Jatuncocha (possibly from

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

''hatun'' (in Bolivia always ''jatun'') big, large ''qucha'' lake, "big lake") is a lake in the

Cordillera Blanca The Cordillera Blanca (Spanish for "white range") is a mountain range in Peru that is part of the larger Andes range and extends for between 8°08' and 9°58'S and 77°00' and 77°52'W, in a northwesterly direction. It includes several peaks ove ...

in the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

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 ...

located in the

Ancash Region Ancash ( qu, Anqash; es, Áncash ) is a department and region in northern Peru. It is bordered by the departments of La Libertad on the north, Huánuco and Pasco on the east, Lima on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Its capital i ...

Huaylas Province The Huaylas Province is one of 20 provinces of the Ancash Region in Peru. Geography The Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra traverse the province. Some of the highest peaks of the province are Artesonraju, Chacraraju, Quitaraju, Pucajirca ...

, Santa Cruz District. It is situated at a height of comprising an area of . Jatunccocha lies in the Santa Cruz gorge between the peaks of

Quitaraju Quitaraju or Kitaraju (possibly from Ancash Quechua ''kita'' dam, Quechua ''rahu'' snow, ice) is a mountain in the Cordillera Blanca in the Andes of Peru, about high. It is situated in the Ancash Region, Huaylas Province, Santa Cruz District. ...

in the north and

Caraz Caraz is a town in the Caraz District in the southeastern part of Huaylas Province of the Ancash Region in Peru. Political Creation Recent investigations suggest that its political creation happened on 12 February 1821 when General San Martín, ...

in the south, northeast of a smaller lake named

Ichiccocha Lake Ichiccocha (possibly from Ancash Quechua ''ichik'' small, little, few,Santa Cruz Creek Santa Cruz, (called Yuraqmayu or Yuracma near its end) is a creek in Peru located in Santa Cruz District, Huaylas Province, Ancash. It is a right tributary of the Santa River. It originates in the Cordillera Blanca southwest of Taulliraju, near ...

flows through the lake. It is a right tributary of the

Santa River The Santa River ( es, Río Santa) is a river in the South American Andes mountain range in the Ancash Region of northwest central Peru. River Course Lake Conococha, at an altitude of 4,050 m above sea level and at , is considered the headwate ...

References

Lakes of Peru Lakes of Ancash Region {{Ancash-geo-stub