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Department of Lima
View on WikipediaLima (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlima]; Jaqaru: Nimaja, [niˈmaxa]) is a department of Peru. Located in the country's central coast, it is administered by a regional government based in Huacho, whose jurisdiction does not include the quasi-autonomous special regime of the Province of Lima, coterminous with the country's capital, Lima.
Key Information
Etymology
[edit]The name comes from one of two sources: Either the Aymara language lima-limaq (meaning "yellow flower"), or the Spanish pronunciation of the Quechua word rimaq (meaning "talker", and actually written and pronounced limaq in the nearby Quechua I languages). It is worth nothing that the same Quechua word is also the source of the name given to the river that feeds the city, the Rímac River (pronounced as in the politically dominant Quechua II languages, with an "r" instead of an "l"). It is known in Jaqaru, a language spoken in the department's districts of Catahuasi and Tupe, as Nimaja.
It was also known simply as the Department of the Capital (Spanish: Departamento de la Capital) from 1821 until 1823.[3]
History
[edit]The remains of early Andean inhabitants, hunters and harpoon fishermen from more than 6500 years ago, are to be found in the department of Lima. These remains were found in Chivateros, near the Chillón River, and in various other places. These persons incorporated nets, hooks, farming, ceramics and weaving to their everyday objects. The inhabitants of the coast lived in the lomas and the valleys, where they built temples and dwelling complexes, leading to huge ceremonial centres, such as the Huacoy on the Chillón River; Garagay and La Florida on the Rímac River, Manchay on the Lurín River; and Chancay, Supe and many other valleys to the north and south. There are finely ornamented temples with figures modelled in clay.
Lithic prehistoric projectile points of Paijan type were found at Ancón, 40 kilometres northeast of Lima in the Chillón River Valley.
The 5,000-year-old ruins known as El Paraíso are also located in this area. A temple at the site is believed to be about 5,000 years old.
From 1784 to 1821, the area was administered as the Intendancy of Lima.
Republican period
[edit]After independence, its northern area was administered as the Department of the Coast.[4] When the department was created in 1821 as the Department of the Capital, the aforementioned department was annexed into it in 1823.[5]
From 1836 to 1839, the department was part of North Peru, a constituent country of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation.
In 2006, a team of archeological researchers led by Robert Benfer announced their findings from a four-year excavation at Buena Vista in the Chillón River valley a few kilometres north of present-day Lima. They had discovered a 4200-year-old observatory constructed by an early Andean civilization, a three-dimensional sculpture, unique for the time period in this region, and sophisticated carvings. The observatory is on top of a 10-meter pyramidal mound and has architectural features for sighting the astronomical solstices. The discovery pushes back the time for the development of complex civilisation in the area and has altered scholars' understanding of Preceramic period cultures in Peru.[6]
The Lima culture (100 A.D. to 650 A.D.) arose in this area, specially in the central valleys from Chancay to Lurín. It was distinguished by painted adobe buildings.
During this time, the Huari conquest took place, thus giving rise to Huari-style ceramics, together with a local style known as Nievería. As the population grew, their culture changed. With the decline of the Huari, whose most important center was Cajamarquilla, new local cultures arose. The Chancay are the most well-known. They developed large urban centers and a considerable textile production, as well as mass-produced ceramics.
At this stage in the mid-15th century, the Incas arrived from their base in the Andes. They conquered and absorbed the regional cultures and occupied important sites such as Pachacamac, turning it into an administrative centre.
Geography
[edit]The department of Lima is bordered by the departments of Ancash on the north, Huánuco, Pasco, and Junín on the east, Huancavelica on the southeast, Ica on the south, and the Pacific Ocean and the Lima Province on the west.
The department has a coastal and an Andean zone, and has a great diversity of natural regions: the Coast or Chala (0 to 500 meters above sea level) up to the Janka or Mountain range (Spanish: Cordillera, over 4800 meters). The predominating regions are the Yunga (500 to 2300 meters above sea level) and Quechua (2300 to 3500 meters)
Politics
[edit]Subdivisions
[edit]
The department is divided into ten provinces, which are composed of 171 districts.
