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Peru Tourist Guide
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CENTRAL PERU:
Huaraz, trekking and climbing paradise: Dayhikes     Trekking     Climbing     Chavin     National Park Huascaran     Santa Cruz Trek     Huayhuash Trek     Alpamayo Trek     Yungay     Pastoruri Glacier     Monterrey     The Llanganuco Lakes    

Yungay

The name of the town of Yungay comes from the Quechua word "Yunga" and means „warm land“. Yungay (2.458 m) is situated at the base of Mt. Huascarán, Perus highest mountain and only at a distance of 55 km to the north of Huaraz. This location has been fatal for Yungay on May 31st, 1970m when an earthquake of the seismic intensity 7,7 made collapse a part of the north-western edge of Mt. Huascarán. A huge avalanche of alluvium, ice and debris had been caused. The entire town was buried under a layer of 3 – 10 meters and with the town approx. 18000 people. Only few survived the disaster. Today you find a giant cemetery (Campo Santo) on that area – with 4 outlived palm trees and a big white statue of Jesus Christ, whose open arms shall protect the survivors of the landslide. The “new” Yungay has been erected 1,5 km off the „old“ Yungay. From “new” Yungay a road leads up to the Llanganuco Lakes.

Peru’s highest mountain, Mt. HUASCARÁN (6768 m), seen from YUNGAY   relicts of a public bus in YUNGAY that has been destroyed at the earthquake of 1970
   
  cemetery and memorial for the victims of the 1970’s earthquake of YUNGAY
     
    The statue of Jesus Christ looks at the cemetery of YUNGAY and the mountains of the Cordillera Blanca

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