Abancay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abancay Santiago de los Reyes de Abancay
Town
Main Square Lake Uspaccocha View of the Andes Abancay Cathedral Aerial view
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  El Eterno Valle Primaveral (The Eternal Springtime Valley)
Abancay Location in Peru
Country	Peru
Region	Apurímac
Province	Abancay
Established	1540
Town	1873
City	1874
Elevation	2,377 m (7,799 ft)
Population  (2017)
• Total	72,277
• Estimate  (2015)	58,741
Time zone	UTC-5 (PET)
Website	www.muniabancay.gob.pe

Abancay is a city in southern-central Peru. Its name comes from the Quechua word for lily. It was founded in 1572 as Santiago de los Reyes de Abancay.

Today, Abancay is the capital of the Apurímac Region and the Abancay Province. It plays a very important role in the region's culture, economy, and politics.

What's in a Name?

The name Abancay might have two interesting meanings:

• It could come from the Quechua word amancay, which means lily.
• It might also come from the Quechua word awanqay, meaning weaving place. This idea comes from a Peruvian language expert, Rodolfo Cerrón Palomino.

Where is Abancay?

Abancay is located high up in the southern Peruvian Andes mountains. It sits about 2,377 meters (7,799 feet) above sea level. The city is near the Pachachaca River and the Marino River.

Because of its warm weather all year round, it's often called "The Eternal Springtime Valley." The closest big cities are Cusco, Chalhuanca, and Andahuaylas. Abancay is also at a meeting point of two important old Peruvian roads: the Caminos del Inca Road and the Via de los Libertadores.

Weather in Abancay

Abancay has a pleasant climate. Here's a quick look at the average temperatures:

A Look Back in Time

Abancay was already a busy place even before the Incas arrived. It was a border area between the Inca people and the Chancas, another native group in Peru.

When the Spanish came, they changed the local name amankay to "Abancay, Villa de los Reyes" (Abancay, Village of the Kings). Later, it was shortened to just Abancay. The city was also the site of the Battle of Abancay between the Spanish leaders Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro.

There's a traditional story about how Abancay moved to its current spot. Long ago, the town was higher up on Ampay mountain. One day, the statue of the Virgin Mary, who was the town's protector, disappeared from the church. People searched everywhere and found it on a big rock in the valley below. They brought it back, but it disappeared and reappeared in the same spot two more times!

The people finally realized the statue might be asking for a church in the valley. So, they built a small chapel there. Soon, this new spot became the center of everything, and the whole town moved down to where Abancay is today. The statue of Our Lady of the Rosary is still on that big rock next to the Cathedral.

What Abancay Makes

Abancay is an important center for farming and industry in the Apurímac region. They process sugar, and also make rum and other drinks. There are also copper mines nearby. The area is also known for sericulture, which is the raising of silkworms to produce silk.

How Many People Live Here?

In 2014, about 58,000 people lived in Abancay. This number has more than doubled since 1990, when the population was around 29,200. By 2017, the population was 72,277.

Fun Things to Do and See

Abancay has many exciting things for visitors!

Carnival

The Carnival is the city's biggest festival. It's known as one of Peru's best music and dance festivals. It happens from late February to late March. People dress in traditional costumes, and different groups from the community, like students and market vendors, join in the fun and games.

Nature and Outdoors

The area around Abancay has amazing natural beauty.

• The Ampay National Sanctuary is a wildlife area north of the city. It's home to the Apu Ampay mountain, which is about 5,300 meters (17,388 feet) high.
• You can find cave paintings, waterfalls, and unique plants like the Intimpa tree here. The Intimpa tree is a special type of conifer that the World Wildlife Fund has worked to protect.
• The Pachachaca River is famous for its old colonial bridge. Its fast-moving waters are great for canyoneering and whitewater kayaking. It's one of the best places in Peru for these activities.

Ancient Sites and Hot Springs

• The Saywite Archeological Site is an ancient Inca temple and worship center, just a few kilometers from Abancay. It has the famous Saywite Stone, a large, round stone with carvings that show the Inca world. It suggests the Incas knew a lot about astronomy.
• The Konoc Hot Springs (called Cconocc in Quechua) are a resort with warm baths from volcanic waters. People say these baths can help with conditions like arthritis and asthma.
• Abancay is also the starting point to visit the Inca city of Choquequirao. This ancient city is next to the Apurímac River and is thought to be as important as Machu Picchu. Many parts of Choquequirao are still waiting to be discovered!

Learning in Abancay

Abancay is an important place for education, even though it's not a huge city.

High Schools

The main high school is Colegio Nacional "Miguel Grau." It has been educating students since the 1880s. Every year on October 8, former students come back to celebrate their school and friendships.

Universities

Abancay has one public university, Universidad Nacional Micaela Bastidas de Apurimac. It also has two private universities: Universidad Tecnológica de los Andes and Universidad Alas Peruanas. For those interested in specific careers, there's Escuela Normal La Salle for teaching and SENATI for industrial training.

Images for kids

• 

  Panoramic view of Abancay

• 

  Abancay Cathedral's Bells Tower

• 

  Ocampo Park in Abancay

• 

  Uspaccocha Lagoon, at the National Wildlife Sanctuary of Ampay.

• 

  Some of the Choquequirao structures

• 

  Pachachaca Colonial Bridge, Abancay

See also

In Spanish: Abancay para niños