Culture
[edit]Landmarks
[edit]Points of interest in the department include Caral, Lachay National Reserve and Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve.

The Lachay National Reserve, in the Huaura province, is a unique mist-fed eco-system of wild plant and animal species, is a natural reserve located in the north of the department.
Huacho is the capital of the Lima Region and the most populous city of the department (excluding Lima which is administered by an autonomous government, the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima). Sitting at the bottom of a wide bay, it has a pleasant and dry climate. In its vicinity is the Huaura River where rice, cotton, sugar cane and different fruits and cereals are grown. This has given rise to an important cotton industry as well as soap and oil factories.[7]
Lunahuaná District of Cañete Province, is located 38 km (24 mi) away from the south city of San Vicente de Cañete. The Incahuasi Archeological complex is located there. Lunahuaná has a dry climate and the sun shines during most of the year. Lately, Lunahuaná has become an adventure sports paradise, such as: Canotaje (Whitewater Rafting), Parapente & Ala Delta. Whitewater rafting is possible due to the Cañete River, which has rapids up to level 4. The main settlement in this district is the town of Lunahuaná.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The Province of Lima is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima instead of the department's regional government due to its status as a province under a special regime.[1][2]
- ^ Seat of the Regional Government of Lima.
References
[edit]- ^ Toledo, Alejandro (2002-07-17). "Ley N° 27783: Ley de Bases de la Descentralización". Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas. p. 11-12.
- ^ "Ley Nº 31140: Ley que modifica la Ley 27783, Ley de Bases de la Decentralización, precisando el ámbito territorial de competencias de nivel regional en el Departamento de Lima". El Peruano. 2021-03-16.
- ^ "ORDENANZA REGIONAL Nº 15: Declaran de interés y prioridad regional fijar el día 04 de agosto de 1821 como fecha de creación política de hecho de los distritos de Yauyos, Laraos, Omas, Huañec, Ayavirí, Tauripampa, Viñac y Colonia, pertenecientes a la provincia de Yauyos". El Peruano. 2022-07-01.
- ^ "202 AÑOS de la promulgación del REGLAMENTO PROVISIONAL expedida por GRAL. DON JOSE DE SAN MARTIN en la ciudad de HUAURA". Gob.pe. 2023-02-10.
- ^ Guarisco, Claudia (2023). "José de San Martín y el espacio político indígena. Departamento de Lima, 1821-1822" [José de San Martín and the indigenous political space. Department of Lima, 1821-1822]. RIRA. 8 (1): 154. doi:10.18800/revistaira.202301.005. ISSN 2415-5896.
- ^ Richard Lovett, "Oldest Observatory in Americas Discovered in Peru", National Geographic, May 2006, accessed 2 Nov 2010
- ^ Flores, Edwin H. Adriazola (2008-06-15). "ILO : NUESTRA HISTORIA: LA INDUSTRIA. LA FABRICA PACOCHA". ILO. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
External links
[edit]- Lima Region Information Hub – Lima Region Information Hub official website
- Lima Region Tourism Board – Lima Region Tourism Board (CEPTUR) official website
- North Lima Region – Lima Region: Social, Cultural and Tourist Information
- Lima Travel Guide – General facts and travel information about Lima
Department of Lima
View on GrokipediaHistory
Pre-Columbian and Inca Periods
The coastal valleys of the Rímac, Chillón, and Lurín rivers, which form the core of the modern Department of Lima, supported human settlements from at least the Early Archaic period, with lithic tools indicating hunter-gatherer activity around 8000 BCE, though permanent agricultural communities developed later during the Initial Period (c. 1800–900 BCE).[6] These early groups relied on marine resources and incipient irrigation, laying the foundation for more complex societies amid the arid environment.[7] The Lima culture, flourishing from approximately 200 to 700 CE along the central Peruvian coast, marked a peak of regional development with urban centers focused on ceremonial and administrative functions. Key sites like Huaca Pucllana in the Miraflores district of Lima feature monumental adobe pyramids up to 22 meters high, constructed in seven staggered platforms using millions of hand-molded bricks, evidencing advanced labor organization and ritual practices including human sacrifices.[8] [9] This culture emerged post-Chavín influence, emphasizing textile production, metallurgy, and coastal trade, with settlements supported by canal-based agriculture growing maize, beans, and cotton.