The Yunga region is one of the eight natural regions in which the territory of Peru is divided. The name"Yunga"comes from Quechua, and can be translated as"valley zone"or"warm valley".
It is the second region of the country taking into account its altitude: it is between 500 and 2,300 meters above sea level. This area is also known as Jungle High, Mount, Mountain Eyebrow and Jungle Eye Mountain.
The Yunga region is famous for fruit production. Guayabo, avocado, pacae, manzano, chirimoya and plum are cultivated in this area, to name a few fruit trees.
This region begins in the north of Peru and extends to the south, crossing the whole territory.
In fact, this area does not end in Peruvian territory, but continues to Bolivia and reaches Argentina. For this reason, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has classified the Yunga as a global ecoregion.
There are two types of Yunga in Peru. On one side is the Yunga maritime and, on the other, the river Yunga. The sea is located in the coastal zone to the west of the Peruvian Andes, while the river is located in the jungle area east of the Andes.
In addition to the location there are various differences between the two Yunga regions. These include their position with respect to sea level. The Yunga maritime is between 500 and 1,000 meters, while the Yunga river is between 1,000 and 2,300 meters.
Unlike the other natural areas of Peru, the Yunga region is not homogeneous in terms of physical characteristics, flora and fauna.
This is because the Yunga river and Yunga maritime are separated by a large mountainous formation, generating variations in the climate. This climatic difference translates into the emergence of diverse ecosystems.
For example, there is abundant xerophytic vegetation (typical of desert areas) in Yunga maritime, while jungle vegetation (dense forests and dwarf forests) prevails in river Yungas.
This ecoregion presents the largest number of endemic species in the country. It is also one of the best known for the variety and beauty of its plant species.
Location
The Yunga region is located on both sides of the Andes Mountain Range that crosses the Peruvian territory.
Yunga "
The word"Yunga"comes from the Quechua voice yunka , which means"warm valley".
In the pre-Columbian period this term was used to refer to the valleys that are to the north of the country and near the Peruvian coasts.
Delimitation of Yunga region with other Peruvian natural regions
When the Europeans arrived in the American territory, they divided Peru into three regions: the coastal region, the jungle region and the sierra. However, this division was superficial because it only took into account the most obvious characteristics of the territory.
Years later, Javier Pulgar Vidal (a Peruvian geographer) organized the territory of the country into eight zones, taking into account the altitude, relief, fauna and flora.
This gave rise to the Yunga region (between 500 m and 2,300 m). This is a transition zone between the coastal region and the Quechua region.
It should be noted that, of all regions, the Yunga is the one with the least homogeneous relief, flora and fauna. This is because this region is divided in two by the Mountain range of the Andes.
Sub-regions Yunga
In the Peruvian territory, the Yunga region is divided into two subregions. These are the Yunga maritime and the Yunga river.
Taking into account the other regions of Peru, the Yunga lies between the coastal region and the Quechua region. The Yunga maritime is close to the coasts, while the Yunga river is closer to the mountains.
Below, we present the most important aspects of both Yunga.
1- Yunga maritime or coastal
- Location
The maritime Yunga lies to the west of the Peruvian Andes, near the coastal zone of the country.
- Altitude
It is located between 500 m. and the 1000 masl.
- Weather conditions
The climate is usually warm and semi-arid with temperatures between 20 ° C and 27 ° C.
The humidity levels are high during the night but fall during the day. Precipitations are scarce and the sun is present for most of the year.
- Main cities
Some of the cities within the Yunga maritime region are Nazca (at 520 m.), Tacna at 562 m., Chosica at 861 m. And Moquegua at 1,410 m.
2- River Yunga
- Location
The fluvial Yunga is located to the east of the Peruvian Andes, near the jungle zone of the country.
- Altitude
It is located between 1.000 msnm. and the 2,300 m.
- Weather conditions
The weather is warm. The temperature oscillates between 15 ° C and 23 ° C. Unlike Yunga maritime, the humidity levels are higher.
Precipitations are abundant throughout the year, exceeding 400 millimeters per year. The highest levels of precipitation are recorded between December and March.
- Main cities
The most important cities that are in the fluvial Yunga are Chapoyas, Abancay, Quillabamba, Sandia, Oxapampa and Huanuco.
Terminology: Yunga or Yungas?
"Yunga"and"Yungas"are two terms that are used to refer to natural regions of Peru. However, they do not have the same meaning. The term Yunga refers to the two zones that are on each side of the Peruvian Andes: Yunga maritime and Yunga fluvial.
For its part, the term"Yungas"is used only to refer to the jungle area east of the Andes. This means that the Yunga river can also be called by the name"Yungas".
Relief
The relief of the Yunga region is composed of valleys and mountains. Rock formations abound.
Due to its proximity to the Peruvian Andes, many of these valleys are deep, marked and narrow, with inter-Andean gullies. However, as they move away from the Andes, these formations are softened.
The same is true of mountain formations: the closer the Andes mountains are, the steeper and steeper they will be.
