Callejón de Huaylas

Quick Facts: Who was Callejón de Huaylas?

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Callejón de Huaylas

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Inter-Andean valley in Peru, known for its diverse ecology and rich preceramic history.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Santa Valley (Quechua Sancta) is an inter-andean valley in the Ancash Region in the north-central highlands of Peru. Due to its location between two mountain ranges, it is known as Callejón de Huaylas, the Alley of Huaylas, whereas "Huaylas" refers to the territorial division's name during the Viceroyalty of Peru. Going north from Lima, the road climbs to an altitude of 3,945 m, where the lake Conococha marks the head of the valley. This lake is the main source of Santa River. From here the road descends into the Callejón de Huaylas, demarcated by the Cordillera Blanca ("white range") to the east and the Cordillera Negra ("black range") to the west.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

To the south rise the summits of the Huayhuash mountain range. Huaraz, the capital of Ancash, is the largest city in the Callejón, located at 3,000 m above sea level. In the valley north of Huaraz there are the towns Carhuaz, Yungay (the site of a major earthquake and landslide in 1970 that buried the town and killed over 20,000 people) and Caraz which is considered the last city in the valley. The Callejón de Huaylas stretches for 150 km in the Ancash Region of Peru. The Santa river runs along the valley floor in a north-westerly direction.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The valley's southern extreme begins at 4,000 m above sea level, and descends to 2,000 m at its northern end past the city of Caraz where the Santa River leaves the valley. It is bordered by two mountain ranges, the snow-covered Cordillera Blanca (White Mountain Range) to the east, where many climbable peaks boast year-round snow above 5,000 m, and the Cordillera Negra (Black Mountain Range) to the west, reaching over 4,000 m but typically getting no snow as it is exposed to warm coastal winds on its western flank. Nevado Huascarán (6,746 m), the highest peak of Peru, is located in the Cordillera Blanca above the town of Yungay. The Callejón de Huaylas has a rich history going back thousands of years. Relatively little survives from the preceramic period in this region, but modern work by Thomas F. Lynch and his team has suggested a civilization which was integrated with the cultures living on the coastal plain.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1970: 1970 Milestone — In the valley north of Huaraz there are the towns Carhuaz, Yungay (the site of a major earthquake and landslide in 1970 that buried the town and killed over 20,000 people) and Caraz which is considered the last city in the valley.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Callejón de Huaylas

True or False: “The Cordillera Negra is typically covered in snow year-round due to its high altitude.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Cordillera Negra typically does not get snow because it is exposed to warm coastal winds on its western flank.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Callejón de Huaylas