Pomabamba Province

Province in Ancash, Peru

Coat of arms

Location of Pomabamba
Puma Pampa in the Ancash Region

CountryPeruRegionAncashCapitalPumapampaGovernment

• MayorJuan Ponte (2007)Area

• Total2,973.83 km² (1,148.20 sq mi)Population

(2017)

• Total24,794 • Density8.3/km² (22/sq mi)UBIGEO0216Websitewww.munipomabamba.gob.pe

The Pomabamba Province (Quechua Puma Pampa) is one of twenty provinces of the Ancash Region in Peru. It was formerly called Pumapampa (Quechua for "cougar plain") and today it is also known as "The City of Cedars". It is located at the left bank of the Pomabamba river, at 3,063 meters (10,049 ft) above sea level. It was created by law on February 21, 1861.

In this vast region some archaeological sites like Ichik Yaynu, Willka Marka, Runa Marka and the gigantic stone constructions of Yaynu were found with features of the Recuay Culture.

For these ancient copper-colored and fecund places, one of the biggest pre-inca confederations was created, the powerful confederation of conchucos. It was an iron agglomeration of people that presented a hard and brave resistance to the Inca and Spanish armies. During the Republic, don Ramón Castilla, a great marshall from Tarapacá, visited Pomabamba and fell in love with the beautiful Ancash woman from Llumpa, Margarita Mariluz.

Geography

One of the highest peaks of the district is Puka Hirka at approximately 4,400 m (14,400 ft). Other mountains are listed below:^[1]

Hatun Raqra
Kimsa Hirka
Kuntur Wasi
Misa
Paña Hirka
Pirilla Hirka
Puka Hanka
Puka Qishqi
Pukarahu
Puka Yaku Hirka
Puma Hirka
Qillqa Qaqa
Qucha
Runtu Hirka
Tawlli
Tawllirahu
Tuku Mach'ay
Tuqtu Pampa
Usnu Hirka
Waychaw
Wira Wira
Yana Hirka
Yana Qucha
Yana Qullpa

Political division

Pomabamba is divided into four districts, which are:

Ethnic groups

The people in the province are mainly indigenous citizens of Quechua descent. Quechua is the language which the majority of the population (84.83%) learnt to speak in childhood, 14.90% of the residents started speaking using the Spanish language (2007 Peru Census).^[2]

Sources

^ escale.minedu.gob.pe/ UGEL map Pomabamba Province (Ancash Region)
^ inei.gob.pe Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine INEI, Peru, Censos Nacionales 2007