Ancash Department

Ancash Department is an administrative region in western Peru that reaches from the Pacific coast to the high Andes, taking in both the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra mountain ranges. The region is divided into twenty provinces and one hundred sixty-six districts, with Huaraz serving as the administrative center.

The department was created in 1839 after the collapse of the Peru-Bolivia Confederation as a distinct administrative unit. The boundaries of the region shifted over the following decades until the current territorial shape took form.

The name derives from the Quechua word 'anqash' meaning blue, reflecting the indigenous heritage that shapes regional traditions and languages.

Travelers will encounter both coastal areas and highland zones connected by major highways, each with different climate conditions. Getting around usually means traveling through Huaraz and the provincial capitals, with altitude affecting access in some parts.

The region shows multiple climate zones from sea level to the high Andes, allowing different types of farming and mining to coexist within a compact area. Gold, copper and zinc are extracted here while fields at various altitudes grow crops adapted to their elevation.