Cajatambo Province

Cajatambo is a Peruvian province located in the north of the department of Lima, with the capital being the city of Cajatambo. It borders on the north with the department of Áncash; by the east with the department of Huánuco; to the south with the province of Oyón; and, by the West with the province of Huaura.

Within the ecclesiastical division of the Catholic Church of Peru, it belongs to the Diocese of Huacho

History

Chimu Empire

The Province of Cajatambo was part of the Chimú Empire or Chimú Kingdom in its maximum expansion that lasted from 1000 to 1470 years.

Although its history goes back to the end of time; Cajatambo belongs to the handful of towns that were born with the Republic. Well, before, during the Tahuantinsuyo —with the name of Kasha Tampu— it had been part of the Chinchay Suyo imperial region; and in the viceroyalty era it was part of the administration of Tarma. But when the Provisional Regulation of Huaura (12/2/1821) was issued, with which the administrative and political management of the Independent Government began led by General José de San Martín, the first four departments of Peru were also born: Trujillo, Tarma, La Coast and Huaylas. The department of Huaylas was then created, made up of the Huaylas, Huamalies, Conchucos, Huánuco and Cajatambo parties —they would be called provinces from the Constitution of 1823—. But not for long, since that same Constituent Congress determines, as of November 4, 1823, the merger of Tarma with Huaylas that gives rise to the department of Huánuco, whose extension includes —in addition to Huánuco— Tarma, Cajatambo, Huaylas, Conchucos and Huamalies. In 1825, after the war, the department of Huánuco received —in tribute to the triumph of the Chacamarca pampa— the name of Junín.

Ten years later, in 1835, during the brief —and tragic— government of Felipe Santiago Salaverry, the department of Junín was once again divided to make way for Huaylas with the union of the provinces of Huaylas, Cajatambo, Conchudos and Holy; while Junín is reduced to Jauja, Pasco, Huánuco and Huamalies. But in a short time, exactly on October 10, 1836, Cajatambo was incorporated into the department of Junín by decree signed by the president of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, General Andrés de Santa Cruz. After the Confederation was defeated in 1839, Agustín Gamarra —the victorious caudillo of the restoring faction— decreed the replacement of the name of the department of Huaylas by that of Ancash; Likewise, on November 21 of that same year, as a reward for his adherence, Chiquián became the capital of the province of Cajatambo (with the title of Villa Incontrastable).

Another ten years will pass before on September 7, 1849, for being located in the center of the provincial territory and having held the rank, the government of Marshal Castilla resolved to restore Cajatambo to its original status as capital. But soon, again, on November 31, 1851, by congressional law, Cajatambo returned to the jurisdiction of Ancash. By then, according to a 1934 Outsiders Guide, the province of Cajatambo was made up of the following towns: Ámbar, Chiquián, Churín, Mangas and Ocros; For its part, the 1857 law for the creation of municipalities recognized the districts of Cajatambo, Mangas, Pacllón, Copa, Chiquián, Aquía and Cajacay; and in turn, the electoral law of 1893 specifies the 19 districts that are part of its vast territory: Gorgor, Ámbar, Caujul, Andajes, Oyón, Mangas, Pacllón, Chiquián, Aquía, Huasta, Cajacay, Huayllacayan, Tícllos, Ocros, Acas, Cochas, Huancapón Cochamarca and Cajatambo.

