The department of San Martín

 The department of San Martín is one of the twenty-four departments that, together with the constitutional province of Callao, make up the Republic of Peru, and it is also the seventh largest department.

1. SURFACE AREA AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION.-

The Department of San Martin occupies an area of 51,253.3 Km2, it is located in the northern - eastern part of the Peruvian territory; it borders with the departments of Loreto (East), Amazonas (North), La Libertad (West) and Huánuco (South). Furthermore, the region is located in the high jungle.

2. POLITICAL DIVISION.-

The capital of the Department of San Martin is the city of Moyobamba, one of the oldest in eastern Peru, since its political creation dates back to July 7, 1857. It is politically divided into 10 provinces and 77 districts, and currently the cities of greatest economic importance are Tarapoto, Moyobamba, Rioja, Tocache and Juanjuí.

3. HISTORY OF CREATION.-

It was part of the Intendancy of Trujillo that came to have nine parties that were Trujillo, Lambayeque, Piura, Cajamarca, Huamachuco, Chota, Moyobamba, Chachapoyas, Jaén and Maynas, this last party previously conformed the provinces of what today is known as San Martín, Ucayali and Loreto being the Intendancy of Trujillo the biggest of the Viceroyalty of Peru, that is to say almost all the north of the current Peru; It was created by royal decree on 15 July 1802. In 1820, the provinces were divided.

In 1822, the Colombian government sent Joaquín Mosquera to Peru to request the restitution of Maynas. On 25 July 1824, the Congress of Gran Colombia passed a law of territorial division that sought to include the Canton of Quijos in the Province of Pichincha of the Department of Quito, according to the limits it had at the time of the creation of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. It also intended to incorporate the Province of Jaén de Bracamoros and Maynas into the Department of Azuay. Peru's refusal to cede the territories triggered a war between the two countries: the Grancolombo-Peruvian War.

4. CLIMATE.-

The predominant climate in San Martin is subtropical and tropical, with two distinct seasons, a dry season from June to September and a rainy season from October to May. The temperature varies between 23ºC and 27ºC.

5. ECONOMIC CHARACTERISATION.-

The productive activity of the Department of San Martin is mainly based on three sectors: Agriculture, Commerce, Restaurants and Lodging Services and the Manufacturing Industry. In the last few years, the agricultural sector has gained momentum thanks to the improvement of its communication routes to the coastal markets.

6. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.-

Province of Moyobamba:

Thermal Baths of San Mateo.

4 km from the city of Moyobamba (5 minutes by car).

Known for their medicinal properties, it is said that the waters are ideal for arthritis, rheumatism, muscular pains and stress. Its temperature varies between 32ºC (90ºF) and 40ºC (104ºF).

Aguajales Renacal del Avisado.

20 km from Moyobamba to Boca de Huacayán (port on the Mayo River) by road (40 minutes by car). Then the road continues to Tingara by motor boat (1 hour).

It is a humid ecosystem and unique in the world due to its altitude (800 masl). Among its abundant plants the aguaje and the renaco stand out and different species of mammals (river wolves, friar monkeys, pichicos, black machines and sloths), birds, fish, reptiles and insects live in the area.

Paccha Waterfalls.

30 km from the city of Moyobamba (1 hour by car and 15 minutes walking).

The waterfalls are surrounded by lush vegetation and its waters come from the Paccha stream. There are three waterfalls of about 30 m, which form a sort of swimming pools ideal for bathing.

Province of Rioja:

Source of the Tioyacu River.

14 km / 9 miles from the city of Rioja (20 minutes by car and 15 minutes on foot).

The Tioyacu River rises in the foothills of a mountain located at an altitude of 898 metres above sea level.

Its waters are cold and crystalline, and along its course, pools and waterfalls are formed.

Province of San Martin:

Blue Lagoon.

50 km / 31 miles from the city of Tarapoto (2 hours and 30 minutes) in the town of Sauce.

It has 350 hectares and a water mirror up to 35 meters deep. The temperature of its waters oscillates between 25ºC (77ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF) and its colour varies between green and blue. The lagoon is home to herons, kingfishers, sachapatos, eagles, various amphibians, reptiles and fish. The place is surrounded by fruit plantations, plots cultivated with corn, beans, bananas, yucca and rice, and pastures for cattle.

Lindo Lake.

2 hours walk from the village of Sauce or 20 minutes by motor boat from Laguna Azul.

It is made up of 2 small lagoons: Sunicocha, known commercially as Lago Lindo and Limon Cocha characterised by its salt water. The beauty of Lago Lindo is characterized by the pristine vegetation that surrounds it, where a great variety of birds and insects can be found. Also, the treetops overhanging the lake where the birds have formed their nests, particularly on the great variety of ferns, catch the eye.

Ahuashiyaku Falls.

14 km northwest of Tarapoto (30 minutes by car and 15 minutes walk).

This 40 m high waterfall is located on the La Escalera hill, at 465 m above sea level. The waters flow over a rock surrounded by dense ferns, orchids and various species of trees. A great variety of butterflies, birds and insects can be observed in the surroundings.

Funerary Urns of Chazuta.

52 km from the city of Tarapoto (1 hour and 30 minutes).

During recent excavations there were 65 findings among which 25 funerary urns stand out, made up of vessels inside which mummies were found. Tools and offerings were also found. Some of the urns can be found in the Wasichay Cultural and Handicraft Centre and others in different neighbourhoods of the town.

