Pataz Province
The province of Pataz is one of the twelve that make up the department of La Libertad in northern Peru.
It borders on the north with the province of Bolívar; to the east, with the department of San Martín; to the south, with the province of Marañón in the department of Huánuco; to the south and west, with the province of Pallasca and the province of Sihuas in the department of Ancash, and to the west, with the province of Santiago de Chuco and the province of Sánchez Carrión.
It was created on December 2, 1821. Its capital is the city of Tayabamba.
It has an area of 4,226.5 km² divided into 13 districts. Its population is 88,038 inhabitants, according to the INEI as of 2015, being the seventh province of La Libertad and the seventy-sixth in Peru.
Toponymy
If Pataz is admitted as a voice from Quechua, it would derive from pataq → patash → patas → legs; pataq = platform.
History
Autonomous stage
In the different districts of the province, there are archaeological sites that suggest that the province was inhabited since pre-Inca times. This is how in the Santiago de Challas district there is the pre-Inca cemetery of Huallumarca and in Pías there are the ruins of Tamburco in a quadrangular shape, with remains of ceramics, cloaks and mummies of Pizuncho del Gran Pajatén. Similarly, in the district of Taurija, are the pre-Inca remains of Yorgo, Tute-paga and Uchus; likewise, the remains of Huaristambo (Collay) are found in the district of Tayabamba; those of Araytambo and Huarimarca, through which the Qhapaq Ñan (Inca road) passed.
Time of Hispanic influence
During the Spanish colonial era, three corregimientos were created in this extensive region: Collay to the south, Pataz to the center and Cajamarquilla to the north. With the abolition of the corregimientos, they were merged into Pataz, belonging to the Municipality of Trujillo. During this historical period, events of transcendental importance took place, such as the visit of the Archbishop of Lima Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo, in 1605 he arrived at the town of Collay on his way to the Huallaga, at that time Tayabamba was a small town dedicated to to agriculture and mining on the slopes of the Pahuarchuco and La Caldera hills, it is supposed that they were the ones who built a dam for the storage of water, located in the heights of Tayabamba known as the Gochapita lagoon, the waters of this Until now, the dam serves to irrigate the lands on the slopes of the Pahuarchuco hill and the hamlets of Queros, San Pedro and Chiquiacocha.
Time of liberation
The economic support and the contingent of blood with which the province of Pataz contributed to the war of independence, for having been very modest, only the participation of some citizens with the Army of the Liberators and the pecuniary aid are registered of some inhabitants, standing out exemplarily the gesture of a lady named Olano who, upon learning that the Liberator, Simón Bolívar, was in Huamachuco, sent her only two children with money and a letter to the Liberator that said: "Libertador, I am sending you everything I have for the fight for the independence of the homeland». At this time, there was an immense immigration of Spaniards attracted by the gold from the many existing veins in almost all the hills of the province. This migration was such that the indigenous race crossed entirely with the Spanish and the Quechua language disappeared almost entirely, imposing its customs. Not only the Spanish immigrated to these lands; Since the restriction on entry to the country imposed by the Spanish government was lifted, it was also the Poles, English, Russians, French, Italians, and Portuguese who arrived in this province attracted by the gold mines.
Independent time
According to the Provisional Regulation of February 12, 1821, the province of Pataz was created as part of the department of Trujillo. By law of November 21, 1832, it became part of the department of Amazonas, later with the law of February 10, 1840 it was reincorporated into the department of La Libertad, the capital of the province at that time was the mining settlement of Parcoy. By law of April 18, 1828, the town of Tayabamba was elevated to the category of villa. On December 28, 1895, the capital of the Pataz province was transferred to the town of Tayabamba. The law of December 28, 1895 transferred the capital of the province to the town of Tayabamba, and the law of November 27, 1897 elevated this town to the rank of city.
With the independence of Peru assured, in the new demarcation proposed by the Liberator, Simón Bolívar, merges the corregimientos of Pataz, Collay and Cajamarquilla, into one with its capital, Pataz. Some years later, it was transferred to Parcoy until 1895, when by law of Congress the capital of the province was again transferred to the city of Tayabamba, because this city is the largest, most prosperous and because of its geographical location.
Geography
With a rugged relief, due to the influence of the Andes mountain range, and with an area of 4,226.53 km², it is the province with the largest geographical extension in the department of La Libertad.
