Tocache Province
The province of Tocache is one of the ten that make up the department of San Martín in northern Peru.
It borders on the north with the province of Mariscal Cáceres; to the south, with the province of Marañón (Huánuco); to the southeast, with the province of Leoncio Prado (Huánuco); on the east and west, with the province of Bellavista, and on the west and northwest, with the province of Pataz (La Libertad).
History
After several years of living in the town of San Juan de Tocache and seeing that the place did not meet the adequate conditions to establish their permanent homes, due to the constant flooding of the Huallaga River and the Tocache River, once again a group of people abandoned in 1935 the town of San Juan de Tocache to move to the place that today becomes the city of Tocache, being renamed Tocache Nuevo, being created as an annex in 1937, belonging to the district of Uchiza.
During the last government of Manuel Prado Ugarteche, Tocache rose to the category of district, according to Law no. 9097, dated May 7, 1940, belonging to the province of Mariscal Cáceres, with Mr. Emeterio Aliaga Rodriguez.
The province was created by decree of December 6, 1984, during the second government of Fernando Belaúnde Terry, encompassing the districts of Uchiza, Tocache, Pólvora, Nuevo Progreso and Shunté.
Geography
The province of Tocache is located in the upper basin of the Huallaga river, in the great Andean complex (or Andes mountain range), and in the ancient jungle of Pomabamba Ancash... and comprises two relevant morphostructural units: by the to the west is the Eastern Cordillera and, to the east, the Sub-Andean cordillera or belt. Tocache presents a relief with a great variety of forms, among which the mountainous areas with various characteristics of slope and altitude stand out. Likewise, the dynamic action of the rivers that drain the province has developed relatively flat to undulating reliefs in some sectors. Located in parallel, in this territory there have been intense pedogenetic processes that gave rise to the great variety of soils, which have, in turn, influenced the diversity of vegetation and habitats. The hydrographic network of the province of Tocache is part of the upper basin of the Huallaga river, whose length within the province is 218 km. The Huallaga River, in its course through the province, presents a steep slope and great current speed. The main tributaries of this river are born in the Eastern Cordillera and in the Sub-Andean Cordillera, characterized by being very torrential and of high speed, presenting low fish diversity, with around seventy-one species of fish.
Climate
The climate varies from humid and warm in the low-lying areas of the plains and hills of the central sector of the basin, to very humid and temperately cold in the mountains. A fundamental characteristic of the province is the excess of humidity, which gives rise to runoff throughout the year, in the form of streams, streams and rivers of continuous regimes. Thus, water runoff is the main factor for the potential development of agricultural activity in the area.
Population
Currently, the province of Tocache, according to the results of the 2017 population census , amounts to 75,664 inhabitants, which represents 9.66% of the population of the department of San Martín.
Administrative division
The province of Tocache is made up of six districts:
- Tocache
- New Progress
- Gunpowder
- Saint Lucia
- Shunté
- Uchiza
Tocache District
Capital of the province, located in the Huallaga river basin, which crosses the territory of the district from the south-east to the northeast, with an area of 1142.04 km², represents 19.47% of the province at an altitude of 497 m s. no. m., in the city of Tocache Nuevo, capital of the district. It is a district with a high rate of urban, social and economic development.
Nuevo Progreso District
Located in the southeast of the province, it forms part of the Huallaga River basin, which crosses it from south to north. Parallel to the Fernando Belaunde Terry highway, the Uchiza river and its tributaries (Pacota, Vista Alegre, Tigre, Blanco and Ibáñez rivers), the Aspuzana river and numerous streams run through its territory. With an area of 860.98 km², it represents 14.68% of the province at an altitude of 490 m s. no. m., in the city of Nuevo Progreso, capital of the district.
Polvora District
It is located within the sub-basin of the Huallaga river, to the northeast of the province, numerous streams and streams flow in its territories that form the sub-basin of the Mishollo and Challuayacu river, micro-basin of the Pólvora stream, it has an area of 2174.48 km², It represents 37.07 %, being the district with the greatest geographical extension in the province of Tocache, it has an altitude that oscillates between 481 and 3438 m s. no. m., and the capital city of Pólvora is located at 843 m s. no. m.
Shunte District
It is located to the west of the province in the Tocache river basin, a tributary of the Huallaga river on its left bank, with an area of 964.21 km², representing 16.44% of the province at an altitude of 1500 m s. no. m., in the city of Tambo de Paja, capital of the district. Shunte is the district with the highest poverty in the area.
Uchiza District
It is located in the southern zone of the Chontayacu river basin, a tributary of the Huallaga river on its left bank, with an area of 723.73 km², representing 12.34% of the province at an altitude of 544 m s. no. m., in the city of Uchiza, capital of the district. It constitutes the most important district socioeconomically, due to the presence of the oil palm and peach palm agro-industry.
Authorities
Regionals
- Regional adviser
- 2019-2022: Luis Alberto Aliaga Rojas (Regional Action)
Municipals
- 2019-2022
- Mayor: Sister Esleiter Valera Ramírez of New Amazonia.
- Regivers:
Police
- Commissioner: Commander PNP
Religious
- Parish
- Párroco de la Iglesia Católica: Paulino Rey Huzco Irriarte
- Other Evangelical churches
Festivities
- Feast of Saint John the Baptist (every June 24)
- Banana Festival (Festive Days: December 1st)
- Anniversary of the creation of the province of Tocache (held every 6 December)
Tourist places
Silver Veil Waterfall: Also called Silver Veil Waterfall. This waterfall has an average height of 135 m. It is considered that this is one of the largest on the continent, so it is also quite visited. The Silver Veil Waterfall is located in the district of Uchiza, and is reached after traveling for an hour and a half by car and forty minutes on foot.
San Juan de Ishanga Waterfall: It is a thirty-five meter high waterfall. The waters of the pool that this fall forms are suitable for swimming. The visit to this waterfall involves a twenty-five minute walk through a scene rich in the beauty of nature.
Puerto Huicte: It is located north of Uchiza. This port is in contact with the Huallaga River. In the waters of this river, which is characterized by the ease of its flow, it is possible to swim, fish, as well as take a walk in artisanal or motorized boats.
Cueva de los Tallos: In this cave it is possible to find the capricious shapes that stalactites and stalagmites have formed and that resemble both zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures.
Rápido del Cocalero: To get there, it is necessary to hike to the town of Cocalero. The waters of these rapids allow the practice of sports canoeing.
Other tourist sites in Tocache lean towards archaeological sites; such is the case of the petroglyphs of Chontayacu ('water head' in Quechua), which are located in the district of Uchiza. In these petroglyphs there are engraved stones that are scattered in an area of two kilometers.
In the Shunte district, petroglyphs have also been found, which are of interest to researchers and tourists because of the mysterious figures that allude to extraterrestrial beings that it has. In this district there are also the archaeological remains of Mamaj, where stone figures have been recorded. The district of Shunte is also important because of the myth that surrounds its territory, since, according to what is narrated, at the end of the Tahuantinsuyo, the Inca Atahualpa, then imprisoned by the Spanish and already aware of their ambition and the interest they showed for gold and silver, he orders to hide his treasures in different parts of the empire, one of these places being: Shunte.
Among others
- Cascada Tiesto 4.42 km
- Cascada Atusparia 4.46 km
- Cascada San Juan Ishanga 12,31 km
- Cascada Chiampoy 32.89 km
- Cascada La Victoria 33.19 km
- Cascada Salto del Mono 33.2 km
- Cascada Zancudo 34,79 km
- Cascada Santa Cruz 35.66 km