Jaén, Peru facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jaén Jaén de Bracamoros
Town
View of Jaén
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Nickname(s):  "Cuna de la peruanidad" (Birthplace of Peruvian-ness)
Jaén, Peru Location in Peru
Country	Peru
Region	Cajamarca
Province	Jaén
Founded	April 1549
Named for	Jaén, Spain
Area
• Total	537,25 km2 (20,743 sq mi)
Elevation	729 m (2,392 ft)
Population  (2017)
• Total	81,587
• Estimate  (2015)	93,631
• Density	1.518604/km2 (3.93317/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Jaeno(a)
Time zone	UTC-5 (PET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (PET)
Postal code	076
Website	www.munijaen.gob.pe

Jaén is a city in northern Peru. It is the capital of the Jaén Province in the Cajamarca Region. The city is located in the high jungle area. It was founded in April 1549 and was first called San Leandro de Jaén. Later, it was known as Jerez de la Frontera and then Nueva Jerez de la Frontera. Finally, it became Jaén de Bracamoros. Jaén is also home to an important Catholic church area.

Jaén's Location and Weather

Warm Climate in Jaén

Jaén has a warm climate throughout the year. It is one of the warmest cities in Peru. The city also gets frequent and refreshing rain showers.

Culture and People of Jaén

Jaén is known as the "Land of the Brave Bracamoros". These were a group of people who lived here long ago. You can learn about their culture at the Hermogenes Mejía Solf Museum in the city.

History of Jaén

Early People of Jaén

The history of Jaén goes back a very long time. Large settlements existed between 1,000 and 1,500 B.C. These were in the valleys of what are now Jaén, Bagua, and San Ignacio provinces.

In the Jaén valley, there is a big archaeological site called Montegrande. Here, people found mounds and pottery from cultures older than the Chavín. Another site, Turuco, is a huge ancient cemetery. Similar sites are found in other nearby valleys.

In 2010, two old pyramid complexes were found near Jaén. The biggest mound was over an acre wide. An archaeologist named Quirino Olivera found large stone buildings there. These included thick walls and ramps. They date back to at least 800 BC, or maybe even 2,000 BC.

These discoveries were part of a project between Peru and Ecuador. They explored river basins in the area.

Ancient ceremonial buildings from 800-100 B.C. were also found. This was in Peru's high jungle, called ceja de selva. One important site is Huayurco in the Jaén Region. Archaeologist Ryan Clasby studied it.

Huayurco was important for trade between Andean and Amazonian cultures. This trade happened between 1800 and 200 BC. Huayurco is special because it made many unique stone bowls. Over 250 of these bowls are now in the local museum. By making and trading these bowls, Huayurco became a key part of ancient trade networks. More recent studies (2022) suggest this tradition of stone vessels dates from 2500 to 800 BC.

Before the Inca Empire

In these rich lands of northeast Peru, the Jivaro culture grew. Groups like the Huánbucos and Patagonians were part of this culture. They lived in the Chuquimayo Valley.

The Incas tried to control the Jivaro people but were defeated. The Incas called the Jivaro "Pakamoros" or "Bracamoros". These words mean "red" and "painted" in Quechua. This was because the Jivaro painted their faces and chests red for ceremonies and battles. They used a dye from annatto seeds.

The Inca Empire and Jaén

The historian Pedro Cieza de León wrote that the Inca king Huayna Capac tried to conquer the Bracamoros. But he was defeated and had to flee. Other historians also mention Inca attempts to control these strong, independent people.

The Bracamoros were known for being physically strong and brave. They were a big challenge for the Incas. The Incas tried many times to conquer them but failed. Instead, the Incas influenced the region, including present-day Jaén Province, through peaceful means.

Spanish Arrival and Conquest

Captain Pedro Vergara was the first Spanish explorer to reach this part of northern Peru. He is known for discovering the Bracamoros and Yahuarsongo tribes. He managed to control these tribes through strong military actions.

Colonial Times

By 1607, the city of Jaén de Bracamoros had moved four times. It finally settled north of the Marañón-Huancabamba river meeting point. This was in the small valley of Tomependa.

This new Jaén de Bracamoros became an important center for spreading Christianity. It was made the capital of the district by the Council of the Indies.

During this time, metal workshops were very important. They made tools like machetes and axes. These tools were needed to cut down trees and branches in the jungle region.

Jaén's Independence

On June 4, 1821, a public meeting was held in Jaén's main square. People from Jaén and nearby areas attended. These included Chirinos, San Ignacio, Colasay, and Tomependa. At this meeting, they declared Jaén de Bracamoros independent from the Royal Audience of Quito and Spain. The Governor, D. Juan Antonio Checa, confirmed this. This event earned Jaén the title Cuna de Peruanidad, meaning "Birthplace of Peruvian-ness".

At first, Jaén was part of the Trujillo Region. Then it became part of La Libertad. Finally, it joined the Cajamarca Region when it was created in 1855.

Places to Visit in Jaén

Jaén has many natural and archaeological sites that could attract tourists. However, it has not been a very popular place to visit. This is mainly because it is far from big cities. It used to be a five-hour drive from Chiclayo, the closest airport. It was also an 18-hour bus ride from Lima.

Most visitors who stayed overnight were from Peru. Only 2% were from other countries.

But things are changing! Since September 2016, there have been daily direct flights between Jaén and Lima. These flights are operated by LAN Peru. So, more visitors are expected to come. Jaén's Shumba Airport is now the closest way to reach the Amazonas region. This region has famous attractions like Kuelap Fortress, Karajia, and Gocta Falls.

Jaén itself has several interesting places to see:

• The Plaza de Armas is the main square. It is modern and pleasant, with green spaces and a fountain.
• The Cathedral is also modern and overlooks the Plaza de Armas. Inside, you can see a statue of the Lord of Huamantanga, who is the city's patron saint.
• The Hermogenes Mejia Solf Regional Museum has a collection of ancient items and information about the region's people. It is a short distance outside Jaén city.
• The Botanical Garden is on the edge of the city. It has over 600 different types of plants from the region.
• Gotas de Agua is a private nature reserve. It is about 7 km (4 miles) from the city. This Dry Forest is great for bird watching.
• Almendral Hot Springs are about 25 km (16 miles) from the city. The water here is rich in healthy sulfur and iron.
• Huamantanga Forest is three hours to the west. It is where the Amoju River starts. This forest is an ecological paradise. It has many kinds of orchids and birds, like the Cock-of-the-rock. You might also see mammals like the Spectacled Bear.
• Cutervo National Park is Peru's oldest protected area. It is about 50 km (31 miles) south of Jaén. It is high up, between 2,200 and 3,500 meters (7,218-11,483 ft) above sea level. The climate keeps it almost always moist. It has many epiphyte plants. It is also one of the few places where you can find the endangered Oilbird. This is the only nocturnal, flying, fruit-eating bird in the world.
• Many scenic waterfalls are close to Jaén. These are typical of the High Jungle landscape. Some names include La Bella Encantadora, La Momia, San Andres, Velo de la Novia, La Yunga, Calabozo, and Chorro Blanco.

Jaén's Population

According to the INEI, Jaén's population grew by 2.3% between 1981 and 1993. In 1999, it was estimated to have 85,021 people. The population density was about 139.6 people per square kilometer. Only 30.8% of the population lived in rural areas. Also, 42.6% of the people were under 15 years old.

By the end of 2012, the population was estimated to be 170,000 people. This number did not include the Fila Alta area.

See also

In Spanish: Jaén (Perú) para niños