Sinqa, Mountain summit in Cusco Region, Peru
Sinqa is a 4,423-metre mountain in the Andes northwest of Cusco, on the border of Cusco Province's Cusco District and Anta Province's Cachimayo District. Its long crest is formed by several rounded peaks, the highest near the centre-right, with dark grey and brown rock and muted green vegetation on the lower slopes. Buildings on the hillside below meet the mountain's base.
The name originates from the Quechua language and refers to a physical characteristic of the mountain. During the colonial period, alternative spellings of the name were recorded in Spanish documents.
The mountain is regarded as a sacred peak in indigenous belief systems and is still treated with great respect by local communities today. People from the region visit the summit for religious and spiritual purposes.
Sinqa lies northwest of Cusco, on the border of Cusco Province's Cusco District and Anta Province's Cachimayo District. The summit stands at 4,423 metres, so allow time to acclimatise before climbing. Approach from the Cachimayo side or from the Cusco side; no marked trail is recorded in the sources.
Sinqa means "nose" in Quechua, a reference to the mountain's shape; Hispanicized records also give the spellings Sencca and Senqa. Like Pachatusan, Pillku Urqu and Wanakawri near Cusco, it was venerated as an apu, a sacred mountain.
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