La Merced, Junín
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(December 2009) |
La Merced,Chanchamayo(in hispanicized spelling) orChanchamayu(Quechuachanchayto walk and leap about, to walk quickly and confused,chancha chanchato walk quickly and irregularly,shanchaa kind of bird,mayuriver)[1][2]is thecapitalof theChanchamayo Provincein theJunín RegioninPeru.
Geography
[edit]La Mercedis situated on11°03′43″S75°20′06″W/ 11.06194°S 75.33500°W,as the crow flies 75 km north of the regional capitalHuancayo-Junínand 220 km northeast of the country's capitalLima,at an elevation of 751 m above sea level. On the paved road it takes 305 km from Lima to La Merced.
History
[edit]The place was founded about 1884 by Jose Manuel Pereira after the Pacific war by a group ofItalian immigrants.Before that period there were many attempts to colonize Chanchamayo's valley but those were repelled by the local Ashaninkas, especially under the leadership ofJuan Santos Atahualpa.The Peruvian army protected the colonists with a small garrison in Kimiri in front of the actual barracks. Gradually, the Ashaninkas moved down river and eventually melted with the colonists. La Merced lies on the western bank of the riverChanchamayuwhich later becomesPerené River,a tributary of the Amazonas.
Population
[edit]At the 2015 census, the city had a population of about 25,000 inhabitants.
In terms of anthropology, the Chanchamayo region is a multicultural city influenced by the localAsháninka.
Tourism
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Despite the long distance from Peru's capital city, Lima, and due to its pleasant weather and exotic scenery, La Merced and its surrounding countryside remains a popular destination for domestic tourists.
The surrounding areas of the city feature waterfalls, whitewater creeks, jungle-like forest, tree-covered hills, rivers, traditionally living indigenous tribes, plantations and an abundance of wildlife and species of birds.
Economy
[edit]The economy of the Chanchamayo region relies primarily on tourism, the cultivation and production of coffee, as well as the production of fruits and vegetables such as papayas, oranges, cassavas, avocados, pineapples, and passion fruits.
References
[edit]- ^Teofilo Laime Ajacopa, Diccionario Bilingüe Iskay simipi yuyayk'ancha, La Paz, 2007 (Quechua-Spanish dictionary):chanchay-intr. Ir a saltos.mayu-s. Río.
- ^Diccionario Quechua - Español - Quechua, Academía Mayor de la Lengua Quechua, Gobierno Regional Cusco, Cusco 2005:chancha chancha-adj. Caminar rápido, apresurado, con pasos irregularesChanchaymayu-s. Geog. (Topón.shanchagallinácea plomiza;mayurío).chanchay-v. Caminar apresurada y confusamente.
