LAMBAYEQUE REGION

'Lambayeque' is a region in northwestern Peru, known for its rich Chimú and Moche historical past. The region's name originates from the ancient pre-Inca civilization of the ''lambayeques''. The city of Chiclayo is the region's capital and largest city (as in Junín Region, the homonym city is not the state capital).
As part of the new decentralization process in Peru, this region is planned to become part of the Northern Region (''Región Norte'').

Contents

Geography

Political division

History

External links

Geography

The territory of the Lambayeque Region is made up by large plains irrigated by rivers from the Andes, in most of the area farming takes place due to the lack of water. However the valleys that are found in this area generate half of the sugar cane that is produced in Peru. In addithion Lambayeque and Piura provide most of the rice crops consumed in Peru.
This agriculture output is possible by a reservoir called "Proyecto Olmos" which holds an annual amount of 2,050 millions of cubic meters of water.
In a smaller scale in the last centuries, the Olmos Carob Tree Forest held goat herds that were fed with the food of this tree. This gave rise to the leather, cordobanes and soap industry.
There are two small islands off the Pacific coast of the Lambayeque Region: Lobos de Afuera, and Lobos de Tierra; there was a dispute with the Piura Region over ownership of the latter island.
The region is bordered by the Piura Region on the north, the Cajamarca Region on the southeast, the La Libertad Region on the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west.

Political division

The region is divided into 3 provinces (''provincias'', singular: ''provincia''), which are composed of 38 districts (''distritos'', singular: ''distrito''). The provinces, with their capitals in parenthesis, are:

★ Chiclayo (Chiclayo)

★ Ferreñafe (Ferreñafe)

★ Lambayeque (Lambayeque)

History

Legend tells that in ancient times, a great float of strange rafts arrived at the beaches of the existing San José cove. Formed by a brilliant cortege of foreign warriors, this float was led by a man of great talent and courage, named Naylamp, who founded a civilization.
The descendants are the builders of the great Chimú civilization, forged in Lambayeque before the Inca Empire. The Chimú grew to acquire a notable state parallel to the Inca. Yet, unlike the Incas, the Chimú moved their capital to more propitious and strategic zones, establishing great urban centers there. They were great farmers, textile experts and, wonderful goldsmiths, with extraordinary works in gold.
The Inca conquest of what today is Lambayeque, lasted almost four decades. Pachacuti, Tupac Inca Yupanqui and Huayna Cápac, successively, ruled during the process.
Francisco Pizarro crossed the region in his way to Cajamarca to conclude the defeat of the Inca empire. He was amazed by the gold exposed in vases and utensils.
During Colonial times, a rivalry started between the people of Lambayeque and Santiago de Miraflores de Saña. The reason of the conflict was the opulence in which the latter lived, even provoking the greed of pirates. A flood in 1720, however, destroyed Saña and marked the end of a flourishing city.
The people of Lambayeque followed Juan Manuel Iturregui as their leader in the struggles for emancipation and independence from Spain. He spread the libertarian ideas and helped get arms for the cause.

External links

★ Sugar Production in Peru (Spanish)

★ Rice Production in Peru (Spanish)

★ Olmos Project Information

★ Chiclayo map

★ Museo Sipan - Spanish