Cordillera Huayhuash
| Cordillera Huayhuash | ||
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 The Cordillera Huayhuash with the Siula Grande (2nd from right) and the Yerupaja (to the left) |
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| Highest peak | Yerupaja ( 6635 m ) | |
| location |
 Peru
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| part of | Peruvian Western Cordillera ( Andes ) | |
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| Coordinates | 10 ° 16 ′ S , 76 ° 54 ′ W | |
The Cordillera Huayhuash ( Ancashino - Quechua Waywash , " weasel ") is a mountain range in the Peruvian western cordillera of the Andes in South America.
It lies south of the better-known Cordillera Blanca and forms a closed chain with six peaks over 6,000 meters above sea level and 15 more over 5,400 meters. The undisputed culmination point is the Yerupaja Grande , at 6,634 meters the second highest mountain in Peru . The 6,094 meter high Jirishanca is also known as the " Matterhorn of the Andes". Other notable peaks are the Siula Grande (6,344 meters) and the Yerupaja Chico (6,121 meters). The names of most of the mountains come from the Quechua language.
The mountain range is drained from the Río Pativilca west to the Pacific Ocean and from the Río Nupe , the left source river of the Río Marañón , to the Amazon . The administrative regions of Lima , Ancash and Huánuco meet in the Cordillera Huayhuash .
The entire area of the Cordillera Huayhuash extends over 165 kilometers and has hardly any infrastructure. Larger places in the immediate vicinity are Chiquián , Pacllón , Llamac and Cajatambo . Experienced trekkers often do the circumnavigation of the area.
