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Colca Valley
Colca ValleyColca is an inter-Andean valley populated and developed by three ethnic groups
Colca is an inter-Andean valley populated and developed by three ethnic groups: the Kollawas, the Cabanas, and the Ccaccatapay.
The Kollawas occupied the eastern part of the river basin. The Cabanas that were in the western area of the Colca River. The Ccaccatapay settled deep inside the center of the Colca river canyon in what is now the Tapay district. These were great cattle workers, agricultural and architects of irrigation and andenería channels, however, there are also remains of prehistoric cultures and of course Inca.
The headwaters of the Colca Valley are above 4,000 meters above sea level, being exclusively for livestock use, down a gentle slope that changes its ecology to an agricultural area, reaching 3,000 meters above sea level where the valley narrows and the Colca Canyon begins. 100km in length with a depth of 4,160 m. Tall. In addition to its agricultural wealth, its churches are added, many of them with remarkable architecture and valuable pieces of religious art; their customs and traditions that show in their crafts of each of their villages.
Colca Valley In the caves of the Colca Valley, there are paintings and engravings with more than 7,000 years old representing hunting scenes, camelids (guanacos, llamas, etc.), foxes, human figures, astral representations such as the Sun, the Southern Cross, birds, and many other figures, which prove the passage of various human settlements, for thousands of years that left traces of their existence.
The Colca Valley shows numerous churches scattered throughout the valley, which bring together the best of European architectural and artistic trends with the ingenious decorative contributions of the native population. The result was a rich mestizo baroque style, with influences from Arequipa and Cusco. Each of the churches stands out for some peculiarity of its own; some are completely built with volcanic sillar stone; another only in its magnificent facades; others keep unique paintings and sculptures inside; others are as old as the first years of the conquest.
Souvenir sellers in the Colca Canyon (Peru)
The main folk expressions of the Colca are usually represented in the days of traditional festivals. Among them the best known are the Wititi, the Qamili, the Tincachi, the Carnivals, the Turcu Tusuy, and the Bullfights, showing their great peculiarity in the development of their crafts. In its craftsmanship, the embroideries with which women embellish their typical costumes and hats stand out. Besides, the fabrics based on alpaca and llama fiber produced locally by the towns of the upper part.
Colca Valley The Colca Valley has been subjected to a series of processes that have modeled its physiography until it has formed its current landscape; various agents have acted causing wear and modification of the Colca Valley through the various geological ages. This inter-Andean valley was not longitudinally saved, it had its formation related to failure processes that occurred in the final stages of the Andean Uprising. The mountainous landscapes appear from 3,000 meters above sea level to 5,000 meters above sea level with steep slopes, in them, the erosion of the water has caused the formation of deep trenches, the lands here are suitable for grazing, whether based on the use of natural pastures Temporary, permanent and semi-permanent, are purely cattle and alpaquero districts Tisco, Callalli, and Sibayo.
Below this level the slopes that border the 60 ° inclination begin, it is common to observe landscapes with vertical cliffs of hundreds of meters of unevenness with a perfect columnar disjunction, such as those seen on the way to the Oasis, Tapay, Cosñirgua, San Juan de Chuccho or Malata. The right bank has a steep and continuous slope from the top of the Bomboya snowy to the bottom of the canyon.
Colca Canyon Hot springs and geysers
Another of the main features of the Colca Valley is the presence of hot springs, from Caylloma to Canco, with a progressive decrease in water temperature
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Colca Valley
