Loreto (Spanish pronunciation:[loˈɾeto]) is adepartment of Peru. Covering almost one-third of Peru's territory, it is Peru's largest and northernmost department. Slightly smaller thanJapan orGermany, it is also one of the most sparsely populated regions due to its remote location in theAmazon rainforest. It is administered by aregional government. Its capital isIquitos.
Loreto's large territory comprises parts of the high and low jungle, and is largely covered with thickvegetation.
This territory has wide river flood plains, which are covered with rainwater and are usually swamped in summer. In these flood areas there are elevated sectors calledrestingas, which always remain above water, even in times of the greatest swellings. There are numerouslagoons known ascochas andtipishcas, surrounded by marshy areas with abundant grass vegetation.
Numerous rivers cross Loreto's territory, all of which are part of the Amazonian hydrographical system. Most of them are navigable. The main river crossing the region is theAmazon, one of the world's most important rivers. Its numerous curves are always changing and sometimes make for a difficult journey. The width between banks of the Amazon sometimes measures a staggering 4 km (2.5 mi). TheYavari River runs from Peru to Brazil, thePutumayo River serves as part of the border with Colombia, and theUcayali andMarañón rivers penetrate Loreto after going through thePongo de Manseriche.
The weather is warm and humid with an average temperature of 17 °C (63 °F) to 20 °C (68 °F) during the months of June and July, and up to a high of 36 °C (97 °F) from December through March.
The averagehumidity level is 84%, with strong rain all year round.
The region is divided into eight provinces (provincias, singular:provincia), which are composed of 53 districts (distritos, singular:distrito). The provinces, with their capitals in parentheses, are:
The first settlers in the region expanded through the various eastern slopes of theAndes. Many of theseethnic groups settled in the Purús, Turúa and Yaraví river basins, receiving names different from those of their lineage.
It is hard to determine the number ofindigenous peoples in the region when the first European explorers and missionaries arrived. Numbers given by chroniclers indicate that within the first century of contact, 100,000natives were baptized. Presumably, when theSpanish arrived, the total population was almost 300,000. Later on, however, the natives were afflicted with diseases such assmallpox,malaria, andyellow fever, due to contact with the Spaniards.
Even though colonization had started several decades earlier, the city of Iquitos was founded in the 1750s. It is located between the Nanay River and the left bank of the Amazon river, which makes it an ideal starting point when traveling to surrounding regions.
During colonial times, theJesuits andFranciscans evangelized and founded different towns. During these years, they contributed by opening travel routes and cutting down distances between indigenous groups and colonial villages.
When the missions fell, a long period of relative national neglect followed, encompassing most of the 19th century. Nonetheless, this was the time when the foundations of the future political organization were laid. Also, this was the beginning of navigation via steamboats, the rubber heyday, and foreignimmigration.
The Golden Age of Iquitos started at the end of the 19th century with therubber boom. Since the region was very rich inrubber and it became so expensive, it turned into the center of attention and ambitions in the world. This period lasted 25 years and left behind gigantic development once the rubber boom had passed.
According to the2007 Peru Census, the mother tongue of most of the residents wasSpanish (92.51%). The following table shows the mother tongue of the people of the Loreto Region by province:[6]
First week of January. Anniversary of Iquitos. Week-long festivities to celebrate the founding of the city.
Third week of February. Carnivals.
June 24.Fiesta de San Juan. The local people go to the Nanay and Amazonas river banks, taking with them the traditional juanes, cooked on the eve. In front of the waters, they merrily drink and dance.
First two weeks of August. A farm, livestock and crafts fair takes place in the small town ofSanta Clara de Nanay, located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the city of Iquitos.
September 7.Señora de la Natividad. Date in which theTamshiyacu people, in the province ofMaynas, honor their patron.
December 8.Fiesta de la Purísima, celebrated in the district ofPunchana, located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Iquitos
The typical dishes in Loreto are very similar to those of other places in the Amazon region.Motelo orturtle meat soup andjuanes (rice tamales with chicken or fish) are typical Loretan dishes. Vendors in the local markets offer fried or steamedmonkey orlizard meat considered delicious according to the local people.
Other typical dishes include,cecina (dried and smoked pork),tacacho (coal cooked bananas, pork, and chopped onions),chonta salad,palometa (fish soup), carachama (fish) andpaiche (a large fish). Among desserts there is a refreshingaguaje ice cream.
To drink, they servemasato (a beer made ofcassava) or natural fruit juices such as aguaje,maracuyá (passion fruit), andcocona (Solanum sessiliflorum).
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