However, barely a decade later, on October 22, 1903, the reverse process of its political and jurisdictional history began, when the province of Bolognesi was created —in homage to the hero of Arica— through the division of Cajatambo. This is how they come to form the new province: Chiquián, Aquía, Huasta, Pacllón, Tìcllos, Mangas, Ocros, Acas, Cochas, Huayllacayán and Cajacay while Cajatambo is then limited to the area formed by Oyón (which in 1875 changed its name to replace that of Churín), Cochamarca, Ámbar, Caujul, Andajes, Huancapón, Gorgor and Copa (which arises from the distribution of Mangas by uniting Huayllapa, Poquían and Copa). Also immediately, as a consolation, in 1909, by law No. 1115, the provincial capital was elevated to the category of city. Seven years later, on November 10, 1916, by law No. 2335, once again, the last removal of the province of Cajatambo was ordered. The brief text of the regulation only says: "The Province of Cajatambo will belong administratively, politically and judicially to the Department of Lima." In other words, it says nothing about what —according to historian Nelson Manrique— was the true cause of the separation: the Prado family's need to have a deputy for Lima. In short, whatever the reasons, belonging to the jurisdiction of the capital of the Republic did not free Cajatambo from losing in 1935, by law No. 8003, the district of Ámbar —after the construction of the highway that linked Huacho with that district— for the benefit of the province of Chancay. Until finally, again as a result of the construction of the network of trails and the consolidation of mining activity, in 1985, by law No24330, the province of Oyón was created with the division of six districts belonging to the river basin. Huaura: Churin (Pachangara), Naván, Caujul, Cochamarca, Andajes and Oyón. Starting in 1986, Cajatambo —the long-lived province that was born together with the Republic— was reduced to the scope of five districts (Cajatambo, Gorgor, Copa, Huancapón and Manás).

Geography

From right to left: Jurau, peaks of the Great Siula and Sarapo, Yerupaja Grande and the Great Yerupajá; seen from the San Antonio Pass.

Its territorial extension is 1,515.21 km². The lowest part of its jurisdiction corresponds to the Cahua bridge (850 m a.s.l.) and the highest to the snowy Yerupajá (6634 m a.s.l.).

Administrative division

The province of Cajatambo was created on February 12, 1821 and is currently made up of five districts:

1. Manás (2575 m. n. m.)
2. Gorgor (3074 m. n. m.)
3. Huancapón (3145 m. n. m.)
4. Cajatambo (3200 m. n. m.)
5. Cup (3410 m. n. m.).

Annexes

• Astobamba
• Utcas
• Uramaza
• Florida
• Paca
• Nunumia

Population

The province has a population of approximately 10,000.

Economic activity

The province of Cajatambo is purely agricultural and livestock. In addition, it is recognized for the exquisiteness of its sweets. The Inca trails that are currently used as bridle paths by the inhabitants of the place continue to be preserved.

Climate

Its climate is defined in the rainy season that goes from November to the beginning of April and the dry season. Between the months of June to August the presence of temperatures during the day can reach up to 30 °C and at night drop to 0 °C.

Average climate parameters of Cajatambo
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Total precipitation (mm)	163.6	92.4	140.2	110.8	0.6	0.7	3	3.1	4.6	12.6	84	172.2	787.8
Source: Senamhi (http://www.senamhi.gob.pe/include_mapas/_dat_esta_type.php?estations=000540)

Authorities

Regionals

• Regional advisers
  • 2019 - 2022
  1. Abel Narcissus Caquipoma Reyes (Patria Joven)
  2. Vicente Sabino Rivera Loarte (Alliance for Progress)

Municipals

2019-2021

• • Mayor: Jose Del Carmen Flores Fuentes Rivera, Partido [Patria Joven].
  • Regivers:

Police

• Cajatambo police station
  • Commissioner: Cmdte. NPP.

Religious

• Diocese of Huacho
  • Bishop of Huacho: Mons. Antonio Santarsiero Rosa, OSI.
• Parish Santa Maria Magdalena
  • Párroco: Pbro. Pablo Salazar.

Education

Educational Institutions

• IE 20005
• IE Oscar Miro Quesada de la Guerra
• IE Paulino Fuentes Castro
• IE 20001

Festivities

• Santa Maria Magdalena - Fiestas Patronales. It starts with the “church winy” July 24th at night; the Inca Atahualpa, Huáscar and Rumiñahui surrounded by beautiful pallas, the harp and violin begin the holidays. On the night of August 2, the Palla Suakuy (The Robbery of the Pallas), Pizarro takes prisoner and kills the Inca and on his horse takes the most beautiful pallas.
• Carnivals

One of the festivities is the popular 'negritos' where men put on masks, hats, slang, gloves and dance with an orchestra. Another is also at Easter where they relive the passage of Jesus death resurrection, accompanied by a procession.

There is also the 'pallas' according to tradition, women must dress with bright and striking ornaments, likewise the Inca, Huascar and Rumiñahui have incrustations of precious stones, silver and gold in their clothing.