Cordillera Blanca offers an endless parade of snowcapped mountains along 170 km, most of which have been formed over the irregular grandorite mass that was left exposed. Taking into consideration that the snow accumulation in the glacial amphitheater begins at 5,000 m.a.s.l. (16,400 ft.) on the average, and with the purpose of not having an excessively long list, we will only mention snowcapped mountains over 5,800 m. (19,024 ft.) high.
Huascarán South |
(6 768 m.a.s.l.) |
22,200 ft. |
Huascarán North |
(6 655 m.a.s.l.) |
21,828 ft. |
Huandoy North |
(6 395 m.a.s.l.) |
20,965 ft. |
Huantsan |
(6 395 m.a.s.l.) |
20,965 ft. |
Huandoy West |
(6 356 m.a.s.l.) |
20,847 ft. |
Chopicalqui |
(6 354 m.a.s.l.) |
20,841 ft. |
Palcaraju South |
(6 274 m.a.s.l.) |
20,578 ft. |
Palcaraju North |
(6 180 m.a.s.l.) |
20,270 ft. |
Palcaraju West |
(6 110 m.a.s.l.) |
20,040 ft. |
Santa Cruz Grande |
(6 259 m.a.s.l.) |
20,530 ft. |
Chinchey |
(6 222 m.a.s.l.) |
20,408 ft. |
Copa Grande |
(6 188 m.a.s.l.) |
20,296 ft. |
Copa Norte |
(6 173 m.a.s.l.) |
20,247 ft. |
Huandoy South |
(6 166 m.a.s.l.) |
20,224 ft. |
Ranrapalca |
(6 162 m.a.s.l.) |
20,211 ft. |
Pucaranra |
(6 156 m.a.s.l.) |
20,192 ft. |
Hualcan |
(6 122 m.a.s.l.) |
20,080 ft. |
Chacraraju West |
(6 112 m.a.s.l.) |
20,047 ft. |
Huandoy East |
(6 070 m.a.s.l.) |
19,910 ft. |
Pucahirca North I |
(6 046 m.a.s.l.) |
19,831 ft. |
Pucahirca South |
( 6 039 m.a.s.l.) |
19,808 ft. |
Contrahierbas |
(6 036 m.a.s.l.) |
19,798 ft. |
Quitaraju |
(6 036 m.a.s.l.) |
19,798 ft. |
Tocllaraju |
(6 034 m.a.s.l.) |
19,792 ft. |
Artesonraju |
(6 025 m.a.s.l.) |
19,762 ft. |
Caraz I |
(6 025 m.a.s.l.) |
19,762 ft. |
Caraz II |
(6 020 m.a.s.l.) |
19,746 ft. |
Pucahirca Central |
(6 014 m.a.s.l.) |
19,726 ft. |
Chacraraju East |
(6 001 m.a.s.l.) |
19,684 ft. |
Puntacuernos |
(6 000 m.a.s.l.) |
19,680 ft. |
Yanarangra |
(5 987 m.a.s.l.) |
19,638 ft. |
Alpamayo |
(5 947 m.a.s.l.) |
19,506 ft. |
Ocshapalca |
(5 888 m.a.s.l.) |
19,312 ft. |
Gracilazo Pyramid |
(5 885 m.a.s.l.) |
19,300 ft. |
Ulta North |
(5 875 m.a.s.l.) |
19,270 ft. |
Champara |
(5 850 m.a.s.l.) |
19,188 ft. |
San Juan |
(5 843 m.a.s.l.) |
19,165 ft. |
Taulliraju |
(5 830 m.a.s.l.) |
19,122 ft. |
Rinrijirca |
(5 810 m.a.s.l.) |
19,056 ft. |
The main elevations in Cordillera Negra include the following mountains:
Rocarre |
(5 187 m.a.s.l) |
17,014 ft. |
Tres Cruces |
(5 181 m.a.s.l) |
16,994 ft. |
Cushuro |
(5 100 m.a.s.l) |
16,728 ft. |
Rumicrus East |
(5 020 m.a.s.l) |
16,465 ft. |
Rico |
(5 006 m.a.s.l) |
16,420 ft. |
Chagcha |
(5 000 m.a.s.l) |
16,400 ft. |
Huancapeti |
(4 978 m.a.s.l) |
16,328 ft. |
Murga |
(4 900 m.a.s.l) |
16,072 ft. |
Uchunga |
(4 847 m.a.s.l) |
15,898 ft. |
Rocotuyoc |
(4 760 m.a.s.l) |
15,612 ft. |
Pucaranra |
(4 736 m.a.s.l) |
15,534 ft. |
Japrujirca |
(4 622 m.a.s.l) |
15,160 ft. |
If the previously mentioned mountains seem of little significance in comparison to those of Cordillera Blanca, let us recall they serve an important function as barriers for warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, allowing the highest tropical mountain range in the world to exist in our country.
The Vertientes area is characterized by presenting predominantly three orientations: eastern (represented by water sources from both mountain ranges that flank the Santa Valley), and western (represented by the highest foothills and highest water sources in Cordillera Negra facing the Pacific). These last ones form the border with the coastal desert area.
Topographically speaking, the water sources area is characterized by steep slopes in the valley areas and moderate to steep slopes on mountain sides used for farming. However, in places where terracing has formed gentle slopes, (due to fluvial processes or mudslides), said areas have been used to locate some of the main villages, as well as for the development of farming.
|
............ |
|
