Pisco, Peru
Encyclopedia
Pisco is a city located in the Ica Region
of Peru
, the capital of the Pisco Province
. The city is around 9 metres (28 feet) above sea level. Originally the villa of Pisco was founded in 1640, close to the indigenous emplacement of the same name. Pisco is a Quechua
word that means "bird." Pisco originally prospered because of its nearby vineyards and has been claimed to be the namesake of pisco
.
The area is normally visited because of the concentration of marine animals and birds at the Paracas National Reservation
, or the Peruvian Galapagos. At the reserve there are the Islas Ballestas
, a collection of islands which are off limits to people, but boat tours can get close. The Chincha Islands
are also near its coast. On the islands there are many birds, including pelican
s, penguin
s, cormorant
s, Peruvian boobies
, and Inca tern
s. There are also sea lions, turtles, dolphins, and whales.
Another attraction in the area is "El Candelabro"
, a giant lamp dug in the rough sand in the method used by the creators of the Nazca Lines
. The origins of "El Candelabro" are not known and theories vary. Experts are divided over the authenticity of the lines.
The Pisco origins are from one of the major ancient civilizations in Peru
, the Paracas culture
. Due to its ease of access, and its crossroads to the Andes
the Spanish considered making Pisco the capital, before they decided on Lima.
In the city is the Plaza de Armas
, where people hang out and buy tejas
, small sweets made from pecans and assorted dried fruit
s. Many different building that surround the Plaza are the statue of José de San Martín
, the mansion he lived in, and the Municipal Palace. Other building in the city is the heavy Baroque Iglesia de la Compañía, begun in 1689, features a superb carved pulpit and gold-leaf altarpiece.
Near the town, just off the road to Ayacucho
, lies the large well-preserved Inca site of Tambo Colorado
.
The city has a population of 116,865 people.
which struck south central Peru on Wednesday August 15, 2007. Media officials reported that 80% of the city was destroyed, including the central San Clemente Cathedral of Pisco, in which a Mass was occurring at the time of the earthquake. As many as 100 deaths were reported within the cathedral. The church in Plaza de Armas was destroyed during the earthquake while mass was in session killing nearly 150 people. Several 100 more were killed throughout the city Several years on the city is still recovering from the damage done during the earthquake.
Ica Region
Ica is a region in Peru. It borders the Pacific Ocean on the west; the Lima Region on the north; the Huancavelica and Ayacucho regions on the east; and the Arequipa Region on the south. Its capital is the city of Ica.- Geography :...
of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, the capital of the Pisco Province
Pisco Province
Pisco is a province of the Ica Region in Peru. Its capital is the town of Pisco, where the popular liquor of the same name originated.-Boundaries:* North: Chincha Province, Castrovirreyna Province...
. The city is around 9 metres (28 feet) above sea level. Originally the villa of Pisco was founded in 1640, close to the indigenous emplacement of the same name. Pisco is a Quechua
Quechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
word that means "bird." Pisco originally prospered because of its nearby vineyards and has been claimed to be the namesake of pisco
Pisco
Pisco is a colorless or yellowish-to-amber colored grape brandy produced in winemaking regions of Chile and Peru. Pisco was developed by Spanish settlers in the 16th century as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain...
.
The area is normally visited because of the concentration of marine animals and birds at the Paracas National Reservation
Paracas National Reservation
The Paracas National Reserve is located in Ica, Peru and consists of the Paracas Peninsula, coastal areas and tropical desert extending to the south slightly past Punta Caimán, a total of 335,000 ha . It includes Bahía de la Independencia and miles of coastal waters...
, or the Peruvian Galapagos. At the reserve there are the Islas Ballestas
Islas Ballestas
The Ballestas Islands are a group of small islands near the town of Paracas located within the Paracas District of the Pisco Province in the Ica Region, on the south coast of Peru...
