Galas Andrzej, Galas Slavka

Pol. J Environ. Stud. Vol.20, No. 4A (2011),67-71 GalasAndrzej, Galas Slavka Faculty of Geology,Geophysics and EnvironmentalProtection AGH University of Scienceand Technology Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland Abstract The Valley of Volcanoesis locatedin theAndes of southPeru. Together with the Colca Canyonwhich it joins, it is an object of researchof Polish scientistswhose goal is to protect the areaby designatingthe Colca Canyon and the Valley of VolcanoesNational Park. The valley is approximately90 km long and despiteits location at high altitude it is relatively well economicallydeveloped. The aim of the paperis to presentan analysisof the stateand structureof land use,including factorsand barriersof developmentand landscape-functionalvalues. Individual elementsof the landscapeof naturaland anthropogenic origin have been identified including division into harmoniouslandscape resources e.g. viewpoints and picturesque routes, landscapedominants and existing threats to the landscapeby landscapedegrading objects. Landscape-functionalzones of variousattractiveness and geodiversitywere designated.Principles of environment managementwere establishedin each zone, objects and protection goals were determinedand their threatsdefined. The resultswill be appliedto a plan of protectionof the future national park. Keywords: structureof land use,development barriers, landscape-functional zones, the Valley of the Volcanoes,Peru Introduction functionalstructure. Environmental values in the structure need various fonns. of protection depending on their The Valley of the Volcanoes and the Colca Canyon importanceand sensimlity. have been the object of research since 2003 carried on by a team from several scientific centres and coordinated by Prof. Andrzej Paulo from AGH University of Science and Characteristics of the ResearchArea Technology in Cracow. The goal of the project is to create scientific foundations for a national park that would be The researcharea is locatedin the WesternCordillera designated in the area [1]. The field investigations have of Central Andes. The area belongs to the Arequipa been almost completed and the current results were pre- Department,the Castilla Province and it lies within the sented at the Polish-Peruvian scientific conference following communes (from the north): Orcopampa (Arequipa, 15-16.07.2010) "Geology of the Colca and the Chilcaymarca,Chachas, Andagua, Ayo andpartly Choco. Valley of Volcanoes regions - a bridge between nature and The Valley of Volcanoesis approximately90 kin long, man". 3-8 kin wide in the northern part 4-6 kin in central and The authors of the article intend to prove that the 1-3 kin wide in the southernpart. In its northern part, Valley of Volcanoes, despite representing broad range of wherethe bottom of the valley is situatedat the altitudeof altitude-climate zones forms common linear landscape- 3800 m a.s.l.there is mining town Orcoparnpa.Further, it 68 GalasA., Galas S. descendsgently down and in the vicinity of Andagua ( cen- and usability for various economicand social needs.The tral part, 3659 m a.s.l.) it turns into a system of steep result was the designationof landscape-functionalzones. morphological thresholds. The outlet of the valley into the IIIrd involved division of the areainto zonesof various Colca Canyon is located at the altitude of 1360 m a.s.l landscapeattractiveness differing in rigors of protection (southern part). Recent lavas fill up the Valley of Volcanoes (Fig. 2). between Misahuanca and Ayo along the distance of 60 kIn fonning a cover (Fig. 1). The remaining valley fill are flat lying sediments: gravels and colluvia or sands. Results The Valley of Volcanoes is a typical example of a tec- tonic graben. The northern part of the graben runs meridi- Estimatingthe spatialstructure of the landscapesof the onally and is significantly older. It can be proved by occur- Valley of the Volcanoesand the surroundingarea in more rence of well-developed soil on the slopes. Rock walls specificterms, we can distinguishthe following four types appear in the central part. The eastern part of the graben of landscapes: above Chachas Lake is still active. It is similar to the outlet - The bottom of the intermountain graben filled with of the valley into the Colca Canyon where longitudinal, fluvial and limnic sediments,peat bogs or lava flows, vertical faults cutting recent lavas of the Andahua Group used as pasturesor terraced fields fed by irrigation can be observed. ditches. Volcanic forms of the Andahua Group are almost ero- - Mountain slopesforming the vergesof the intermoun- sional intact, prominent, resembling primary landscape. tain graben,passing into very steep rock walls, with Lava flows predominate, lava domes and pyroclastic well-developedtalus