SUNI REGION: CHARACTERISTICS, RELIEF, FLORA, FAUNA, CLIMATE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The Suni region is the region located in the mountainous area of ​​northern Peru. Its highest points range from 3,500 to 4,100 meters above sea level. This region is one of the 8 natural regions in which the Republic of Peru is divided.

This is according to the classification made by the Peruvian geographer Javier Pulgar Vidal in the 1930s. In particular, the region comprises the Bombón plain in central Peru, the Collao plateau with Lake Titicaca, and the upper western and eastern slopes of The Andes.

Sicuani, city in southeastern Peru, in the Suni Region

As for its name, it comes from Quechua (language of the Incas), and translates wide, wide, high. Its climate is cold and dry, while its predominant natural vegetation is made up of shrubs.

There is a certain agricultural activity developed by the few inhabitants of the area, who are direct descendants of the first inhabitants. They work the land according to ancestral techniques inherited from their ancestors.

Sometimes, the El Niño phenomenon affects the standard rainfall variability of the area. This makes the rainy season so intense that crops and natural plant areas are lost due to flooding.

Main characteristics of the Suni region

The Suni region is located on the eastern and western slopes of the Andes, in part of the Collao highlands. Its temperature presents sensible variations in the sun and shade (day and night).

In relation to agricultural activities, it is an appropriate boundary zone for cultivation. Towards higher areas this activity is made difficult by high temperatures. Rainfed agriculture is practiced. That is, the irrigation water from the rain is used. Among others, the following products are grown in the Suni region:

Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum)

This plant has been cultivated since pre-Inca times. Its roots (tubers) and its flowers are used to prepare meals. It is also used for medicinal and aphrodisiac purposes.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Quinoa, or quinoa, is used to produce flour and in the production of fermented chicha. This seed is also consumed as a cereal. In addition, its leaves are used as forage in animal feed.

Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walpers)

This herbaceous plant has been traditionally used by indigenous Peruvians as a dietary supplement. Likewise, it is believed to have favorable effects on energy and mood, fertility, sexual desire and decrease of anxiety, and others.

Tawri (Lupinus mutabilis)

The relief of the Suni region is made up of a steep surface with steep walls, steep gorges and peaks topped with spikes. On its sides, the slopes present forms of gentle undulations.

Main cities

Among the main cities of the Suni region are:

Puno (3,827 m asl)

It is a tourist city known as the capital of Peruvian folklore and headquarters of the Festival of the Virgin of La Candelaria. Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, its average annual temperature is 14ºC and the minimum is 3ºC.

La Oroya (3,712 m asl).

Huancavelica is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located at the confluence of the Sacsamarca and Ichu rivers. It owes its development to the mercury mining activity that has been carried out since the colony. In the city there are great colonial architectural structures.

Juliaca (3,824 m asl)

It is a commercial city without many colonial architectural gems. Its importance lies in the fact that the closest commercial airport to Lake Titicaca is located in its surroundings. This turns the city into a point of intersection of routes.

Castrovirreyna (3,947 m asl)

Its construction was ordered by the Spanish Crown around the year 1,500. Its foundation was driven by the need for a town center to house the workers of the silver mines in the area.

Flora

Some of the species that can be found in this region include:

Taya (Caesalpinia spinosa)

It is a shrub that is mainly found on the banks of rivers. It is characterized by having reddish-yellow flowers that are used to make dyes.

Quinual (Polylepis racemosa)

It is an arboreal species that is used to obtain wood for firewood and charcoal.

Sauco (Sambucus peruviana)

Elderberry is a shrub used in medicinal applications.

Cantuta (Cantua buxifolia)

This shrub has been cultivated since pre-Hispanic times. It has exclusively ornamental use. Its flowering is considered the national flower of Peru.

Mutuy (Cassia tomentosa)

It is a shrub with medicinal applications. It is used to treat headaches, among other ailments.

