View source for Quebrada de Humahuaca

{{Expand Spanish|topic=geo|date=November 2012|Quebrada de Humahuaca}}
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| image         = AR378-Quebrada de Humahuaca.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption       = View of the Quebrada de Humahuaca
| location      = [[Jujuy Province]], [[Argentina]]
| criteria      = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii), (iv), (v)}}(ii), (iv), (v)
| ID            = 1116
| coordinates   = {{coord|23.199861111111|S|65.348861111112|W|format=dms}}
| year          = 2003
| area          = {{convert|172,116.4375|ha|acre|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone   = {{convert|369,648.8125|ha|acre|abbr=on}}
| locmapin      = Argentina
| map_caption   = 
}}
The '''Quebrada de Humahuaca''' is a narrow mountain [[valley]] located in the [[Provinces of Argentina|province]] of [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]] in northwest [[Argentina]], {{convert|1649|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Buenos Aires]] ({{coord|23|11|59|S|65|20|56|W|}}). It is about {{convert|155|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long, oriented north–south, bordered by the [[Altiplano]] in the west and north, by the Sub-[[Andes|Andean]] hills in the east, and by the warm valleys (''Valles Templados'') in the south.

The name ''quebrada'' (literally "broken") translates as a deep valley or [[ravine]]. It receives its name from [[Humahuaca]], a small city of 11,000 inhabitants. The Grande River (''[[Rio Grande (Jujuy)|Río Grande]]''), which is dry in winter, flows copiously through the Quebrada in the summer.

The region has always been a crossroads for economic, social and cultural communication. It has been populated for at least 10,000 years, since the settlement of the first [[hunter-gatherer]]s, which is evidenced by substantial prehistoric remains. In particular, many stone-walled agricultural terraces, thought to originate more than 1500 years ago, are found throughout the region and are still in use today.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1116 |title= Quebrada de Humahuaca |website= UNESCO World Heritage List |publisher= UNESCO |access-date= 14 March 2021}}</ref> The field system links a series of fortified towns called ''pucaras''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1116 |title= Quebrada de Humahuaca |website= UNESCO World Heritage List |publisher= UNESCO |access-date= 14 March 2021}}</ref> The valley was later a caravan road for the [[Inca Empire]] in the 15th century, then an important link between the [[Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata]] and the [[Viceroyalty of Peru]], as well as a stage for many battles of the [[Spanish War of Independence]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1116 |title= Quebrada de Humahuaca |website= UNESCO World Heritage List |publisher= UNESCO |access-date= 14 March 2021}}</ref>

The Quebrada de Humahuaca was designated a protected landscape in 2000.<ref name = unep> UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Quebrada de Humahuaca from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 11 April 2022. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/555587075]</ref> It was made a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] on 2 July 2003.

<gallery>
Pucará de Tilcara 01.JPG|[[Pucará de Tilcara]]
Serranía de Hornocal up close near Humahuaca.jpg|[[Serranía de Hornocal|Hornocal]]
Cerro de los Siete Colores 05.jpg|[[Cerro de los Siete Colores]], [[Purmamarca]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Iruya]]
* [[Abra Pampa]]
* [[Hornillos de Eresma]]
* [[Huacalera]]
* [[Humahuaca]]
* [[La Quiaca]]
* [[Maimará]]
* [[Purmamarca]]
* [[Cerro de los Siete Colores]]
* [[Pucará de Tilcara]]
* [[Tilcara]]
* [[Volcán (Jujuy)|Volcán]]
* [[Serranía de Hornocal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1116 UNESCO World Heritage Centre] - Description of the site.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080204185320/http://www.jujuy.gov.ar/quebrada/principal.htm Jujuy Province] - Official website (in Spanish).
* {{Ar-mi-muni|JUJ024}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060104075056/http://www.hernan.ameijeiras.com/quebrada-de-humahuaca.html Pictures from Humahuaca]

{{World Heritage Sites in Argentina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Landforms of Jujuy Province]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Argentina]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Jujuy Province]]
[[Category:Valleys of Argentina]]
[[Category:Southern Andean Yungas]]

{{Jujuy-geo-stub}}