Huancavelica

Capital of the department and province of Huancavelica in central Peru; population (1996) 38,826. The city lies 225 km/140 mi southeast of the capital Lima, which can be reached by railway via Huancayo. Huancavelica is situated in mountainous terrain at an altitude of 3,676 m/12,060 ft.

Huancavelica was founded in 1572 under the name of Villa Rica de Oropesca, as a base for the mining of silver and mercury deposits in the region. Precious metals are now only mined on an extremely limited scale.

The city has a cathedral and a number of churches from the colonial period. The road from Huancavelica to Ayacucho (the capital of the department of the same name) averages 4,000 m/13,123 ft in altitude for 150 km/93 mi, making it the world's highest continuous road.

Huancavelica

Department in the central highlands of western Peru; area 22,131 sq km/8,545 sq mi; population (1996) 413,772. Huancavelica is crossed by the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes, and is the site of many high peaks, including Huamanrazo (5,278 m/17,316 ft) and Chocco (5,231 m/17,162 ft). Potatoes and other root crops, barley, and maize are grown, while sheep and alpacas are grazed on the high grasslands. Mercury has been mined here since the 16th century, and there is an important copper mine at Cobriza. A huge hydroelectric scheme has been constructed on the River Mantaro.