Showing posts with label Peru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peru. Show all posts

Friday 16 January 2015

The Nevado Chachani Peru

The Nevado Chachani is the highest of the mountains near the city of Arequipa in southern Peru. Due to low precipitation in the area, the Chachani does not have permanent ice cap or glaciers. Therefore; climbing this mountain is extremely popular and several tourist agencies offers guidance trips to the summit. However the altitude is considered challenging for those folks who are not fully acclimatized. Most of the climbers take northern side route. As the trek is at a top off point and can reached in two and half hours by four wheel drive vehicle driving west around Chachani and turning off from the main highway near Pampas CaƱahuas, or heading north from Arequipa between Misti and Chachani. The average total climb time from base camp ranges from six to nine hours, with a two-to four-hour descent.

Moreover base camp is at approximately 5,200 metres and there is another higher camp often called “Camp Azulfrera” located at about 5,400 metres. The route begins with the ascent to the Angel Col before traversing the El Angel Mountain itself. At that point climbers ascend the face of Fatima Mountain in a Zig-Zag pattern before making another traverse on the Fatima Mountain. Thus only then can the summit of Mount Chachani be seen. From there, climbers need to make the final ascent on the face of Chachani all the way to the top of the mountain.

Although standard route needs crampons and an ice axe, but does not need roping up, as there’re no large crevasses on Chachani. Two traverses over relatively steep terrain constitute the foremost challenges on the way to the summit. The final push to the summit is a very steep scree slope, which runs for a fast descent back to the first traverse. In the recent years, the amount of snow on Chachani has reduced radically, so for several months of the year there may be slight snow on the mountain in October and November 2010, there was no snow at all, and the ascent could be made without crampons or ice axes. Climbers must to check on the snow conditions beforehand.

Saturday 1 November 2014

Alpamayo Mountain Peru



Alpamayo is one of the most conspicuous peaks in the Cordillera Blanca of the Peruvian Andes. It is named after the river Allpamayu which originates. Alpamayo is remotely located than most other peak sin C. Blanca. It is one of most stunning ice faces of the Andes as the hike to the BC requires two to three days. The Cordillera Blanca comprises over 300 major summits and more than 20 of these rise over 6000 meters. The peak is considered by several to be the world’s most striking mountain, an ascent of Alpamayo is an achievement valued and recognized by mountaineers the world over. 

The beautiful peak is eventually climbed first time in 1957 by a German expedition via the N ridge. However the peak was not in the map of Cordillera Blanca from 1932. But these days, Alpamayo is most famous peak and even elected one of most beautiful mountain in the world. It is not difficult as that inspires the climbers, but it is wonderful setting among the everlasting snowcaps of the Cordilliera Blanca, 6000 meters above sea level. Unluckily, this makes the peak very widespread and sometime overfull. It can transform a beautiful five hours climb, when alone, into a nightmare of 15 hours with all the traffic when crowded.

 It is not infrequent to find 10 to 15 parties’ camping at the col, waiting in line for a chance to scratch the face. Alpamayo is sited in the NE part of the Cordillera Blanca, which means that clouds come up from the Amazonas Basin more regularly. Believe 1-2 days - week with less impeccable conditions fog and snowfall during the climbing season. To be honest, if you want to get to this point, then you require little hard work and solid mountaineering and ice climbing abilities. Before reaching the well-known summit face you must approach over 25 kilometers, place two lower camps, and carry heavy packs filled with climbing equipment and food over 4,000 feet of moraine, scree, and steep glaciated terrain. 

Though there’re number of climbing routes on the Southwest Face, but the most common is recognized as the Ferrari or Italian Route. It was well opened in 1975 by a group of Italian alpinists led by Casimiro Ferrari. It begins at the top of the highest point of the snow slope where the bergschrund separates the upper face on the left and then ascends a steep runnel to the summit ridge.

Sunday 22 June 2014

The Greatest “Amazon River” is Home to Several Extremes




Amazon River is the greatest river of South America and the largest drainage system in the world in terms of the volume of its flow and the area of its basin. Amazon River is at approximately 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) equivalent of the distance from New York City to Rome. Amazon River is the 2nd longest river in the world, just slightly shorter than the River Nile, but the largest river by volume. The length of the Amazon and the Nile Rivers has been in a tight battle for title of world's longest river. The precise length of the two rivers differs over time and reputable sources disagree as to their actual length.

The Amazon River has more than 3,000 recognized species of fish and more new species are still being discovered. The Amazon Basin is covered by half of the planet’s remaining rainforests. Therefore a tenth of the world’s projected 10 million living species live in the Amazon rainforest, jungle tours are more about the boating upriver into the damp, buzzing, oppressive ambience than actually spotting animals. Amazon River westernmost source is high in the Andes Mountains, within 160 kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, and its mouth is in the Atlantic Ocean, on the northeastern coast of Brazil.

As most of know, that Amazon River is located in South America.  And it runs through Guyana, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru. During the rainy season, the Amazon River can stretch to over 190 kilometers (120 miles) in width. There’re no bridges that cross the Amazon, because there is no need of bridges as the majority of the Amazon River runs through rainforests rather than roads or cities. The largest city along the Amazon River is Manaus. Located in Brazil it is home to over 1.7 million people. The one of world’s largest snake Anacondas lurk in the shallow waters of the Amazon Basin, they’re occasionally attack larger animals such as goats that get to close the water. The Amazon River is also home to the piranha, a meat eating type of fish! Being carnivores, piranhas are famous to attack in groups, preying on livestock that strays into the water and possibly appearing in one or two of your own nightmares!

The Amazon River is not only the greatest in the world but it is also home to several other "Extremes" A captured Arapaima: one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world of the natural world. Rapaima is locally famous as Pirarucu Arapaima gigas are one of largest, fresh water fish in the world. They’ve been found to reach a length of 15 ft/4m and can weigh up to 440lbs/200kg. Catfish normally found in warm & slow moving waters of lakes and streams are pretty creepy looking fish with big flat heads and "whiskers" on either side of their heads. Most catfish are anywhere from 8” in long to about 5 feet and weighing in at up to 60 pounds. But the catfish that lives in this part of world is as big as nature will allow they’ve been captured weighing over 200 pounds! One of the largest freshwater fish in the world is found living in the waters of the Amazon River.

Cool Factoid: Did you know that bull sharks have been found in the Amazon River? Researchers have captured live bull sharks as far as 2,300 miles inland from the sea thriving in freshwater in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. Amazon River drainage basin is the whole northern half of the continent of South America as a shallow dish or saucer. Whenever rain falls and lands anywhere in the river basin it all runs into the lowest place in the pan, which happens to be the Amazon River. The sheer volume of rain in the Amazon jungle and the slope of the surrounding land, combine to create the enormous river famous as the Amazon.

 Here's list of some species which can easily found at Amazon River. 
Violet-Fronted Brilliant
Tupi ‘red bird,’ also known as the scarlet ibis
Toucan
Tillandsia cyanea
The water lily (Victoria regia
Tapir
Striated Heron
Squirrel Monkey
Red-Bellied Piranhas
Piranha
Pink River Dolphins
Payara (Vampire Fish)
Palm Tanager in the Amazon
Masked Crimson Tanager
Pacu
Lily of the Amazon
Laguna
Godzilla.
Ginger Torch
Emerald Boa
Giant Otter
Electric Eels
Capped Heron
Alligators
Amazon Flower
Amazon Lily
Anaconda
Black Caiman
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Bull Sharks
Candiru
Capped Heron