FIRST PERUVIAN SPACE WEEK
2016 SOUTH AMERICAN SPACE GENERATION WORKSHOP & 1st LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS OF ASTROBIOLOGY
LIMA - PERU
ABOUT AREQUIPA
Arequipa is the capital and largest city of the Arequipa Region and the seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru. It is Peru's second most populous city with 861,145 inhabitants, as well as its third most populous metropolitan areaaccording to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics.
The historic centre of Arequipa, built in volcanic sillar rock, represents an integration of European and native building techniques and characteristics, expressed in the admirable work of colonial masters and Criollo and Indian masons. This combination of influences is illustrated by the city's robust walls, archways and vaults, courtyards and open spaces, and the intricate Baroque decoration of its facades.
Most visited tourist attractions:
Yanahuara City Sigth
Yanahuara is located approximately two kilometers from the historic city center of Arequipa, a traditional neighborhood with narrow cobbled streets and old houses with their typical ashlar orchards. It is one of the most tourist places of Arequipa. The Yanahuara city sight, set of beautiful arches of ashlar built in the nineteenth century, because of the location in which it is placed, is a must for all visitors, allowing them to admire the beautiful white city of Arequipa, with a panoramic view of the three volcanos (Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu). We can also see writings prints of illustrious people of the city of Arequipa.
The weather in the district, because of its altitude variation, has a warm temperate climate with annual average temperature ranging from 15 ° to 18 °, reaching temperatures of 23 degrees. It is noteworthy that on average has about 330 sunny days a year from 8 am to 5 pm, with the strong and dangerous solar radiation between 11 am and 3 pm hours, so you should take preventive measures to protect the skin.
Plaza de Armas:
Center point and core of urban life around which the city develops, is large and square, with a marked decline, is recognized by the symmetrical architectonic harmony, parallel surrounded by the cathedral, and three sides with double arches formed by portals carved granite ashlar and brick vault, in which we can also see the cathedral. When the city was founded on August 15, 1540 by Garci Manuel de Carbajal in the Chili River valley as "Villa of the Assumption of Our Lady of the Beautiful Valley of Arequipa" the city began to build with it the main square. Shortly the town was founded; Carlos V of Germany and I of Spain raised the city status by royal decree dated in Fuensalida (Toledo), on September 22, 1541.
In 1844 there was a huge fire that destroyed most of the old Cathedral, the Gates of Arequipa among others so it was forced to be rebuilt. The reconstruction was the last major change. The Main Square of Arequipa flaunts three big covers, previously worked as the Arequipa council in the colonial era and since the Republican era worked as the municipality of Arequipa. In the center of the square, there is a bronze fountain with a sculpture made of copper of a pixie with a trumpet, it is said that once had wings, but over the years were lost, this sculpture is known as Tuturutu. There is a myth about Tuturutu that says it represents a soldier of the XVI century.
Colca Canyon:
Colca Canyon is located on the northeastern end of the Arequipa region, Caylloma province, at 165 kilometers from Arequipa and 40 km from Chivay, main town and capital of the province of Caylloma. The highest point of the valley is the dormant volcano Ampato (6288 meters) and the lowest under the confluence of the Colca and Andamayo rivers (970 m).
The Colca Valley has an area of ​​100 km long and occupies only a sector of the Colca River basin, between the districts of Callalli and Huambo.
The route to the Colca runs the Chachani and crosses plains filled with ichu and yareta, samples of Andean vegetation. In addition alpacas inhabit these places and vizcachas too.
The Colca Canyon, considered one of the remarkable geographic locations of Peru, is located in the most impressive eroded fissure of the Andes. It is twice deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States.
The Colca Canyon and surrounding area offers many attractions in addition to the geological interest that arouses. When leaving the city of Arequipa, the route crosses Pampa Reserves Cañahuas, Salinas and Aguada Blanca. It is the habitat of llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas that can be seen easily.