Province in Cusco, Peru
Chumbivilcas |
|---|
|
 Children are waving the Peruvian flag on the new footbridge across Qañawimayu in Qullpatumayku, Chumbivilcas Province |
 |
| Country | Peru |
|---|
| Region | Cusco |
|---|
| Founded | June 21, 1825 |
|---|
| Capital | Santo Tomás |
|---|
|
| • Mayor | Domingo Benito Calderon (2007) |
|---|
|
| • Total | 5,371.08 km2 (2,073.79 sq mi) |
|---|
|
| • Total | 77,721 |
|---|
| • Density | 14/km2 (37/sq mi) |
|---|
| UBIGEO | 0807 |
|---|
Chumbivilcas is a province in the Andes in South Peru. The Inca called it "Chumpiwillka". The seat of the province is Santo Tomás. Officially Chumbivilcas was founded on June 21, 1825.
Geography
Some of the most important rivers of the area are Velille River, Qañawimayu and Sinqa Wayq'u which are springs of the Apurímac River.
The Wansu mountain range traverses the province. Some of the highest peaks of the province are listed below:[1]
Population
According to the Peru 2005 Census 77,721 inhabitants live in an area of 5,371.08 km2. There are about 77 rural communities. Chumbivilcas is looked upon as one of the poorest regions of the country. Half of the population is younger than 16 years. In the rural communities families with eight and more children are not unusual.
Ethnic groups
The people in the province are mainly indigenous citizens of Quechua descent. Quechua is the language which the majority of the population (91.07%) learnt to speak in childhood, 8.62% of the residents started speaking in Spanish (2007 Peru Census).[2]
Because of the migration of a high number of rural people to the towns the Spanish language (castellano) is getting more and more influence. School children are taught bilingually by law.
Political divisions
Chumbivilcas is one of 13 provinces of the Cusco Region. It is divided into eight districts:
.svg){kind=small}
