Canta is a town in the
Lima Region
The Department of Lima (), known as the Department of the Capital () until 1823, is a department and region located in the central coast of Peru; the seat of the regional government is Huacho.
Lima Province, which contains the city of Lima, ...
, in western
Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
. The town is located on the
Chillón River
The Chillón River is a river located in western Peru. It originates 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 months (December to March). Th ...
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 ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
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
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate or maritime climate, is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification represented as ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring c ...
, characterized by the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
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 se ...
(''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 or monsoon season) is the time of year when most of a region's average annual rainfall occurs. Generally, the season lasts at least one month. The term ''green season'' is also sometimes used a ...
, 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. 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 Department of Lima