Abra de Porculla facts for kids
The Abra de Porculla, also known as the Paso de Porculla, is a special mountain pass in northern Peru. It goes through the western part of the Andes Mountains. This pass is super important because it's the lowest point you can cross the Andes! It's only 2,145 meters (about 7,037 feet) above sea level. This is the lowest pass in the entire Andes mountain range, all the way from Colombia to Chile. It's found in a unique area called the Huancabamba Depression.
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Discovering the Pass
A Peruvian explorer named Manuel Antonio Mesones Muro found the Abra de Porculla in 1902. This discovery was very important for travel and trade.
A Key Route Across South America
The Abra de Porculla offers one of the shortest ways to travel across South America. It connects the Pacific Ocean on one side to the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
The Interoceanic Highway
This pass is part of a big road called the Carretera Interoceánica Norte. This means the Northern Interoceanic Highway. This highway links Peru and Brazil, making it easier to move goods and people between these two countries.
An Alternative to Other Routes
The route through Abra de Porculla is a great alternative to other long journeys. Before this highway, ships had to go all the way around Cape Horn at the very tip of South America. Another option was using the Panama Canal, which is much further north. The Abra de Porculla route saves a lot of time and effort for travel across the continent.
A Natural Barrier for Animals and Plants
The Huancabamba Depression, where the Abra de Porculla is located, acts like a natural wall. It separates the northern and southern parts of the Andes mountains. This means that many animal and plant species cannot easily cross this area. It helps keep different groups of species separate.
The Northern Andes Ecoregional Complex
The Abra de Porculla pass is found at about 6 degrees South latitude. This spot marks the southern edge of something called the Northern Andes Ecoregional Complex (NAEC). The NAEC is a group of 14 different ecoregions. An ecoregion is a large area of land or water that contains a special mix of natural communities and species. Each ecoregion in the NAEC has its own unique animals, plants, climate, and land features. However, they are all connected by similar natural processes.
See also
In Spanish: Paso de Porculla para niños Photograph of Abra de Porculla
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