Huacrachuco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Huacrachuco
Town
Huacrachuco Location in Peru
Country	Peru
Region	Huánuco
Province	Marañón
District	Huacrachuco
Time zone	UTC-5 (PET)

Huacrachuco (Waqra-chuko) is a town in central Peru. It is the capital of Marañón Province in the Huánuco Region.

What's in the Name?

The name "Huacrachuco" comes from two words. Waqra means 'horn' or 'antler'. Chuku can mean 'headdress' in the Quechua language. It might also mean 'country' or 'land' in older languages like Kulyi language or Seeptsá language.

An old writer, Inca Garcilaso, said that the people of Huacrachuco used to wear a deer antler (waqra) on their headdress (chuko). This is how he thought the name came about. Even though people in Huacrachuco speak Quechua today, the area was once home to the Kulyi language. In Kulyi, words ending in -chuco or -chugo meant 'earth' or 'land', not 'hat'.

A Look Back in Time

Historian José Vara Llanos wrote that "Huacrachuco" means "horn hat." This was a special item worn by the first people of this area, known as the Wacrachucus.

About 12,000 years ago, the first people lived in the Huacrachuco area. They left behind cave paintings, like those found in Ucarragra cave and near Ushuraj Lagoon. From the 11th to the 16th century, the Wacrachucos nation grew. Later, it became part of the Inca Empire under Tupac Yupanqui (who ruled from 1471 to 1493).

The Wacrachucos lived on the eastern side of the Marañón River. They were a large and strong group of warriors. They wore hats with deer horns. Their leaders were called kurakas. The common people were known as ovas. They worshipped their ancestors and built homes in safe places. They also carved stone statues and small temples for their gods.

Some experts believe the Wacrachucos might have been connected to the Chachapoyas. The famous archaeologist Julio C. Tello thought the Huacrachuco region was originally part of the Chavín culture. This is because Chavín art and remains are found throughout the Marañón River area.

After the Chavín culture ended, the local people continued to develop. You can see this in the stone sculptures and items found in tombs, like those at Tinyash. Huacrachuco was a place where many old civilizations met and grew. These included the Wanukos, Wacrachucos, and Chachapuyas.

Many old buildings are found in the Marañón Province. Near Huacrachuco, Huacaybamba, and Pinra, there are ruins from tribes like the Antas and Paucaricras. These tribes were part of the Wacrachucos nation until the 16th century. The buildings at Tinyash are especially interesting to researchers.

The Inca Conquest

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega wrote about how the Inca Empire conquered Huacrachuco. Inca Tupac Yupanqui needed to conquer Huacrachuco to reach the Chachapuya lands. The local people fought hard, believing their land was impossible to conquer. There were many battles and many people died on both sides.

Tupac Yupanqui saw that fighting fiercely would harm his own army and destroy the Wacrachucos. So, after taking some strong areas, he sent messengers to offer peace. The Incas promised not to take their land or belongings. Instead, they would help them with new irrigation systems and other benefits.

Many Wacrachucos wanted to accept the Inca as their ruler. But the younger, less experienced warriors disagreed. They wanted to keep fighting. They felt they had to win or die because they had gone against their elders.

To show that his peace offer was not a sign of weakness, Tupac Yupanqui ordered his army to attack harder. He divided his army into three groups to wear down the Wacrachucos. With this second attack, the Incas took more places and strongholds. This forced the Wacrachucos to ask for mercy.

Inca Tupac Yupanqui decided he had conquered enough for that summer. Huacrachuco was a tough province with strong warriors. Also, the land was very rainy. So, he set up his army at the border of the region. He also prepared 20,000 more soldiers for the next summer's conquests.

He gave the Wacrachuco leaders (curacas) fine clothes called campi. He gave the common people clothes called awaska. He also made sure they had plenty of food, as the war had destroyed their supplies. The newly conquered people were very happy and lost their fear of punishment. The Inca then helped them organize their province, build irrigation canals, and make terraces for farming on hillsides. The Wacrachuco people saw all this as a great help.

Where is Huacrachuco?

Huacrachuco is located on the left side of the Huacrachuco River. It sits in a valley carved by this river, in the middle of the central mountain range. It is 2,920 meters (about 9,580 feet) above sea level. Its coordinates are 8°36′23.35″S 77°08′53.69″W.

