Ayacucho

Mountainous department in southern Peru; area 43,815 sq km/16,917 sq mi; population (1996) 517,772. The capital is Ayacucho. The department of Ayacucho is watered by the River Apurímac. There is much agriculture and raising of livestock in this predominantly rural region; precious metals are also mined here.

The last great battle in the war of independence was fought near Ayacucho on 9 December 1824. Ayacucho is where the Sendero Luminoso guerrilla group arose in the 1960s. Since the capture of the Sendero's founder and leader in 1992, this area, once considered unsafe to visit, is again open to travel.