath the snow peaks of Artesonraju and Allpamayu. They are accessible only by trekking or on horseback from Caraz.

Other notable lakes are Laguna 69, Alliqucha, Awkishqucha, Pallqaqucha, Qiruqucha and Quñuqqucha.

Hot springs

There are twenty-two principal hot springs in the Callejón de Huaylas, of which the 2073m above sea level Monterrey stands out for its swimming pools and individual and family ponds. Bathing in its 49 °C sodium chloride laced water is prescribed for such health conditions as rheumatism, anxiety, and palsy.

Hot springs are also found at Chancos (30 km north of Huaraz), Chacas, Chavín, Mancos, Pomabamba, Andamarca, Jocos, Tablachaca, Pato, Olleros and Llaclla.

References

^ "Peruvian Cordilleras". USGS. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
^ Painter, James (2007-03-12). "Peru's alarming water truth". BBC News Online: Americas. News.BBC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-03-14.
^ Biggar, John; et al. "Andes Peak Lists". Andes.
^ Jonathan de Ferranti; et al. "South American Prominence Lists". Peaklist.org.
^ escale.minedu.gob.pe - UGEL maps of the Ancash Region
^ andix.com Maps of the Cordillera Blanca
^ ^a ^b Taken from Mountaineering in the Andes by Jill Neate, RGS-IBG Expedition Advisory Centre, 2nd edition, May 1994
^ "Huari (map)". IGN, Peru. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
^ Lynas, Mark: High tide: the truth about our climate crisis, pg. 230, ISBN 978-0-312-30365-5

External links

[1] "Peruvian Cordilleras". USGS. Retrieved August 16, 2014.

[2] Painter, James (2007-03-12). "Peru's alarming water truth". BBC News Online: Americas. News.BBC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-03-14.

[3] Biggar, John; et al. "Andes Peak Lists". Andes.

[4] Jonathan de Ferranti; et al. "South American Prominence Lists". Peaklist.org.

[5] scale.minedu.gob.pe - UGEL maps of the Ancash Region

[6] x.com Maps of the Cordillera Blanca

[neate-7] Taken from Mountaineering in the Andes by Jill Neate, RGS-IBG Expedition Advisory Centre, 2nd edition, May 1994

[ign-8] "Huari (map)". IGN, Peru. Retrieved April 9, 2015.

[9] Lynas, Mark: High tide: the truth about our climate crisis, pg. 230, ISBN 978-0-312-30365-5

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