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PERU HIGHLANDS...
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| Scissors dance. Lucanas, Ayacucho. © Anibal Solimano |
Out of Peru's three distinct regions, highlands or sierra is the most rugged, inaccessible and provably the most beautiful in South America as well.
With massive peaks, deep canyons and superb archaeological sites, such as the city of the clouds: Machu Picchu (Inca culture), or the formidable Kuelap fortress (Chachapoyas culture), in the Northern highlands.
An area almost inaccessible- even by Peruvian standard- but full of charm and wild beauty that pays many times over the effort to get there.
Consider the ruins of Pachamachuco or Rio Aviseo National Park, declared Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Cajamarca is another landmark, a city of historical importance.
It was there that Pizarro executed Inca Atahualpa, and marked the decline and ulterior end of Inca civilization.
Central highlands, with cities like Huancayo or Ayacucho and the many villages and towns scattered around, are places of incredible mountain scenery, ancient arts, festivities, dances and rites.
The majority of the population are of Indian or Mestizo origin, who speak Quechua and farm the Andean terraces (andenes) as the Incas did.
Let's watch the ceremonial dance of the scissors (danza de las tijeras) in Ayacucho...(with a short introduction in Spanish)...
Highlands preserve the spirit of Peru and the traditions of ancient civilizations who have left an indelible mark in the history of South America.
And talking about highlands, let's take the Huascaran - Peru's tallest mountain.
In the one-hundred mile stretch of the Cordillera Blanca, Huascaran peak reigns over a concentration of snow-capped mountains that makes Huascaran National Park Peru's foremost center for trekking and mountaineering, at different levels of expertise.
To learn more about Peru trekking download this booklet produced by the Corporation or Tourism Promotion of Peru (PromPeru).
It's called Trekking and Mountaineering in Peru.
Download this PDF file here.
Try the Spanish version if you're more comfortable with it:Trekking y Montañismo en el Peru
Download this PDF file here.
The following images of Peru Highlands are slices of life as they happen in the sierra today, captured in different time and circumstances by Peruvian photographer Anibal Solimano.
You can contact Anibal at: solimanoanibal@yahoo.com or through his web site: www.anibalsolimano.com
Have a great Peru Highlands visual experience!..
...and click on the thumbnails if you want to see a bigger version of them...
 | Peru Pictures: Lama Tribal Chief © Anibal Solimano | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Railway to Cuzco © Anibal Solimano | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Terraces (Andenes) of Machu Picchu © Anibal Solimano |
 | Peru Pictures: Peruvian Farmer © Anibal Solimano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Wheat Harvest © Anibal Solimano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Potatoe Harvest © Anibal Solimano |
 | Peru Pictures: Portrait of a Piura Woman © Anibal Solimano | |||||||||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Girl from Tamartambo © Anibal Solimano | |||||||||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Dancers in Typical Outfit © Anibal Solimano |
 | Peru Pictures: Houses of Machu Picchu © Anibal Solimano | |||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Chakku Celebration © Anibal Solimano | |||||||||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Chakku Celebration in Ayacucho © Anibal Solimano |
| Peru Pictures: Danza de Tijeras (Scissors Dance) © Anibal Solimano | |||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Church of the Compania of Jesus © Anibal Solimano | |||||||
 | Peru Pictures: Solar Clock or Intiwatana, Machu Picchu" © Anibal Solimano |
 | Peru Pictures: Quechua Women in Cuzco © Anibal Solimano | |
 | Peru Pictures: Woman Weaving in Cuzco © Anibal Solimano | |
 | Peru Pictures: Tamartambo Girl © Anibal Solimano |
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