Pasco Department, Administrative region in central Peru
The Pasco Department is an administrative region in central Peru that stretches from the high Andes to tropical valleys. Its three provinces cover twenty-two districts spread between mountain plateaus, river gorges, and cloud forest.
Spanish colonists arrived in the region during the 16th century and began mining operations in Cerro de Pasco, which grew into a major silver extraction site. The Republic of Peru created the department in 1944 after it was previously part of Junín.
Markets throughout the department sell potato varieties and grains grown on terraced fields that have been cultivated here for centuries. Quechua remains spoken in many villages, where traditional weaving methods and textile patterns continue through family lines.
The main highway from Lima runs through the department and connects major towns, with buses operating daily from the coast. Altitudes above 4000 meters (13000 feet) are common, so travelers should allow time for acclimatization.
The Huayllay Stone Forest sits above 4000 meters (13000 feet) and displays thousands of rock formations shaped by wind and rain over millions of years. Trails wind between these rocks, many of which carry names because they resemble animals, faces, or buildings.
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