Canta is a town in the
Lima Region, in western
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
. The town is located on the
Chillón River
The Chillón River is a river located in western Peru. Its waters are produced by the melting of ice in the glaciers of the Andes, and its mouth is located in the Pacific Ocean coast of the Callao Region. Its volume gets higher during the summer ...
and is the capital of the
Canta Province. With a population of 2,385 (
2017 census), it is also the capital of
Canta District. It is frequently visited by tourists from
Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...
because of its quietness and the beauty of its natural landscapes. The town's altitude is 2,819 m above sea level.
Etymology
The word ''canta'' comes from the Cauqui language spoken by the ancient inhabitants and their meaning can be indicated with these two meanings:
* ''canta'' = tie to catch vicunas
* ''canta'' = hillside, decline
Geography
The town is from Lima, about a three-hour bus ride, and is often visited by geography students from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. The small town of
Obrajillo is nearby.
Image:Nov 21 & 22 - 046.jpg, Aerial photo of Canta, Peru
Image:Nov 21 & 22 - 093.jpg, Aerial photo of Canta, Peru
Climate
Canta has a dry
subtropical highland climate, characterized by the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
as a
semi-arid climate
A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...
(''BSk'').
Canta experiences relatively stable temperatures throughout the year, with minor variations between months. The yearly average high temperature is 18.0°C (64.4°F), while the yearly average low temperature is 8.0°C (46.4°F).
The total annual precipitation is 376.4 millimeters (14.82 inches). Canta receives the majority of its precipitation during the
wet season
The wet season (sometimes called the Rainy season) is the time of year when most of a region's average annual rainfall occurs. It is the time of year where the majority of a country's or region's annual precipitation occurs. Generally, the sea ...
, which typically spans from January to March. The months from May to September typically receive very little rainfall.
History
At some time in the 16th century, it was dominated by the Inca
Pachacutec during his path to the north. The Spanish conquistadors found Canta in a prosperous locality. It was given like a parcel to don
Nicolás de Ribera
Nicolás de Ribera, El Viejo (Olvera, Spain, 1487 – Lima, 1563) was a Spanish conquistador and the first mayor of Lima.Leon, P., 1998, The Discovery and Conquest of Peru, Chronicles of the New World Encounter, edited and translated by Cook and C ...
. During the campaign for the Independence from the Spanish crown, its people had given strong support to the cause of liberation.
References
External links
*
La Viuda myth*
{{Authority control
Populated places in the Lima Region