, a collection of islands which are off limits to people, but boat tours can get close. The Chincha Islands
Chincha Islands
The Chincha Islands are a group of three small islands 21 km off the southwest coast of Peru, to which they belong, near the town of Pisco,...
are also near its coast. On the islands there are many birds, including pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s, penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
s, cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
s, Peruvian boobies
Peruvian Booby
The Peruvian Booby, Sula variegata, is an endemic bird of the Peruvian current whose distribution is restricted to the west coast of South America from Punta Pariñas in Peru to Concepción in Chile . It is the second most abundant seabird species that inhabits the Peruvian Coast and the second...
, and Inca tern
Inca Tern
The Inca Tern is a seabird in the family Sternidae. It is the only member of the genus Larosterna.This uniquely-plumaged bird breeds on the coasts of Peru and Chile, and is restricted to the Humboldt current...
s. There are also sea lions, turtles, dolphins, and whales.
Another attraction in the area is "El Candelabro"
Paracas Candelabra
The Paracas Candelabra, also called the Candelabra of the Andes, is a well-known prehistoric geoglyph found on the northern face of the Paracas Peninsula at Pisco Bay in Peru. Pottery found nearby has been radio carbon dated to 200 BCE, the time of the Paracas culture. The design is cut two feet...
, a giant lamp dug in the rough sand in the method used by the creators of the Nazca Lines
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The high, arid plateau stretches more than between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the Pampas de Jumana about 400 km south of Lima...
. The origins of "El Candelabro" are not known and theories vary. Experts are divided over the authenticity of the lines.
The Pisco origins are from one of the major ancient civilizations in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, the Paracas culture
Paracas culture
The Paracas culture was an important Andean society between approximately 800 BCE and 100 BCE, with an extensive knowledge of irrigation and water management. It developed in the Paracas Peninsula, located in what today is the Paracas District of the Pisco Province in the Ica Region...
. Due to its ease of access, and its crossroads to the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
the Spanish considered making Pisco the capital, before they decided on Lima.
In the city is the Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is the name for the main square in many Latin American cities. In Mexico this space is known as El Zócalo, and in Central America as Parque Central...
, where people hang out and buy tejas
Teja (confectionery)
A teja is a popular dumpling-shaped confection from the Ica Region of Peru. It contains manjar blanco filling and either dry fruits or nuts...
, small sweets made from pecans and assorted dried fruit
Dried fruit
Dried fruit is fruit where the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to the fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia, and is prized...
s. Many different building that surround the Plaza are the statue of José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
, the mansion he lived in, and the Municipal Palace. Other building in the city is the heavy Baroque Iglesia de la Compañía, begun in 1689, features a superb carved pulpit and gold-leaf altarpiece.
Near the town, just off the road to Ayacucho
Ayacucho
Ayacucho is the capital city of Huamanga Province, Ayacucho Region, Peru.Ayacucho is famous for its 33 churches, which represent one for each year of Jesus's life. Ayacucho has large religious celebrations, especially during the Holy Week of Easter...
, lies the large well-preserved Inca site of Tambo Colorado
Tambo Colorado
Tambo Colorado is a well-preserved Inca adobe complex near the coast of Peru, also known as Puka Tampu, Pucallacta or Pucahuasi.- Location :...
.
The city has a population of 116,865 people.
2007 earthquake
The city was very near the epicenter of the devastating 8.0-magnitude earthquake2007 Peru earthquake
The 2007 Peru earthquake was an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the moment magnitude scale that hit the central coast of Peru on Wednesday, August 15, 2007; it occurred at 23:40:57 UTC and lasted for about three minutes...
which struck south central Peru on Wednesday August 15, 2007. Media officials reported that 80% of the city was destroyed, including the central San Clemente Cathedral of Pisco, in which a Mass was occurring at the time of the earthquake. As many as 100 deaths were reported within the cathedral. The church in Plaza de Armas was destroyed during the earthquake while mass was in session killing nearly 150 people. Several 100 more were killed throughout the city Several years on the city is still recovering from the damage done during the earthquake.