Fauna

Regarding the fauna of the Suni region, some of the most representative animals of the Suni region are described:

The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

Cavia porcellus

The guinea pig is a rodent mammal with high reproductive capacity. It is raised as a pet and as a supplier of meat for human consumption.

Vizcacha

On the other hand, another rodent mammal that inhabits the rocky and dry area of ​​the Suni is the vizcacha. These have dense and smooth dark gray or brown fur.

Its body, without the tail, is about 300-450 mm long. Their long and thick fur on the dorsal surface of their tails that can measure approximately 200-400 mm.

The skin on its belly is lighter, and it can be white, yellowish, or light gray. The dorsally curled ends of their tails vary from rusty to black.

Skunk

The skunk is also common, a carnivorous mammal with a long and thin body with a very showy tail. Their hairs are long and bristly, while their fur is long and bushy.

It has a black coloration on the back and head, with white stripes on both sides that go from head to tail.

It is known by the scientific name of Conepatus chinga, and popularly as: chingue, common chingue, skunk, or skunk.

Andean bear

Likewise, you can find Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus), although it is a species in danger of extinction. This bear can be up to 2.2 meters tall standing on two legs. The females are much smaller. Their adult weight ranges between 90 and 180 kilos.

It has long, thick and coarse fur, black, brown or reddish in color, with light yellowish or whitish spots on the face and part of the chest.

Birds

Among the birds that are part of the fauna of the Suni region of Peru are the Andean condors, harriers and black thrushes.

The Andean condor is among the largest flying birds in the world. These birds of prey are mostly black, but the males have a distinguishing white collar around their necks, as well as some white markings on their wings.

Like their North American relatives, the California condors, the Andean condors have bald heads.

For their part, harriers are medium-sized raptors, exclusive to South America and distributed throughout the Andes Mountains.

In addition, the black thrush is another of the birds that crosses the skies of the Suni region. The male thrush has glossy black plumage, while its legs, bill, and eye rings are orange-yellow. Their trills are sharp and fast.

Trout

Trout is part of the fauna of the Suni region of Peru. These are found in the lagoons, although it is not native to the country.

The trout were brought to Peru imported through the import of fertilized trout eggs to be raised in lagoons or rivers.

Weather

The climate of the Suni region is temperate-cold characteristic of high areas. As an outstanding feature, it can be mentioned that its dryness can cause the skin to crack if it is exposed without coat protection for a long time.

At the height of this region, the air is very transparent. So much so that, sometimes, you can see the stars during the day.

On the other hand, the average annual temperature fluctuates between 7 ºC. and 10 ° C. The maximum temperatures are above 20 ºC, and the minimum temperatures range between –1 ºC. at –16 ºC.

With regard to the rainfall regime, rainfall is abundant between January and April. During the rest of the year, the regime is dry (without any type of precipitation).

References

1. Grobman, A.; Salhuana, W. and Sevilla, R. (1961). Races of Maize in Peru: Their Origins, Evolution and Classification. Washington DC: National Academies.
2. Newton, P. (2011). Viva Travel Guides Machu Picchu and Cusco, Peru: Including the Sacred Valley and Lima.Quito: Viva Publishing Network.
3. Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Peru). (s / f). Quinoa Retrieved on January 24, 2018, from minagri.gob.pe.
4. Jacobsen, S. and Mujica, A. (2006). The tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet.) And its wild relatives. Economic Botany of the Central Andes, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, pp. 458-482.
5. Sumozas García-Pardo, R. (2003). Colonial architecture and urbanism in the mining city of Huancavelica, Peru: current status of the Villa Rica de Oropesa and the Santa Bárbara mine. I. Rábano, I. Manteca and C. García, (editors), Geological and mining heritage and regional development, pp.415-422. Madrid: IGME.
6. Cook, ND (2004). Demographic Collapse: Indian Peru, 1520-1620. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
7. Towle, M. (2017). The Ethnobotany of Pre-Columbian Peru. New York: Routledge.
8. Ordóñez G., L. (2001). Andean forest seed collection sites in Ecuador. Quito: Editorial Abya Yala.