Department of Huánuco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Department of Huánuco Departamento de Huánuco  (Spanish) Wanuku suyu  (Quechua)
Region
The Huayhuash mountain range with Yerupajá, one of the highest peaks of Peru
Flag Seal
Location of the Department of Huánuco in Peru
Country	Peru
Subdivisions	11 provinces and 76 districts
Largest city	Huánuco
Capital	Huánuco
Area
• Total	36,848.85 km2 (14,227.42 sq mi)
Highest elevation	3,839 m (12,595 ft)
Lowest elevation	167 m (548 ft)
Population  (2005 Census)
• Total	730,871
• Density	19.834296/km2 (51.37059/sq mi)
UBIGEO	10
Dialing code	062
ISO 3166 code	PE-HUC
Principal resources	–
Poverty rate	78.9%
Percentage of Peru's GDP	1%
Website	www.regionhuanuco.gob.pe

An ancient site called Kotosh in Huánuco.

Huánuco is a region in central Peru. It's like a large state or province. It shares borders with other regions such as La Libertad, San Martín, and Ucayali. The capital city of this region is also called Huánuco.

Huánuco has a varied landscape. It includes parts of the Sierra (mountain range) and high jungle areas. Its location gives it a mild climate all year round. The average temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

This region is very important for its history and rich land. People have lived here for a very long time. For example, "El Hombre de Lauricocha" (the Man of Lauricocha) lived here around 10,000 BC. Also, at Kotosh, scientists found signs of one of the oldest settlements in the Americas, dating back to 4200 BC.

Many different groups of people lived in this region long ago. After some resistance, they became part of the Inca empire. Huánuco then became a key stop on the route between Cusco and Cajamarca.

In the early 1800s, Huánuco was one of the first cities to support Peru's independence. People here took an oath for freedom on December 15, 1820. This happened after several uprisings in nearby towns like Huamalíes, Huallanca, and Ambo.

Political Divisions of Huánuco

Map showing the provinces of the Huánuco region.

The Huánuco region is divided into 11 main areas called provinces. These provinces are further divided into 75 smaller areas called districts.

Here are the provinces and their capital cities:

• Ambo (capital: Ambo)
• Dos de Mayo (capital: La Unión)
• Huacaybamba (capital: Huacaybamba)
• Huamalíes (capital: Llata)
• Huánuco (capital: Huánuco)
• Lauricocha (capital: Jesús)
• Leoncio Prado (capital: Tingo María)
• Marañón (capital: Huacrachuco)
• Pachitea (capital: Panao)
• Puerto Inca (capital: Puerto Inca)
• Yarowilca (capital: Chavinillo)

Languages Spoken in Huánuco

Most people in Huánuco speak Spanish. However, many also speak Quechua, an ancient native language of Peru. The type of Quechua spoken here is called Huánuco Quechua.

The table below shows which language people learned first in each province of Huánuco, according to the 2007 Peru Census:

Cool Places to Visit in Huánuco

Huánuco has many interesting places to explore, including:

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

See also

In Spanish: Departamento de Huánuco para niños