Rivers and Lakes

Huacrachuco is in the Marañón River basin. The Huacrachuco River flows into the Marañón River. In 2009, a new lake formed in the upper part of the area. This happened when the Chunchuymá hill slid towards the Manzarán hill.

Weather

Cool Places to See

Huacrachuco has become an important trading center because of a new road connecting Chimbote to Uchiza. Here are some interesting places to visit:

• Cerro de Acotambo - This name means "sand accommodation" in the local Quechua language (runashumi). It's a snowy mountain rich in minerals. It offers amazing views and is seen as a protector of Marañón Province. You can find old pre-Inca house ruins here.
• Ucurragra Caves - This name means "mouse ravine." These caves are about 8 km from Huacrachuco. They are full of mysteries and legends. Inside, you can see ancient cave paintings from the early Wacrachuco culture. There are also cool rock shapes that look like animals or people.
• Lagoon of Asiaj - This beautiful lake has clear waters and is easy to reach. It's where the mountains meet the jungle. Its shores are covered with reeds and local trees, making it a perfect spot for a weekend trip.
• Chinchaycocha Lagoon - This name means "ocelot lagoon." It's a lovely water reserve about 1.30 hours from Chocobamba. It's a great place for fishing for trout and hunting wild ducks.
• Ushuraj Lagoon (also called Ushura-cocha) - This pretty lake is near Huacrachuco. It has clear water and is home to many different plants and animals. Ancient rock carvings (petroglyphs) have been found around it.
• Three Lagoons (Tres lagunas) - Located high up in Huacrachuco. Here, you can see a beautiful view of clear waters flowing together through streams.
• Maquimpirga Archaeological Site - This site is between Ishpinco and Maracay, about 8 km from Huacrachuco. It has remains of an old settlement, though not well preserved.
• Archaeological Site of Marco - About 3 km from Huacrachuco, this site has parts of an old pre-Inca city. It was built with stone and mud and might have been used as a lookout point by the Huacrachucos.
• Archaeological Site of Pueblo Viejo - This pre-Inca city is about 10 km from Huacrachuco. It is believed to be the original home of the ancient Wacrachucos culture. It was a strong fortress that linked the mountains to the jungle. It was likely a storage place for treasures and food. Getting there is tricky; you have to cross a lagoon and an underground river!
• The Urhuarrumi - This is a unique and legendary rock formation. It looks like a giant human with a big stomach. Legends say it's one of the giants turned to stone by evil spirits. People in the Marañón valley tell many stories about it.
• Huacrachuco River - This important river starts at Chinchaycocha Lagoon. It flows into the Marañón River and is joined by other rivers like Chocobamba and Saltana. You can fish for trout here.
• Cerros Tres Tullpas - These three hills are where the Huánuco, La Libertad, and Áncash regions meet. Legends say these hills were silent witnesses when giants made a temporary peace agreement.
• Other interesting places:
  • Archaeological sites: Awilo marks, Shampumay, Uchumarco, Estrella, Torre gollga, Auquinmarca, Chunupún, Corralones, Gonpish, Guenguish, Quishuar, and Ushnu Colorado.
  • Beautiful landscapes: Callanas or Pacallanas, Mollepampa, Paucaricras, and Huariganchas.
  • Scenic views: Huaychao and Huamboe.
  • Natural features: The clear Chocobamba creek, the narrow Tingo Grande valley, the main square of Huacrachuco.
  • Caves: Afilanga and Portichuelo, Shanshamarca (also known as "Witches' Village").
  • Unique rocks: Human Forest in Chucaromonte, Gallo Rumi, Condor Rumi in Ucurragra, Condor Gaga in Sinay.
  • Hot springs: Thermal Waters of Racarragra.

Fun Festivities

• August 30: The main celebration is for Santa Rosa de Lima, who is the Patron Saint of Huacrachuco.
• October 21: This day celebrates the anniversary of the Marañón Province.
• December 8: People celebrate the Virgen Purísima in the Yamos area.

Learning and Education

Huacrachuco has a special agreement with the Hermilio Valdizán University in Huánuco. This has led to the creation of a branch campus for the Faculty of Agronomy (which studies farming).

See also

In Spanish: Huacrachuco para niños