[10] Succeeding the Lima culture, the Ichma (also Ychsma) polity dominated from around 900 to 1470 CE in the Lurín and Rímac valleys, constructing over 20 huacas (ceremonial mounds) such as Pachacamac, a major oracle center with temples dedicated to local deities.[11] [12] Ichma society featured hierarchical elites buried in bundle tombs with spondylus shells, ceramics, and textiles, reflecting maritime trade networks extending to Ecuador; archaeological finds, including mummified remains and anthropomorphic vessels from sites like Armatambo (c. 1250–1532 CE), indicate a population of tens of thousands organized around valley polities with specialized craft production.[13] [14] The Inca Empire incorporated the Lima region around 1470 CE under Túpac Inca Yupanqui, integrating Ichma centers into the Tawantinsuyu administrative system while suppressing local oracles like Pachacamac in favor of imperial cults to Viracocha and Inti.[15] Inca modifications included road networks linking the coast to the highlands, mit'a labor drafts for agriculture and construction, and the establishment of colcas (storage facilities) to manage tribute from intensified potato, maize, and quinoa cultivation via expanded irrigation.[16] This period, lasting until the Spanish invasion in 1532, saw the region's population swell under centralized control, with archaeological evidence of Inca-style terracing and ushnu platforms overlaying pre-existing huacas.[13]Colonial Era
Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Lima on January 18, 1535, in the Rímac Valley, initially naming it Ciudad de los Reyes in reference to the Epiphany. The location was chosen for its proximity to the Pacific coast, enabling access via the port of Callao, its temperate climate, and the irrigated valleys of the Chillón, Rímac, and Lurín rivers, which supported agriculture. These valleys, previously inhabited by Ichma chiefdoms under Inca influence, were repurposed for Spanish haciendas producing sugar cane, vineyards, olives, and grains, relying on indigenous labor through encomiendas and later repartimiento systems.[17][18][19] In 1542, King Charles V established the Viceroyalty of Peru with Lima as its capital, consolidating administrative control over territories spanning from Panama to the Strait of Magellan. The city hosted the Real Audiencia, established in 1543, serving as the viceroyal seat for governance, justice, and the Inquisition. Lima's cathedral, begun in 1535 and rebuilt multiple times, became the archbishopric, underscoring its ecclesiastical primacy. The surrounding region's economy integrated into the colonial silver trade, with Callao handling shipments from Potosí mines, while local estates supplied food and exports like cotton and cochineal dye. Indigenous populations, decimated by smallpox and overwork—declining from an estimated 20,000 in the valleys pre-conquest to under 5,000 by the late 16th century—were concentrated in reducciones to facilitate tribute collection and Christianization.[19][18][20] Urban expansion in Lima featured grid planning per the Laws of the Indies, with monasteries, palaces, and walls constructed by the 17th century, reflecting Baroque influences. The area endured seismic events, including the 1687 earthquake that killed over 5,000 and damaged infrastructure, and the more destructive 1746 quake-tsunami combination that leveled Lima and obliterated Callao, killing around 5,000–6,000 and prompting fortified reconstruction under Viceroy José Antonio Manso de Velasco. Rural districts saw sporadic resistance, such as Taki Onqoy millenarian movements in the 1560s involving Andean huacas, but Spanish dominance persisted through military garrisons and missionary orders. By the 18th century, Bourbon reforms shifted some trade to Buenos Aires, marginally reducing Lima's monopoly, yet the core region remained the viceroyal hub until independence movements emerged.[17][18][19]Independence and Early Republic
On July 28, 1821, José de San Martín proclaimed Peru's independence from Spain in Lima's Plaza Mayor, marking a pivotal moment for the coastal region encompassing what would become the Department of Lima.[21] San Martín's forces had occupied the city on July 21 after the viceroy's evacuation, but royalist strongholds persisted in the interior highlands, prolonging the conflict until the decisive Battle of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824.[22] The Lima area's strategic port and urban center facilitated patriot naval superiority, yet local elites and populations exhibited ambivalence, enduring requisitions and blockades from both patriot and royalist armies that disrupted trade and agriculture in the Rimac, Chillón, and Lurín valleys.