Province of Tocache:

Petroglyphs of Shunté.

This group of stone engravings is scattered between the 20th and 45th kilometre of the road that connects the city of Tocache with the village of Shunté.

The tour of the whole area takes about 1 hour and a half.

The petroglyphs are made up of a total of 23 stones with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic symbols drawn on the surface in low relief.

San Juan Waterfall.

16 km / 10 miles from the town of Tocache.

These waterfalls are formed by six waterfalls with natural wells of cold and crystalline water. The surrounding vegetation is completely virgin and the place is the habitat of numerous species of orchids.

Province of Lamas:

Ethnic Museum of Lamas.

It shows part of the history and folklore of the Quechua-Lamas culture, where diverse cultural manifestations and customs can be observed, such as the lanta-tipina or first haircut, the making of clothes with native cotton and vegetable fibres, the dyeing and the dances of the Lamas.

Chapawanki waterfall.

5 km from the town of Lamas (20 minutes by car) from where you start a 200 m walk (15 minutes).

It is 4 metres high and has a pool 2.5 m deep. It is surrounded by an exuberant landscape, with vegetation made up of pashacas, shapajas, quinillas, renacos, orchids and ferns. It is the habitat of diverse birds, butterflies and insects.

Province of Mariscal Caceres:

Breo Waterfalls.

20 km south of the city of Juanjuí (40 minutes by car), you get to the locality of Huicongo; from there it is 58 km to the falls (5 hours by motor boat). It is also possible to travel 80 km along the Juanjuí-Dos de Mayo-Cataratas route (3 hours by motorboat).

Located in the upper basin of the Huayabamba River, on a rocky massif covered by primary forest vegetation typical of high jungle.

They have a waterfall of about 140 m and have four levels.

The giant rocks, more than 4 m high, are covered by a thin carpet of algae and moss. The path leading to the falls is ideal for observing ferns, giant epiphytes or "elephant ears", colourful orchids and hanging nests of the characteristic birds of the area.

7. CRAFTS.-

The tradition of making hats, baskets, baskets and necklaces with bombonaje straw is preserved, as well as wood carving, pottery, feather cards, works with roots and seeds, and pottery.

8. GASTRONOMY.-

Among the typical dishes of the region are: Juanes de arroz: chicken meat with rice and spices wrapped in bijao leaves.

Inchicapi: chicken soup with peanuts, coriander and yucca.

Timbuche: soup of fresh fish, beaten eggs and coriander.

Puré de Chonta: the stalk has an upper part that when boiled and ground and mixed with sacha culantro, salt and pork lard, among other products, turns into purée.

Avispa juane: pork meat chopped into pieces and mixed with garlic and spices bound with flour and egg; it is boiled and wrapped in achira leaves in the shape of a tamale.

Tacacho con cecina: roasted or fried plantain and mashed with lard and dried meat.

Juane de yuca: cassava dough with coriander and chicken giblets, wrapped in bijao leaves.

Chontajuane: dough made of chonta, palm and paiche, wrapped in bijao leaves.

Juane: is made from rice, stuffed with chicken and other ingredients.

Traditional drinks.

Masato: drink made of cooked and mashed yucca fermented with sweet potato or sugar.

Chuchuhuasi: a liquor made from a bitter and astringent root, very popular in the whole of eastern Peru.

9. FESTIVITIES.-

Feast of San Juan Bautista / June.

It is celebrated throughout the region.

It is a feast of symbolic character due to the preponderance of water as a vital element in the whole Amazon region; during the festivity, typical bands are organized and typical dishes of the region are prepared. On the eve, the women prepare the "juanes" and on the 24th, families go in groups to the river or the lake closest to the banks to dance, drink and eat in honour of San Juan.

Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen de Lamas / July.

The local population organise various folkloric performances and Corpus Christi, in gratitude to their patron saint. They also invite homemade bread and typical dishes to all present.

Virgen de la Natividad / September 8th.

It is celebrated in the province of Lamas, District of Tabalosos.

This patron saint festival attracts a large number of the faithful from all over the country and abroad due to the miracles attributed to the Virgin of the Nativity.

10. DANCES.-

Danza el pillo.

The dance of the pillo is one of the dances of San Martin, an artistic representation that we can place within the carnival, magic and religious genre, typical of Wayku, a community located in the district of Lamas, province of Lamas, in the department of San Martin.

Homage to the patron saint San José.

The dance Homenaje al patrón San José, is an artistic expression that belongs to the genre of religious dances, it has its origin in the district of San José de Sisa, located in the province of El Dorado, in the department of San Martin.

The Pandilla.

It is a dance that constitutes a regional expression, since it is danced in all the provinces. It is cheerful, mischievous and spontaneous; its steps are characterised by jumps and other joyful and contagious movements. Anyone can participate because of the ease of its movements.

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

https://www.midagri.gob.pe/portal/download/pdf/especiales/bioenergia/san_martin/principales_caracteristicas_san_martin.pdf

https://www.bcrp.gob.pe/docs/Sucursales/Iquitos/San-Martin-Caracterizacion.pdf

https://lugaresquever.com/wiki/departamento-de-san-martin

https://www.peru.travel/Portals/1/San%20Martin.pdf

http://sanmartindibu.blogspot.com/2015/05/la-cultura-de-san-martin.html

https://danzasdelperu.club/danzas-de-san-martin/