Chimbote

Peru

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Chimbote, city, north-central Peru. It has a natural harbour (Chimbote Bay) on Peru’s coast, 9 mi (15 km) south of the mouth of the Santa River. Chimbote was a small fishing village (established in 1822, given town status in 1895) until the mid-20th century, when a steel mill and fish-meal factories were constructed. It then became one of the fastest-growing cities in Peru. Principal exports include fish meal, fish oil, bulk minerals, machine parts, and cast iron. Chimbote is also the shipping centre for sugarcane, cotton, and rice from the Santa valley. Coke, machinery, and iron ore (from Marcona) are imported. The city is on the Pan-American Highway and has an airport. Largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1970, Chimbote was reconstructed as a model city in the 1970s. Pop. (2005) 206,953.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg.

Huaraz

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Huaraz

Peru

Also known as: Huarás

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Also spelled:: Huarás

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Huaraz, city, central Peru, on the Quilca River at its junction with the Santa River. It lies at 10,011 feet (3,052 m) above sea level in the scenic Callejón de Huaylas, against a backdrop of the snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. Founded upon remains of a pre-Columbian civilization, it is inhabited by highland Indians, noted for their colourful dress. In 1823 the liberator Simón Bolívar proclaimed it the Muy Generosa Ciudad de Huaraz (“Very Generous City of Huaraz”) in recognition of the aid given his troops during the struggle for independence from Spain.

Huaraz is an agricultural centre handling primarily wheat, corn (maize), and potatoes. Silver, cinnabar, and coal are mined nearby. There is some industrial activity (weaving, brewing), and the city is linked to Lima (216 miles [348 km] south) by road.

In 1941 much of Huaraz was flooded by a glacial lake outburst (GLO). An avalanche dropped a huge block of ice into Lake Palcacocha, sending towering waves crashing over and through the lake’s moraine dam. The rushing water and accumulating detritus then flooded another, lower lake before the deluge flowed down to inundate much of Huaraz. As many as 5,000 persons were believed to have been killed in the disaster. In May 1970 a devastating earthquake virtually leveled the entire city, killing about 10,000 residents. Reconstruction was carried out with national and international assistance. Today the threat of GLO floods still looms. Pop. (2017) 114,416.

Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Jeff Wallenfeldt.