Ausangate

Ausangate

Ausangate

Mountain in Peru, significant in Incan mythology

Ausangate or Auzangate[1] (in Hispanicized spellings) is a mountain of the Vilcanota mountain range in the Andes of Peru. With an elevation of 6,384 metres, it is situated around 100 kilometres southeast of Cusco in the Cusco Region, Canchis Province, Pitumarca District, and in the Quispicanchi Province, Ocongate District.[1]

For the mountain named Kiswarniyuq or Auzangate in the Marcapata District, Quispicanchi Province, Cusco Region, Peru, see Kiswarniyuq.
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Ausangate as seen from Vinicunca

The mountain has significance in Incan mythology.

Every year the Quyllur Rit'i (Quechua for "star snow") festival which attracts thousands of Quechua pilgrims is celebrated about 20 km north of the Ausangate at the mountain Qullqipunku. It takes place one week before the Corpus Christi feast.

The region is inhabited by llama and alpaca herding communities, and constitutes one of the few remaining pastoralist societies in the world. High mountain trails are used by these herders to trade with agricultural communities at lower elevations. Currently, one of these trails, "the road of the Apu Ausangate", is one of the most renowned treks in Peru.

The area has four major geological features, the Andean uplift formed by Granits, the hanging glaciers and glacial erosional valleys, the Permian formation with its singular colors: red, ochre, and turquoise and the Cretaceous, limestone forests.

Archaeological sites on the Ausangate and Vinicunca Route

  • Colonial Bridge of Checacupe
  • Colonial Temple of Checacupe
  • Siwinaqocha
  • Laguna Ausangate
  • Ananiso Canyon
  • Rock Climbing - Huayllasqa
  • Uchullucllo Thermal Baths

Climbing activity

The north face of Ausangate has never been climbed until 2023. Japanese climbers Yudai Suzuki and Kei Narita finally climbed the difficult North face in 2023. That face is able to see easily from the last small village Pacchanta. The normal route is located at opposite side (south face) of the mountain, however only 0~4 teams successfully climb that route each year.

The legend of the Ausangate Mountain

Protagonist of legends told through generations since the Inca Empire, the nevado is still venerated as a divinity (called Apu (god)) by the inhabitants of its surroundings.[2]

  • Handicraft seller in Ausangate, near Jampa Pass
  • Women of Ausangate, near Tinki village

See also

References

  1. [1]
    escale.minedu.gob.pe - UGEL map of the Quispicanchi Province 1 (Cusco Region)
  2. [2]
    "Ausangate Mountain". Traveldifferently.org | Ausangate Mountain.
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