[21] In the immediate post-independence period, the region transitioned from viceregal administration to republican structures, with Lima designated as the national capital under San Martín's Protectorate from 1821 to 1822.[23] The Constitutional Congress of 1822 reorganized Peru into 11 departments, including Lima, which initially comprised the coastal provinces surrounding the capital, reflecting the central government's intent to consolidate authority amid fragmented loyalties and economic disarray.[24] Simón Bolívar's arrival in 1823 and subsequent dictatorship until 1826 further centralized power in Lima, where he promulgated the 1823 Political Constitution, though implementation faltered due to regional caudillo rivalries and fiscal insolvency, with the department's ports handling critical imports despite ongoing instability. The early republic (1824–1842) saw the Department of Lima grapple with chronic political upheaval, including the brief Peru-Bolivian Confederation (1836–1839) that temporarily altered departmental boundaries under Andrés de Santa Cruz.[25] Successive leaders like José de La Mar and Agustín Gamarra imposed martial law and debt-funded reforms, but the region's economy stagnated from war damages, smuggling, and unequal guano export dependencies, exacerbating social tensions between urban creoles and rural indigenous communities.[21] By the 1840s, Ramón Castilla's presidency initiated stabilization, leveraging Lima's coastal advantages for export-led growth, though departmental governance remained vulnerable to Lima-centric decrees that often ignored peripheral valleys' infrastructural needs.[25]20th Century Developments
In the early 20th century, the provinces comprising what would become the Department of Lima—Huaral, Huarochirí, and Yauyos—remained predominantly agricultural, with cotton cultivation in the Chancay and Huaura valleys driving exports amid Peru's post-War of the Pacific recovery. Chancay Province, later absorbed into Huaral in 1963, experienced an economic peak from sugar cane and cotton production, supported by irrigation improvements and coastal trade through ports like Huacho.[26] Infrastructure advancements, including the extension of the Central Andean Railway through Huarochirí Province by 1908, enhanced connectivity to Lima, boosting mineral transport from the highlands and fostering early urbanization in towns like Chosica and Matucana as commuter and resort areas.[27] Mid-century developments emphasized agricultural expansion and socio-economic shifts, with irrigation projects in valleys like Lurín and Mala increasing arable land for crops such as asparagus and fruits, while livestock herding persisted in Yauyos' highlands. Population growth accelerated due to rural-to-coastal migration from Peru's sierra regions, transforming semi-rural areas into peri-urban zones; for instance, Huaral Province saw cultural transitions from criollo-dominated estates to more diverse smallholder farming by the 1950s. The 1969 agrarian reform under General Juan Velasco Alvarado redistributed hacienda lands, particularly impacting Huarochirí's estates, though implementation varied and often led to fragmented holdings without proportional productivity gains.[28][29] The late 20th century brought challenges from political instability and internal conflict, with Shining Path insurgents establishing footholds in Huarochirí's rural districts during the 1980s, disrupting agriculture and migration patterns through violence and forced recruitment. By 1993, the region's population had grown substantially, reflecting broader Peruvian urbanization trends, though economic reliance on fishing in Huacho—expanding with anchovy processing for export—and informal peri-urban settlements persisted amid uneven infrastructure development. These pressures culminated in administrative reforms paving the way for the Department's formal creation in 2002, separating it from Lima Province to address regional disparities.[30][31]Recent History and Regional Autonomy
The Government Regional of Lima was established on November 19, 2002, as part of Peru's broader decentralization process initiated by the Ley de Bases de la Descentralización, which aimed to devolve administrative powers from the central government to regional entities across the country's departments.[32] This framework granted the Department of Lima—comprising nine provinces (Barranca, Cajatambo, Cañete, Huaral, Huaura, Huarochirí, Oyón, and Yauyos) excluding the special constitutional Province of Lima and the Callao Province—a regional council and elected governor responsible for planning, budgeting, and executing development policies in areas such as infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture, while operating under national oversight.