which is coveredin the north by cones. The lava covers total area of 221 km2. There are 40 soil. lava domes and 17 pyroclastic cones on the bottom of the - Altiplano, which directly adjoins the Valley of Volcanoesin the north, representsa semi-desertland- Valley [2]. The lava fields are related to at least three periods of scapewith gentlehills and lakes. volcanic activity. The oldest lavas are weathered, surface - The Cordilleras,where mountain peaks with permanent mostly smooth, covered with vegetation and often turned snow cover occur (the massif of Coropunavolcano into fields. There is gentle relief on the second generation of 6425 m a.s.l.). the lavas, initial soil, sometimes covered with grass, cac- Plannednational park covers approximately350 km2 tuses and bushes. The surface of the youngest lava is in the southernpart of the valley. Its boundariesat the uneven, the lava flows slopes are steep,unstable and almost inaccessible. Vegetation has little chance to root there. The fonns of the two latter generations can be distin- guished in the field. The largest part of the area is covered by the youngest lavas (Holocene) beginning south of Andagua and extending down to the Colca Canyon. A slightly older lava field (Pleistocene - Holocene) occurs north of Andagua. It is the vicinity of the abandoned anti- mony mine Santa Rosa where Puca Mauras volcano dominates (4181 m a.s.l.). The lavas are over 100 m thick there and they outpoured from five lava domes (Fig.l). ResearchMethodology The works on landscape-functionalvalorisation were carriedout in three stages: 1stincluded field and desk works enablingto identify each fonn of land managementand usage, ecological zones,existing andplanned objects and protectedareas of nature,landscape and cultural heritage,harmonious land- scaperesources e.g. viewpoints and picturesqueroutes, landscapedominants and existing threatsto the landscape by landscapedegrading objects. The results of this work were marked on a geoenvironmentalmap of the investi- gated area and allowed the making classification of the landscapebased on its resourcesand the degreeof anthro- pogenisation(Fig. I). IInd involved an assessmentof environmentalcompo- nentsand identified the areasin tenns of their usefulness Fig. 1. Geoenvironmental maps of the Valley of the Volcanoes. Landscape - Functional Valorisation... 69 bottom of the Valley of the Volcanoes and extends along central part of the valley to the south of Chachas Lake Canyon of the Rio Colca. Its boundaries at the bottom of Andagua River disappears beneath lava flows for some 15 the valley have been proposed basing on the range of the km and abundantly flows out into Mamacocha Lake. youngest generation of the Andahua Group. This is an area The climate of the Valley of Volcanoes is characterized of the highest scientific, educational and landscape values. by distinct vertical zoning, which is reflected in land use Within its boundaries the following zones applied national in agriculture (Table 1). Favourable conditions for agricul- parks of Peru have been designated [3]: strict and partial tural crops exist in the vicinity of the village Andagua protection, special use and recreation. (some 7 km2) and north of the Chachas Lake. Smaller A buffer zone, covering the area of 187 krn2 has been arable fields occur in the lateral valleys Sucna and Soporo. designated to the north of the valley. It covers lavas of Exceptional vegetables are cultivated in Ayo. At the alti- older generation (Pleistocene-Holocene). Inside and out- tude of about2000 metersa.s.l. not only maize,potatoes, side the buffer zone within the Valley of the Volcanoes but also guava, papaya, peach, bananas, citrus fruits and there are areas of the following potential (Table 1, Fig. 2): even grapes are growing. Farming conditions are Water a) highly productive, b) settlements, c) mineral deposits supply is not stable, as may be proved by the abandoned and d) nature and culture protection. settlements of Quello Quello north of Ayo. Agriculture is not mechanized and so far seems to have no impact on The Highly ProductiveAreas other components of the environment. Above the altitude of 3600 m a.s.l. livestock farming based on herds of Access to water, suitable climate and topography are alpacas and llamas occurs in areas where water is avail- the conditions necessary for development of agriculture in able. Large pastures spread west and north of Andagua, the Andes. The lavas near Andagua were significantly practically up to Orcopampa. weathered and fertile soils have formed on them. They are currently developed as a system of terraced filds with irri- Settlements gation ditches. The Andagua River located in the catch- ment area of the Rio Colca is the main watercourse in the The largest

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