Canta is a town in the
Lima Region, in western
Peru. The town is located on the
Chillón River 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 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
Location
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
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. For that, in 1839 it was declared "heroic village".
References
External links
*
La Viuda myth*
{{Authority control
Populated places in the Lima Region