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Church planting with the Quechua people of the Cotahuasi Canyon
The Cotahuasi Canyon is situated about 379 kilometers from Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru. It takes about 11-hours to drive this route, because half of the trip is over rough and curvy dirt roads.
The rabbit like viscacha has a long tail and is often seen in rocky high altitude areas. Impressively, it maneuvers and dodges quickly through bolder fields with ease. Venado, (deer) are rare in very remote and high areas.
"Deepest canyon in the world"
It is almost twice the depth of the Grand Canyon in the United States, and NASA satellite topography studies indicate that it is officially the deepest canyon feature in the world at 11,004 feet (3354 meters).
The village of Cotahuasi is at about 8,700 feet elevation, and is only 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean (as the crow flies).
The extreme differences of altitudes and diversity of climates in this region leaves unique habitats for a variety of unique animals and plants.
Among these, the huge Andean condor and the small lama-like wild vicuņa, are frequently seen here.
Janelle keeps a watch out for the many different birds of the area, and photographs them frequently.
Blue and Yellow Tanager
Oasis Hummingbird
For many centuries the Quechua people have inhabited the canyon area and built terraces to farm the more level areas. Many old trails are present throughout the canyon connecting the villages and farm fields. One will find goats, sheep and cattle grazing close to the villages of the canyon, and alpaca and lama herds on the highlands above the canyon.
Water for irrigation comes from cascading streams flowing from the highlands, and is a precious commodity during the dry months of May until December. The rainy season brings afternoon showers during the summer months of January through April.
The Cotahuasi Canyon, is located in the Andes Mountains of Southern Peru, in the Northern part of the State of Arequipa, in the Province (county) of La Union.
There are villages accessible only by trail in the deepest part, where it extends from the foothills of the 19,990 feet snow-capped Mount Solimana down to the confluence of the Cotahuasi and Ocoņa Rivers at about 5,000 feet altitude.