JANCA REGION: CHARACTERISTICS, RELIEF, FLORA, FAUNA, CLIMATE - GEOGRAPHY - 2024

The Janca or Cordillera region of Peru constitutes the highest part of the Peruvian Andes. It is the most inaccessible of all the 8 Peruvian natural regions. It rises from 4,800 meters above sea level to 6,768. This last height corresponds to its highest peak, Mount El Nevado Huascarán. La Janca borders Chile and Bolivia.

Due to its climatic conditions and the scarce oxygen due to the altitude, human settlements in this area are scarce. Most of the few inhabitants of the Janca region live in mining towns and are highly adapted to these conditions.

Pastoruri Glacier located in central Peru in the Cordillera Blanca.

In addition, there are research or tourism groups that occupy the area for specific times. This occupation is done after subjecting the staff to an adaptation and physical preparation to be able to maintain themselves in these circumstances.

On the other hand, according to the Quechua dialect, the word janca translates white. This refers to the glaciers and peaks of perpetual snow that characterize the area.

The vegetation is scarce and it is dominated especially by grasses and other herbaceous ones. These are the food of the few animals that can be kept under these conditions of temperature and pressure.

Main characteristics of the Janca region

The Janca region is the most inaccessible in all of South America. There are very few human settlements established by the needs of the mining companies that operate in the area.

The rest of the human groups reach these heights for tourist and scientific reasons. A human occupation density of no more than 1 inhabitant is calculated for each square kilometer of territory.

However, regardless of the reasons, ascent and staying in this area of ​​low pressure and low oxygen levels, require special conditioning of the body. Páramo disease, among others, is one of the adverse effects of these conditions.

On the other hand, it is an area of ​​glaciers and is the region with the least animal and plant coverage. Within its extension is located the Huascaran National Park, a reservoir of endangered species. In 1985 this park was included in the UNESCO list of Natural Heritage of Humanity.

Relief

The relief of the Janca region is rugged and is made up of rugged hills covered with permanent snow. There are deep chasms, volcanoes and lakes. there are also rivers of glacial origin such as Marañón, Santa and Pativilca

In addition, its relief includes a group of snowy peaks. Its heights exceed 5,000 meters. Among them are the Alpamayo, Huandoy, Coñocranra and Yerupajá.

Main cities

There are few permanent settlements settled at this altitude. Due to the inclement weather and the demanding conditions imposed by the altitude, the only human settlements that can be found are the mining towns.

Two of these mining towns in the Janca region are described below:

Morococha

The vegetation in the Janca region is very scarce. Some of the species include:

Mosses (Bryophyta)

They are plants of an intense green. They spread easily in places where other plants cannot. They breed on rocks and help keep the soil moist. They serve as a refuge for insects and other invertebrates.

Lichens (Xanthoria parietina)

The Yareta is a herbaceous species with a padded cushion shape. It is a relative of celery and parsley. It grows very slowly, therefore it is long-lived. Studies still in progress indicate possible antiparasitic, antituberculous and anti-hyperglycemic properties.

Yaretilla (Anthobryum triandrum)

It is a herbaceous species similar in appearance to the Yareta. It also spreads creating dense, hard, and very branchy cushion shapes. It has very small oval leaves, terminal flowers (ends of the stems) and white.

It is claimed to have medicinal properties. It is believed to prevent hair loss and eliminate dandruff. It is also said to have applications such as soap and stain remover.

Fauna

The most representative examples of the fauna in the Jalca region include:

Condor (Vultur gryphus)

It is a mammal of the order of rodents with natural habitat in Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Its size is small to medium (around 80 cm long) and up to 1 kg in weight. It is herbivorous and its meat and skin are highly valued.

Chinchilla (chinchilla Brevicaudata)

It is a herbivorous rodent in the same family as the vizcacha. It can reach 800 grams in weight and 32 cm in weight. Their fur is highly valued among hunters.

Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)

This herbivore belongs to the same family as camels (camelid). It lives between 3,000 m asl and 4,800 m asl. They are highly sought after for their wool.

Male alpaca (Lama pacos)

It is the smallest species of the camelid family. It can weigh up to 60 kg with a length of up to 2 m. It has a wide use that goes from meat and skin to manure that is used as fertilizer or as fuel

Weather

Due to its altitude conditions, the Janca region has a glacial climate throughout the year. There are marked differences in temperatures between the sun and the shade.

Consequently, there is this same abrupt difference between day and night. The maximum temperature fluctuates between 8ºC. and 15 ° C; while the minimum is in the range between –3 ºC. and - 8 ° C.

Thus, ice and snow are persistent. There is constant solid precipitation (snow and hail). The atmosphere is very dry, the air is very transparent and the atmospheric pressure is very low.

On the other hand, precipitation is mainly favored by convection (temperature exchange) of hot air that comes from levels close to sea level.

When it collides with low temperatures, it rises abruptly and on its way it releases that heat. This release of heat causes condensation of water from the air that triggers precipitation.

References

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