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The littoral of the Ica's shore stands out as a very important
region regarding the Peru's pre-history. The fossil remains found in
this zone (large cetacean), corresponding to the tertiary age,
confirm the antiquity of the zone. The bony remains of the "Man of
Paracas", the second horticulturist of Peru (6,870 B.C.) were found
in the Santo Domingo Pampa. This ancient man lived in straw huts,
organized in teams, engaged in fishing, agriculture and the exchange
of goods.
In the sandy zone of the Paracas Peninsula, Julio C. Tello
discovered, between 1925 and 1927 the great cemeteries, called
Necropolis, of a Pre-Columbian culture. The ancient Paracas bodies
were found mummified with fine colorful and clothes full of symbols,
named Mantos de Paracas. This culture was characterized by the use
of medicine, specially the cranial trepanations as is evident from
those found in the area.
Later, the Nazca culture developed centered in Cahuachi, on the
banks of Rio Grande. Its ceramics has made the Nazca to be seen as
the best ceramics painters in Pre-Columbian American. Its Pottery
was pictorial, they painted on the surface of the pots with
unsurpassable mastery. Besides the "Nazca Lines" are known all over
the world. It is a gigantic astronomical calendar of about 350 KM˛.
The Inca Empire's domination of Ica's territory began at the time of
Inca Pachacutec who enlarged the Tahuantinsuyo by the coast from the
valley of Majes up to Chincha and this region was to be called
Chinchaysuyo. During the conquest, Nicolas de Rivera el Viejo
arrived to Ica looking for a proper place to found a new city. The
Ica Valley's Villa de Valverde was founded on September 30, 1563 by
the Spanish captain Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera. In the Independence
epoch San Martín with its expedition team landed in Pisco, thus
beginning the Peruvian liberation of Spain. Colonel Mariano Ignacio
Prado created the Department of Ica in 1866.
This department has a remarkable geographical configuration. It is
the only department of the southern coast formed by plains called
also Coast plains since the Andean Cordillera is erected inside. In
practice, there is no Andes in Ica, however, it does not have
complete plains. Some geological folds have determined the formation
of lands moving forward the sea which originate the Peninsula of
Paracas while some isolated formations located at the south part
have determined the Marcona complex, a place where the biggest
deposits of iron in the Coast of Pacific have been formed. Ica's
configuration is due to the geomorphology of its two big and unique
fluvial watersheds: Pasco watershed and Ica watershed. Also, it has
an incomplete and continuous current inadequately called Rio Grande
because its short waters do not even reach the sea; its waters are
mainly used for agriculture in Pampa, Nazca and Ingenio, its final
watershed is dry since sand and died lands absorb its short
resources. There are extensive deserts in Ica like the Lancha Pampas
before Pozo Santo and Villacuri Pampas which are extremely hot
areas. Besides, there are persistent and strong winds called
"Paracas" which originate large clouds of sand.
There are good beaches and thermal waters, a diverse marine fauna,
on site museums and excellent hotel services. In Ica we can find the
Paracas National Reserve, where lwe find a number of animal colonies
such as sea wolves and coastal birds. On the Palpa, Ingenio, Nazca
and Socos pampas are the "Nazca Lines", a set of 32 geogliphs of
marine and terrestrial animals, human and geometric figures covering
a 350 KM˛ area.
The city of Ica is famous because of its good field and good wines.
It brings out the attention the Vendimia or Grape Feast, where a lot
of wine and 'cachina' (beverage typical of that place) is drunk.
Fast facts:
Area or Surface:
21,328 KM˛.
Main Resources:
Cotton, grapevine, pallares and kidney beans. Regarding mining, a
lot of iron is produced.
Population:
600,000 inhabitants. Its capital, Ica, has 106,381 inhabitants.
Number of Provinces and districts:
5
provinces and 43 districts.
Date of Foundation:
As
department, January 30th, 1866.
Ethnic Groups:
Negroid (El Carmen district, Chincha).
Fauna:
Sea Wolves, guano birds, condors, flamingoes. |