The lower altitudes (between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level) are formed by soft hills, which form what is called the"eyebrow of the mountain".
Weather
In general terms, the climate of the Yunga regions is warm. However, altitude and proximity to the sea can generate increases or decreases in temperature.
As a rule, the climate is hot between 500m above sea level and 1,500m above sea level. As it rises higher, the temperature drops.
There are two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season. Rainfall in the Yunga region is more abundant than in any other area of Peru. These are also affected by the altitude: from 1,800 meters above sea level, rainfall is more abundant.
Flora
Because the Yunga is divided into two subregions, the flora is very varied. Above all, the fruit species abound. For this reason, it is said that the Yunga is a region mainly fruit.
Likewise, it is considered that the flora of this region is one of the most beautiful and exuberant, not only Peru but also the entire tropical region of the world.
Among the plant species are huarampo, plum, avocado, apple, guava, molle, pacae, white cabuya, blue cabuya, chirimoya, pitajaya, reed, broom, tarra
In some areas of the mountains, there are also cactaceae, aloe, maguey and achupallas. There are also dozens of species of orchids, begonias and ferns.
- Flora of the Yunga fluvial subregion
The flora of the Yunga fluvial subregion is distinguished from the sea by the presence of dense and humid forests, typical of the Amazon rainforest.
However, in the areas closest to the Andean cordillera, jungle vegetation gives way to a dwarf forest, with smaller trees (not exceeding 10 meters in height), mosses, orchids, lichens and grasslands.
- Flora of the Yunga maritime subregion
The most distinctive element of Yunga maritime subregion is desert or xerophytic vegetation, such as chuná, pichu and curis.
Also abundant pastures like maicillo, purslane and yuyo. In general, the flora of the maritime region is less abundant than that of the river region.
Fauna
In the Yunga region there is a great variety of animal species. Some of these are the wolf of the river, the monkey, the ferret, the coati, the cat of pajonales, the jaguareté, the weasel, the pecarí and the tapir.
More than 20% of the world's butterfly species are found in this region. There are also many endangered species, including the black bear.
On the other hand, one can speak of distinctive species from each of the Yunga subregions. Here are some of these:
- Wildlife of the Yunga maritime subregion
Among the typical birds of the maritime Yunga are the pigeons, the doves, the chaucato, the taugigaray and the hummingbird. There are also insects that transmit malaria and other similar diseases.
Reptiles include lizards and lizards, snakes and snakes. The fox and the puma are the most representative mammals of this subregion.
- Wildlife of the Yunga fluvial subregion
The fauna of the fluvial Yunga is characterized by the presence of mammals, including the spectacled bear and the fox. Other mammals that can be found in the area are the tigrillos and the pumas.
Protected areas of the Yunga region
Due to the diversity of animal and plant species found in the Yunga region and the presence of organisms in danger of extinction, the Peruvian government has declared several protected areas.
Among these protected areas stands out the Manu National Park, which is one of the largest and most important wildlife reserves. It is also one of the areas that are responsible for conserving the flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle. Other protected areas of the Yunga region are:
- Alto Mayo protection forest.
- National Park Cordillera Azul.
- Historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
- Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary.
- Abiseo River National Park.
- Otishi National Park.
- Protected forest Pui-Pui.
- Tingo María National Park.
- Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park.
The Yunga region in accordance with the World Wide Fund for Nature
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Peru, there are three regions that can be identified under the name"Yunga": the Peruvian Yunga, the Bolivian Yunga and the montane forests.
1 - Peruvian Yunga
The Peruvian Yunga is defined by the WWF as the natural region of Peru with the largest endemic population of that country.
2- Bolivian Yunga
In the province of Sandia of Peru is the continuation of the Bolivian Yunga.
This region shares characteristics with both the Yunga of Peru and the Yunga of Bolivia.
3- Mountain forests
The third case in which the term"Yunga"is used according to the WWF is to refer to the high jungles found in Cajamarca, Amazonas and Piura. These montane forests connect with the Cordillera of Ecuador.
Added to these three conceptions of the term, it can be added that, according to the WWF, Yunga is a transnational ecoregion. This is because this region begins in the north of Peru, crosses Bolivia and extends to the north of Argentina.
Some authors even indicate that the region extends to the north, to Colombia and Venezuela.
References
- Geography of Peru's Coast, Mountains and Jungle. Retrieved on September 28, 2017, from tripasavvy.com
- Life zones of Peru. Retrieved on September 28, 2017, from wikipedia.org
- Megadiverse Countries. Retrieved on September 28, 2017, from biodiversitya-z.org
- Pam Barret (2002). Peru. Retrieved on September 28, 2017, from books.google.com
- Indo Peru. Retrieved on September 28, 2017, from perudiscovery.com
- Peru's Amazon Jungle and Rainforest. Retrieved on September 28, 2017, from discover-peru.org
- Yunga. Retrieved on September 28, 2017, from wikipedia.org