[32] The region's jurisdiction, headquartered in Huacho, covers approximately 35,800 square kilometers and focuses on coastal and highland zones vital for agriculture, fishing, and emerging logistics hubs.[32] Governance has evolved through periodic elections, with the current administration led by Governor Rosa Gloria Vásquez Cuadrado, a lawyer and former provincial mayor, who assumed office on January 1, 2023, following her victory in the 2022 regional elections for the 2023-2026 term.[33] Under her leadership, the government has emphasized infrastructure investments, achieving what officials describe as a historic level of funding—reportedly over prior benchmarks in two and a half years—targeting roads, water systems, and public services amid challenges like rural poverty and urban spillover from the capital.[34] In July 2025, marking the entity's 23rd anniversary, Vásquez reaffirmed commitments to the nine provinces, highlighting ongoing projects in sustainable development while rendering public accounts on transparency and progress.[32] However, regional operations have faced national political instability, including Peru's 2022-2025 executive crises, which indirectly strained resource allocation through delayed central transfers. Regional autonomy remains constrained despite legal provisions, as the central government in Lima retains significant control over fiscal revenues, including mining and key taxes, limiting self-sufficiency and perpetuating a "decentralizing limbo" where regional governments like Lima's handle execution but not full revenue generation.[35] No formal regional integration or enhanced autonomy measures specific to the Department of Lima have advanced beyond the 2002 model, with the entity operating as a provisional structure pending broader constitutional reforms; efforts to expand powers, such as in environmental management or port-related logistics (e.g., Chancay developments), continue to depend on national approvals.[36] This setup reflects Peru's incomplete decentralization, where regional bodies promote inclusive growth but grapple with dependency on federal budgeting, as evidenced by the Lima Regional Government's 2022-2026 plan prioritizing competitiveness without independent fiscal tools.[32]Geography and Environment
Location and Topography
The Department of Lima is located in west-central Peru, encompassing a surface area of 34,948.57 km², which represents about 2.7% of the national territory.[37] Its geographic extremes span latitudes 10°46'00"S to 12°12'00"S and longitudes 75°52'00"W to 77°41'00"W.[37] The department borders the Pacific Ocean along its western edge and adjoins the departments of Ancash to the north, as well as Huánuco, Pasco, Junín, Huancavelica, and Ica inland to the east and south. The topography of the Department of Lima varies from coastal litoral zones to inter-Andean areas, featuring abrupt terrain that separates fluvial basins with perennial and seasonal rivers.[37] Coastal regions consist primarily of desert plains and marine terraces interrupted by alluvial fans and river valleys, such as those of the Huaura and Chancay rivers.[38] Inland, the landscape ascends through the coastal cordillera and western Andean ranges, reaching higher elevations in eastern provinces.[39]Climate and Hydrology
The Department of Lima features a subtropical desert climate classified as BWh under the Köppen-Geiger system, characterized by mild temperatures, high humidity, and minimal precipitation due to the influence of the cold Humboldt Current along the Pacific coast.[40] Average annual temperatures range from 15°C (59°F) in the cooler winter months to 26°C (79°F) in summer, with the hottest month of February recording highs around 27°C (80°F) and lows of 21°C (69°F).[41] The region experiences persistent coastal fog, known as garúa, during the winter season from June to October, which provides some moisture but rarely results in significant rainfall.[42] Precipitation in the department averages only 6.4 mm (0.25 inches) annually, making it one of the driest coastal areas globally, with rain events being infrequent and mostly limited to brief summer drizzles.[43] This aridity extends across the coastal plains and lomas ecosystems, where fog sustains limited vegetation during winter but leads to barren landscapes in the dry summer months from December to March.[44] Hydrologically, the department relies on three primary rivers—the Rímac, Chillón, and Lurín—which originate in the Andean highlands and flow westward to the Pacific, providing essential surface water for the densely populated Lima metropolitan area.[45] The Rímac River, in particular, serves as the main source for urban supply, supplemented by the underlying alluvial aquifer, though overexploitation and pollution have strained these resources.[46] Despite Peru's national abundance of water resources across 159 river basins, the coastal Department of Lima faces acute scarcity, with per capita availability limited by the arid environment and high demand from over 10 million residents. Efforts to mitigate shortages include nature-based solutions like restoring traditional Andean water management systems and exploring desalination, as the region's rivers contribute only a fraction of the needed supply amid climate variability and urban growth.[47][48]Flora, Fauna, and Conservation Areas
