Top:San Sebastian Church and Huanuco San Sebastian Park, Second:Calicaoto Bridge and Huallagu River, A street of July 28 Merced Passage of Huanuco, Third:Huanuco Carthedral and Almas Square, Huanuco Saint Domingo Park, Bottom:Kotosh Ruin and Kotosh Temple of the Crossed Hands (all item of left to right)
Huánuco (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈwanuko]; Quechua: Wanuku) is a city in central Peru. It had a population of 196,627 as of 2017[2] and in 2015 it had a population of 175,068. It is the capital of the Huánuco Region and the Huánuco District. It is the seat of the diocese of Huánuco. The metropolitan city of Huanuco is 170,000 hab (2011, urban pop, INEI). It has three districts, Huanuco (head), Amarilis, and Pillco Marca. In this city, the Higueras river meets the Huallaga river, one of the largest rivers in the country.
The indigenous chronicler Juan de Santa Cruz Pachacuti Yamqui Salcamaygua notes that during the Inca Empire, Pillco was a significant source of Aclla nuns for the capital city of Cusco, stating, "...there were maidens from all nations, especially from three, namely: Cusco and its territory, the Chachapoyas, and Pillco, which they now call Guánuco."[4]
Huánuco was the scene of one of the Chilean massacres during their occupation of Peruvian territory from 1881 to 1883.[3]
Geography
Climate
Huánuco has a mild semi-arid climate (KöppenBSh). The temperatures are pleasant throughout the year with very warm days and comfortable nights due to its elevation of 1,913 metres or 6,276 feet.
Climate data for Huánuco, elevation 1,919 m (6,296 ft), (1991–2020)