Olmos District is one of twelve

districts A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...

of the province Lambayeque in

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 ...

History

The name of the district comes from the town of Olmos, meaning "elms", because the pale bark of the trees in the surrounding forest reminded the Spanish settlers of the elm trees back in Spain. At the time of the arrival of the Spaniards the area was occupied by the

Quechuas Quechua people (, ; ) or Quichua people, may refer to any of the aboriginal people of South America who speak the Quechua languages, which originated among the Indigenous people of Peru. Although most Quechua speakers are native to Peru, there ...

and the extensive region of Olmos was administered by the Kingdom (''curacazgo'') of Copiz, which was under the

Inca Empire The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...

. The pre-existing town was recognized in 1544 by the viceroy

Blasco Núñez Vela Blasco Núñez Vela (c. 1490 – January 18, 1546) was the first Spanish viceroy of South America ("Viceroyalty of Peru"). Serving from May 15, 1544 to January 18, 1546, he was charged by Charles V with the enforcement of the controversial ...

Hydrographics

The major river in the district is the

Olmos River Olmos River (Río Olmos), is a river in the Lambayeque Region in northwestern Peru. It flows off the west slopes of the Andes and its tributaries, such as Los Boliches, carry little additional water. As a result, it is a low flow stream, intermi ...

. Other important rivers are the Cascajal River, the Insculás River, the Ñaupe River, and the San Cristóbal River. The Limón Dam is part of the Olmos irrigation project which is intended to irrigate dry region west of the Andes by damming the flood-prone

Huancabamba River The Huancabamba River ("Stony Plain" in the Quechua language) in the Pasco Region of Peru has its origin in the confluence of several small rivers near the town of Oxapampa: the Chontabamba, the Llamaquizú, and the Esperanza rivers. From an ...

Notes and references

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