Department of Huánuco

Huánuco is a department in Peru. It is surrounded by several other departments, including La Libertad, San Martín, Loreto, and Ucayali to the north, Pasco to the south, and Lima and Ancash to the west. The city of Huánuco serves as its capital.

The land of Huánuco is very varied, with parts that are high in the mountains and others that are in the jungle. The weather there is usually mild, with an average temperature of about 20 °C (68 °F) each year.

This area is special because of its history and its rich soil. People have lived there for a very long time. One famous example is El Hombre de Lauricocha (Man of Lauricocha), who lived as far back as 10,000 BC. There are also old settlements from around 4200 BC near a place called Kotosh, some of the oldest in the Americas.

History

Many different groups of people lived in the Huánuco area long ago. Later, they joined together under the rule of the Inca Empire. At that time, Huánuco became an important stop on a route between Cusco and Cajamarca.

During the early 1800s, when Peru was fighting for its freedom, Huánuco was among the first cities to support independence. On December 15, 1820, people in Huánuco made a special promise to support Peru’s freedom after uprisings in nearby areas like Huamalíes, Huallanca, and Ambo.

Political division

The Department of Huánuco is divided into 11 provinces, which are further split into 75 districts. Each province has its own main town, called a capital. The provinces include Ambo, Dos de Mayo, Huacaybamba, Huamalíes, Huánuco, Lauricocha, Leoncio Prado, Marañón, Pachitea, Puerto Inca, and Yarowilca.

Demographics

Languages

Most people in Huánuco first learn to speak Spanish, with about 71 out of every 100 people using it as their first language. Many others, about 29 out of every 100, first learn Quechua, a special language used in the area. The type of Quechua spoken here is called Huánuco Quechua.

Places of interest

Some interesting places to learn about in the Department of Huánuco include:

• Awkillu Waqra
• Awkimarka
• El Sira Communal Reserve
• Qillqay Mach'ay
• Huayhuash mountain range