Location
The Pataz province is located in the eastern sierra of the La Libertad department on the right bank of the Marañón river and to the west of the central mountain range of the Andes, except for the Ongón district and the eastern part of the Huancaspata district, which are located to the west. east of the mountain range. It has the city of Tayabamba as the provincial capital; located at an altitude of 3203 m s. no. m., with a territorial extension of 4000.28 km².
Its limits are as follows:
- To the north: With the Bolivar province of the department La Libertad.
- East: With the Mariscal Cáceres and Tocache provinces of the department San Martín.
- South: With the Marañón province of the department of Huánuco.
- West: With the Marañón River that separates it from the provinces Sánchez Carrión and Santiago
of Chuco (La Libertad department) and the provinces of Pallasca, Sihuas and Pomabamba (Ancash department).
Northwest:  Sánchez Carrión | North: Bolívar | Northeast:  Department of San Martín |
West:  Santiago de Chuco |  | This: Department of San Martín |
| Southwest: Department of Ancash | South:  Department of Huánuco | Sureste: Department of San Martín |
Relief
The geomorphological features that it presents have been originated by the concurrence of unique physiographic and structural patterns, as well as different geodynamic processes: tectonic, erosive and cumulative, which have modeled its relief and whose action is also manifested today; due to the action of different agents and geomorphological factors, the product of which can be seen in the different morphological units that are detailed below:
- Altiplanicie
Located in the southern sector of the provincial territory, made up of a total of 10,886.67 ha, covering part of the territorial areas of the Tayabamba and Ongón district, whose altitude fluctuates between 3,800 to 4,200 m s. no. m., characterized by structural and lacustrine plains. In which are the lagoons of Huascacocha, Huacchi, among others.
- Andean hill
This unit includes low hills, as well as contiguous or isolated hills, which are located parallel to the structural slope areas; its relief ranges from gentle to moderate slopes that are located parallel to the Marañón River. Likewise, this unit is included from 1800 to 2200 m s. no. m., with a total area of 81 296.52 ha; covering part of the Taurija district.
- Straight valley
Characterized by the depth of steep slopes and erosional terraces, facilitating the development of solifluction phenomena or massive and slow displacement of clayey soils. This unit has developed parallel to some rivers and streams; which in turn allows the settlement of some populated centers such as Pataz, Ongón and Pías. The surface that includes this geoform is 82 924.00 ha.
- Mountain chain
Unit made up of structural and rocky slopes, gorges, ravines and erosive mountains, covered by wooded vegetation, and violent displacement of rocks, are the areas with the highest incidence of landslides and alluvium, geologically the mountainous alignments coincide with the anticlines, comprising heights ranging from 1900 to 4000 m s. no. m. Likewise, in this geomorphological area, the areas of the districts are located: Tayabamba, Santiago de Challas, Urpay, Taurija, Chilia and others; The area covered by this unit is 104,086.67 ha.
- Amazonian hill
This unit includes the Amazonian hills and, in parallel, the structural slope areas, its relief ranges from gentle to moderate slopes, which have developed in the Tertiary and Quaternary. Likewise, this geoform is found from 800 to 1800 m s. no. m., with a total area of 81,296.52 ha; covering as an area part of the district of Ongón, which is included within the natural region of the jungle.
- Mountainside
Unit that is characterized by the presence of rugged relief, with a steep slope and a canyon bottom, which is located in the intermediate zone between the bottom of the valley and the mountain chain; covering a total area of 120,482.03 ha, which ranges from 1,100 to 3,200 m s. no. m. Likewise, the main populated centers of the province are located in this geomorphological area: Tayabamba, Challas, Taurija and Chilia.
Hydrography
The province of Pataz is crossed transversally by rivers, streams and streams, all of them belonging to the slope of the Atlantic Ocean. In our case, we will represent the entire province in two hydrographic sub-basins: Alto Marañón and Alto Huallaga. Most of the rivers are tributaries of the right bank of the Marañón River and to a lesser extent tributaries of the Huallaga River. A significant percentage of the population settles around these rivers and the main agricultural and livestock areas are located. The Cajas and Huancas rivers in the south of the province have a permanent flow due to the existence of numerous lagoons in their sources that feed them with water all year round until they flow into the Marañón. In the others, the routes of water are sporadic, irregular and conditioned to the rainy seasons in the upper parts, although outcrops and springs remain that allow agricultural activity. In general, the rivers are part of a rugged, steep, elongated and deep relief, and ravines with steep slopes.
