The Mantaro Valley is renowned as an area containing many archaeological sites. It was inhabited by a self-governing nation, the Huancas, a self-governing nation with a reputation for producing strong warriors and whose spiritual practices placed an emphasis on remembering their ancestors' role in the mystique of the Mantaro River. The Huanca people were eventually subdued during the reign of the Inca Pacha-Cutec, and some of them, in revenge for their lost of freedom, took sides with the Spanish people who planned the take over the land by capturing and execute the last Inca, Atahualpa.
Archaeologists have focused on the Inca storage silos (qullqas) in the Mantaro Valley which was one of the largest and most fertile areas of the Inca empire. The Incas placed great emphasis on storing their agricultural products and other goods and the Valley has more storage silos than any other region in Peru. Half of the storage silos were placed in the center of this maize and potato producing area and the other half were scattered among 48 compounds along the course of the River. In total, the Valley had a storage area that supplied and equipped an army of 35,000 Andean warriors during the time of the European invasion, probably the largest storage facilities in the Inca empire and pre-Columbian America.
The North- South inter-Andean Mantaro Valley located in the Junin region, is about 60 km (37 mi) long between the cities of Jauja and Huancayo, 200 km (120 mi) East of Lima, Peru.
The Valley's weather is divided into 3 distinct seasons -the rainy season from November to April, -the winter season from May to July, -and the dry season, with strong winds from August to October.
To the average Andean people, both landscape weather play a crucial marriage role for health and prosperity, and abundance from year to year determine how the interrelation was achieved. One legend in particular reflects this interrelationship. This is the story of a warrior who courts a mermaid in Lake Paca (4 km (2.5 mi) North of the historic Jauja, which was once the first capital of Peru). The lake is one of the 3 lakes is the Mantaro River Valley in the central highlands formed by high Cordillera ranges and the only lake in the Paca Valley that has water throughout the year. The warrior courted the mermaid every night. She cried and moaned for him to join her then as usual she disappeared beneath the surface. One night, she disappeared into the water, and the warrior jumped in after her. He looked around under the water until he ran out of air and gave up his breath. His body was lost, but soon after a mountain range appeared in the shape of a man's body. The story of this warrior explains the deep connection that the local people of the Paca town have with the Mantaro Valley.
The River bisects the valley, emerging from a steep gorge at the Northern end of the Valley and entering another steep gorge at its Southern end, flowing through the fertile valley which produce different kind of potatoes, maize, and vegetables among other Andean crops. The Valley's floor averages about 10 km (6.2 mi) wide at elevations ranging from 3,150 m (10,330 ft) to 3,500 m (11,500 ft). The highest mountain in the area is Huayta-Pallana, 15 m (9.3 mi) North East of Huancayo, which has an alevation of 5,567 m (18,264 ft). The land on either side rises to mountain ranges of more than 4,500 m (14,800 ft) elevation, and consists of beautiful landscapes and many trails linking the small Andean villages that are rich in culture, traditional food, music, dances, and handcrafts.
Each Andean village has its own handcraft specialty. You can simply watch them work. Also the market place has its dedicated day for each one of them:
-Sunday: Dominical Festival of Huancayo, Conception, Jauja, and Mito.
-Monday: Huayu-Cachi, San Agustin of Cajas.
-Tuesday: Pucara, Hualhuas.
-Wednesday: San Jeronimo of Tunan, Jauja and Viquez.
-Thursday: The Tambo, Huancan and Sapa-Llanga.
-Friday: Ahuac, Chongos Bajo and Cochas Chico.
Saturday: Chupaca, Matahuasi, Lloclla-Pampa and Jauja.
The Hualhuas' specialty is -tapestry weaving looms. The San Jeronimo of Tunan's specialty is -silver filigree jewelry. The Cochas' specialty is -Gourd carvings. The San Agustin of Cajas' specialty is -hats of sheep wool. The Aco's specialty is -ceramics. The Mito's specialty is -wooden masks. The Viquez' s specialty is -colorful belts and blankets made of back strap looms. The Molino's specialty is -wood carving. The Ingenio's specialty is -trout farming.
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