Utcubamba (hispanicized spelling) or Utkhupampa (
Quechua ''utkhu''
cotton, ''pampa'' a large plain,
[Diccionario Quechua - Español - Quechua, Academía Mayor de la Lengua Quechua, Gobierno Regional Cusco, Cusco 2005 (Quechua_Spanish dictionary)] "cotton plain") is a
river in the
Amazonas Region
Amazonas () is a department and region in northern Peru bordered by Ecuador on the north and west, Cajamarca on the west, La Libertad on the south, and Loreto and San Martín on the east. Its capital is the city of Chachapoyas.
With a lands ...
of
Peru, located at . The name is a historical reference to the past agricultural practice of growing cotton in the Utcubamba Valley.
The Utcubamba River originates in the highlands of the central mountain range, then it flows north through the
Amazonas Region
Amazonas () is a department and region in northern Peru bordered by Ecuador on the north and west, Cajamarca on the west, La Libertad on the south, and Loreto and San Martín on the east. Its capital is the city of Chachapoyas.
With a lands ...
before joining the
Marañón River. The semitropical valley of the river is the former site of the
pre-Columbian Chachapoyas culture and a popular tourist destination. Its many tributaries support the towns and farms of
La Peca
La Peca is a place in La Peca District in the Bagua Province, Amazonas Region, Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, ...
,
Copallín,
Cajaruro,
Shipasbamba
Shipasbamba is a district in Bongará Province, 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 ( ...
,
La Florida, and
Yambrasbamba
Yambrasbamba is a district of Bongará Province in Peru. The district occupies an area of 1.715,96 km2. It was created on December 26, 1870, and has a population of approximately 12,000 inhabitants.
The capital of the district is the city of ...
.
Numerous hydroelectric dams have been built on the Utcubamba River from which a large portion of the Amazon Region derives its electricity. The Utcubamba River also passes through the Utcubamba Valley and is the source of irrigation for most of the cultivation done here. The tropical climate of the valley combined with the availability of water for the farms has helped to make this area one of the biggest producers of crops like maize, rice and banana.
References
Rivers of Peru
Rivers of Amazonas Region
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