Climate
The climate that the province of Pataz presents is varied, due to the altitudes that oscillate between 700 and 4600 m s. no. m.; Since there is no weather station, the climate identification data are approximate and referential to nearby areas with a similar profile. Thus, it has been determined that the temperature suffers a lot of variability, between 2 °C and 20 °C, with an annual average of 11 °C. Likewise, according to Javier Pulgar Vidal's classification of the eight natural regions of Peru, we find five natural regions within the provincial scope: fluvial yunga (temple zone), Quechua, Suni, Puna, and high jungle.
The yunga fluvial region, known as temple, in the province is between 1100 and 2300 m s. no. m., warm temperate climate with abundant rainfall (greater than 400 mm³ per year) giving rise to a lush flora; The Quechua region, known as the pantry of the country, lies between 2,300 and 3,500 m a.s.l. no. m. of dry temperate climate, with rainfall (greater than 200 mm³ per year) and with a temperature that oscillates between 11 °C and 17 °C; The suni region, known as the highlands, lies between 3,500 and 4,000 m above sea level. no. m., with a cold temperate climate, with rainfall (greater than 800 mm³ per year) and with a temperature that oscillates between 7 °C and 11 °C; The puna region, known as soroche, is located between 4000 and 4600 m a.s.l. no. m. of cold climate, with rainfall (greater than 1200 mm³ per year) and with a temperature that oscillates between 2 °C and 7 °C; The high jungle region, known as rupa rupa, lies between 700 and 1000 m a.s.l. no. m. of warm humid climate, with rainfall (greater than 1400 mm³ per year), in this altitudinal floor we find the only district of the province of Pataz: Ongón as part of the natural region of the jungle.
Likewise, three climatic periods defined during the year can be distinguished: from November to April, the period of intense rains; between May and August, the dry period, with frosts and strong winds; and from September to October, an intermediate period of rains. However, variations in rainfall, due to climate change that has occurred in recent years, result in well differentiated dry, intermediate and rainy years. Except for the district of Ongón, because it is located in the jungle, its manifestation of climatic period of rainfall almost all year round on a regular basis is peculiar.
Administrative division
The province is divided into thirteen districts:
- Tayabamba, created at the time of independence.
- Buldibuyo, established at the time of independence. The law of 9 November 1899 gave its capital the title of villa.
- Chilia, created at the time of independence.
- Huancaspata, founded at the time of independence. The law of 9 November 1899 gave its capital the title of villa.
- Huaylillas, established at the time of independence.
- Huayo, created at the time of independence.
- Ongón, founded by law of 25 November 1876 as district of the province of Huallaga. The Act of 5 November 1897 re-established this district as a member of the province of Pataz.
- Parcoy, created at the time of independence.
- Pataz, founded at the time of independence.
- Pías, established by Law 12402 of 31 October 1955.
- Santiago de Challas, founded by Law 24693 of 21 June 1987.
- Taurija, created by Law 9406 of 20 November 1941.
- Urpay, established by Law 13173 of 10 October 1959.
Population
The province has a population of approximately 78,383.
Capital
The capital of this province is the city of Tayabamba at 3245 ms. no. m. There is also the possibility that one of its annexes, such as Suyopampa, becomes the modern Nuevo Tayabamba, due to the flatness and breadth of said sector and its proximity to the capital.
Authorities
Regionals
- Regional adviser
- 2019-2022: Luis Alberto Rodríguez Ponce (Alianza para el Progreso)
Municipals
- 2011-2014
- Mayor: Omar Armando Iparraguirre Espinoza (2019-2022)
- Mayor: Messiah Esteban Ramos Cueva, Alliance for Progress Party (APP).
- Regidores: Luis Alberto Segura Javes (APP), Heiner Villanueva Ponce (APP), Violeta Behlermina Mebus de Benites (APP), Javier Ramos Barros (APP), Gladis Quiroz Acuña (APP), Artemio Abel Domínguez Henríquez (APP), John William Rodríguez Sánchez (Fonavistas del Perú), Abelmate
- 2007-2010: Grimaldo Vigo Morales
- 2002-2006: Melanio Caballero
- 1994-1997: Welsman Miranda Ramos
- 1990-1993 and 1998-2001: Ney Roy Miranda Ramos
Police
- Commissioner: Major PNP
Religious
- Huamachuco Prelature
- Prelate Bishop of Huamachuco: Monsignor Sebastian Ramis Torres, TOR.
Festivities
- Virgin of the Dolores
- Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo
- San Cayetano (Huancas, 7 August)
- Master of the Column (Saire, September 14)