Sillar is a variety of igneous, volcanic rock of silica-rich composition, found as pyroclastic flow deposits of tuff near volcanoes in Southern Peru. For example the now-extinct Chachani volcano which erupted flows of sillar during the Ice Age (2'588,000 to 11,700), is the highest of the mountains near the city of Arequipa and the 84th highest summit of the Andes, that as a result of the very low precipitation, it does not have a permanent ice cap. The massif of the volcano formed by 6 and 8 separate craters, erosion has only left one recognizable crater in the Western part of the complex. Climbing Chachani is popular, though the altitude is highly challenging for those who are not fully acclimatized.
Misti, also known as Putina, in the city of Arequipa located at 2,328m/7,638ft of elevation, is also a volcano of andesite, dacite, and sillar. This volcano has a seasonal snow-capped, symmetrical cone. It stands at 5,822m/19,101ft above sea level and lies between Chachani (6,075m/19,931ft) and Pichu Pichu volcano (5,669m/18,599ft). Its last eruption was in 1985, 198 years after its previous documented eruption. The volcano has 3 concentric craters. In the inner crater an opening emits steam and gases that forms when when superheated water vaporizes as its pressure drops when it emerges from the ground. Near the inner crater 6 Inca mummies and very rare Inca artifacts were found in 1998 during a month-long excavation directed by 2 archaeologists. These findings are currently stored at the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries in Arequipa.
A local tradition states that Inca Mayta Capac, the 4th Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco and great warrior who conquered territories as far as Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, and Potosi, received a petition from his subjects to reach the Valley of the River Chili which cross the central part of the area from North to South. They asked the Inca for permission to stay in the region as they were impressed by the beauty of the landscape and the mild climate. The Inca answered in Quechua "Ari qhipay" meaning "Yes, stay." Chroniclers suggested that the name of the city came from ancient Aymara phrase, "Ari qquepan," meaning "trumpet sound," in reference to the sound produced from blowing into an empty conch-like seashell. To the North and East of Arequipa are the Andes mountains, while to the South and West are minor mountain ranges associated to the Andes.
Pre-Inca cultures domesticated llamas and became sedentary with the development of agriculture. During this time, major irrigation channels were built within the Valley of the Chili River, which allowed the development of agriculture by means of terraces built on both sides of the Valley.
The Yarabaya and Chimbe settled in the city's current location, and together with the Cabana and Collagua tribes they developed an agrarian economy in the Valley.
When the Inca Mayta Capac arrived in the Valley of the Chili River, he didn't built cities, instead, he gave orders to his settlers from lands within the empire to move and settle in the Valley only to the purpose of gaining control of the existing population, perform intelligence tasks and strengthen the border enclaves as a way to absorb the unconquered villages by the method of submission. Lands were then distributed among 3,000 families who founded the towns of Yanahuara, Cayma, Tiabaya, Socabaya, Characato and others, towns that still exist nowadays.
The European foundation of Arequipa was performed on August 15, 1540 in the Valley of the Chili River that were occupied by locals. At the time of the foundation, Arequipa had already a european city council, because the foundation of the town occurred in part as a relocation of european folks from Camana, a coastal city. The European founders of Arequipa designed the city plan as resembling a checkerboard made of 56 blocks, each one of "400 Castilian feet (111.40m)" per side. Each block comprised 4 or 8 land lots, which were distributed according to the status of the new owners. Charles V of Germany and I of Spain gave the small town a status of "city"by Royal Decree on September 22, 1541. As time passed, some religious institutions came to occupy an entire block as were the cases of the Convent of Santa Catalina and San Francisco Monastery. Among the first public european works carried out in the city were the Main Church, the City Hall, the bridge on the Chili River and the monastery of Our Lady of Garcia.
Over three centuries, the urban area grew at the expense of the countryside, a process that has worsened in recent decades. The population of the city was mostly European origin, which represented a strong following of Spain crown. As a result, the Spanish Monarchy gave the city the title of Faithful by Royal Charter in 1805. The city remained under European control until the Battle of Ayacucho (1824), due to struggles for local political power. The central part of the city is crossed by the Chili Valley and the Valley itself open toward the coast playing a key role in allowing Arequipa to be a city that strategically links the coastal and highland regions of Southern Peru. Its privileged location at the crossroads of the european trade route of silver during colonial times, after independence, the wool trade route, allowed Arequipa to accumulate administrative and commercial and industrial power. Arequipa not only became the birthplace of significant political figures, but also the scene of several important political movements that achieved national prominence, thus establishing the importance of Arequipa as the country's second city and in frequent rivalry with Lima, the capital city of Peru.
Sillar has been used as a building stone in Peru since Pre-Inca times. Many colonial buildings in the city of Arequipa are made of sillar. To give you an example, the arches of the "Mirador (Lookout) of Yanahuara" from which the entire city can be appreciate.
In the late 1950s the city rapidly grew, especially the peripheral areas. Industrial activities located in areas near the city center, moved outwards to the industrial zone (Industrial Park), causing the former industrial areas to become commercial zones.
The historical centre of Arequipa, built in volcanic sillar rock, represents an invasion of European over native building techniques and characteristics, expressed in the admirable work of Inca masons covered by colonial masters. This combination of influences is illustrated by the city's walls, archways and vaults, courtyards and open spaces.
The global radiation recorded in the city is considered one of the highest levels of radiation in South America and the highest in Peru. This phenomenon is due to its proximity to the area of influence of the Atacama Desert and pollution at every stage,
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