Puno Region

Peru region table
name = Puno


imagesize = 175px
image_caption = Regional logo


president = Hernán Fuentes
capital = Puno
largest = Juliaca
area = 66,997
pop = 1,245,508
density = 18.6
provinces = 13 provinces and 108 districts
lowest = 820 m (Lower Lanlacuni)
highest = 4725 m (San Antonio de Esquilache)
lat = 13°00' to 17°08' S
long = 71°08' to 68°50' W
resources = Quinoa; it is also the nation's largest producer of sheep, alpacas and llamas.
poverty = 78%
GDPshare = 2.2%
website = [http://www.regionpuno.gob.pe www.regionpuno.gob.pe]
areacode = 51
iso = PUN
ubigeo = 21

Puno is a region in southeastern Peru. It is bordered by Bolivia on the east, the Madre de Dios Region on the north, the Cusco and Arequipa regions on the west, the Moquegua Region on the southwest, and the Tacna Region on the south. Its capital is the city of Puno, which is located on Lake Titicaca in the geographical region known as the Altiplano or high sierra.

Geography

The Puno region is located in the Collao Plateau. The western part of Lake Titicaca, which is the world's highest navigable lake, is located in the region. The Andean mountains make up 70% of the region's territory, and the rest is covered by the Amazon rainforest.

The climate is cold and dry, with a four-month rain season. On the other hand, the climate of the rainforest is warm. The water resources are taken from the Lake Titicaca, 50 lagoons and more than 300 rivers. There is also an important potential in underground waters.

Tourism

Tourism is currently expanding in the Puno Region, with several tour operators and hotels ranging from low budget hostels to high-end hotels.

Political division

The region is divided into 13 provinces ("provincias", singular: "provincia"), which are composed of 107 districts ("distritos", singular: "distrito"). The provinces, with their capitals in parenthesis, are:

* Azángaro (Azángaro)
* Carabaya (Macusani)
* Chucuito (Juli)
* El Collao (Ilave)
* Huancané (Huancané)
* Lampa (Lampa)
* Melgar (Ayaviri)
* Moho (Moho)
* Puno (Puno)
* San Antonio de Putina (Putina)
* Sandia (Sandia)
* San Román (Juliaca)
* Yunguyo (Yunguyo)

History

In ancient times, the Collao plateau was inhabited by Aymara groups (Collas, Zapanas, Kallahuayos and Lupacas). The Quechuas came later.

According to chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, these ancient times coincide with the legend of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, who emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca to found the Inca Empire.

The Aymara culture, also known as Putina, was the most important and influential pre-Hispanic culture in the region.

During the Viceroyship, Puno was the obliged route for travelers going to Potosí, Bolivia. In 1668, viceroy Conde de Lemos established San Juan Bautista de Puno as the capital of the province of Paucarcolla. Later, it was called San Carlos de Puno, in honor of the ruling king, Charles II of Spain.

In 1870, the railway route Arequipa-Puno was installed and navigation in Lake Titicaca started.

In 2007, a meteorite landed here, rupturing a natural deposit of arsenic, sickening the locals.

Current Events

In March 2008, the regional President, Hernan Fuentes, declared that he seeks to push for the region's secession from Peru in order to establish an independent state. Fuentes has refused to help his local government organize a nationwide test for public sector teachers and promotes the cultivation of the coca leaf, often used to make cocaine. Peruvian Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo has stated that promoting the breakup of Peru was "an act of sedition."

Government officials allege Fuentes to be ideologically close to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and to Bolivian President Evo Morales.