Huánuco

Capital of the department of the same name in the northern central highlands of Peru, 420 km/261 mi northeast of Lima; population (2005) 161,000; urban agglomeration 703,900. Huánuco is situated on the River Huallaga at an altitude of 1,894 m/6,509 ft. The town was founded in 1543, and is an episcopal see. There are several Inca ruins in the vicinity. Huánuco is served by regular flights from Lima and a number of regional towns. Economic activities revolve around the production and trading of sugar, coffee, cotton and cocoa.

Huánuco

Department in the northern central highlands of Peru; area 36,887 sq km/14,242 sq mi; population (1996) 717,673. The department encompasses a variety of terrains, from the humid valleys of the Huallaga, Marañon, and Pachitea rivers to the snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera de Huayhuash. Several peaks in Huánuco are over 6,000 m/19,685 ft, notably Yerupaja (6,632 m/21,758 ft). Tea, cacao, and coffee are grown in the warmer valleys, particularly in the area originally colonized by the Spanish, around Tingo Maria on the River Huallaga. Potatoes, wheat, barley, and maize are grown on higher ground. Many small mines are found in the area, and alluvial gold is panned along the Marańon. There is also a small oilfield at Ganso Azul.