The Department of Lima's ecosystems are dominated by coastal desert, with biodiversity concentrated in fog-dependent lomas (seasonal herbaceous hills), wetlands, and montane relict forests. Flora primarily consists of drought-resistant shrubs and annual herbs that thrive on winter garúa fog, including Caesalpinia spinosa (tara) and Capparis prisca (palillo) in lomas formations.[49] Higher-altitude areas, such as the Huarimayo forest in Canta province, harbor greater vascular plant diversity, with 238 species identified in a 2024 survey, reflecting remnant Andean woodland adapted to semi-arid conditions.[50] Fauna is adapted to fragmented habitats, featuring small mammals like the Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) and mountain viscacha (Lagidium peruanum), alongside reptiles and diverse avifauna. Bird species predominate, with 49 recorded in Huarimayo alone, including endemics and migrants; coastal wetlands support up to 210 bird species, such as herons, egrets, and seabirds.[49] Mammals are limited by habitat loss, but reserves host populations of rodents and occasional predators like pumas in less disturbed zones.[51] Conservation efforts focus on protecting these fragile ecosystems through state-managed reserves. The Lomas de Lachay National Reserve, spanning 5,076 hectares north of Lima, safeguards lomas vegetation and associated wildlife, functioning as a key refuge for fog-trapping plants and endemic species during the austral winter.[52] The Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge, a 263-hectare Ramsar-designated wetland in southern Lima established for migratory bird conservation, maintains subtropical marsh habitats critical for waders, waterfowl, and resident avifauna.[53] Regionally, the 2019 Lomas de Lima Conservation Area encompasses multiple lomas zones (Amancaes, Ancón, Carabayllo, and Villa María), aiming to preserve endemic flora amid urban expansion pressures.[54] These areas, administered under Peru's National System of Protected Natural Areas (SINANPE), address threats from grazing, urbanization, and climate variability, though enforcement challenges persist due to proximity to metropolitan Lima.[55]Demographics
Population Distribution and Growth
The population of the Department of Lima totaled 910,431 inhabitants in the 2017 census, representing 2.9% of Peru's national total. This figure excludes the separate Province of Lima, focusing on the department's nine provinces, including the Constitutional Province of Callao. Between the 2007 and 2017 censuses, the department recorded an intercensal population increase of 70,962 persons, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 0.8%, which exceeded the national rate of 0.7% during the same period but reflected a broader deceleration in regional expansion compared to earlier decades driven by internal migration.[56][56] Projections from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI) indicate continued modest growth, with the population reaching 924,212 in 2018, 939,164 in 2019, and 953,715 in 2020, implying an approximate annual rate of 1.6% in the immediate post-census years. This trajectory aligns with national trends of slowing fertility rates and reduced net migration inflows, though proximity to the Lima metropolitan area sustains some urban pull from rural Andean districts. By 2020, the cumulative growth from 2017 stood at about 4.8%, lower than the 4.5% observed in Lima Province proper.[57][57] Population distribution remains heavily skewed toward coastal provinces, where economic opportunities in agriculture, fishing, and commuting to Lima concentrate settlement. Inland sierra provinces exhibit sparse densities, often below 5 inhabitants per square kilometer, due to rugged topography and limited infrastructure. The following table summarizes projected populations for select provinces in 2020:| Province | Population (2020 projection) |
|---|---|
| Cañete | 250,420 |
| Huaura | 240,717 |
| Huaral | 194,375 |
| Barranca | 151,095 |
