Loreto

• Surface: 142 377 sq. miles
• Main resources: Rice, cassava, timber, fruit trees, rubber and cebu cattle.
• Population: 900 000 approximately. Iquitos -its capital- has 400 000 aprox.
• Provinces & districts: 6 provinces y 47 districts.
• Foundation date: As a department of Peru on February 7, 1866
• Ethnic groups: Shipibos, Piros, Campas, Yaguas, Boras, Cashivos, Orejones and Jíbaros

The region's first inhabitants grouped in small tribes expanded in a primitive way on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Many of them that reached the Purus, Turua and Yaravi basins were named after their chief or "curaca".

It is hard to precise the number of inhabitants that existed at the time the first explorers and missionaries arrived, nevertheless historical records indicate that just in the first one-hundred years of Christianization more than 100 thousand natives were baptized. This makes it possible to estimate that at the time the conquistadors came, the indigenous population bordered 300 000; later these were mass killed by sickness they acquire at contact with the foreigners. Main death causes were smallpox, diphtheria, malaria, yellow fever and whooping cough.

Numerous missionaries, explorers and adventurers recorded the first chronicles on these new lands. In 1539 Francisco Pizarro commissioned his brother Gonzalo to organize an expedition in search of the mythical "Land of Cinnamon". The expedition group departed from Cusco and traveled to Quito to later follow the Napo River course. After many days of hardships in the jungle, Gonzalo Pizarro ordered Francisco de Orellana to separate from the group and take a few men to search for provisions. In these circumstances, Orellana discovered the Amazon River on February 12, 1542. This discovery caused that many enthusiastic adventurers moved by the ambition of riches, tried to search for a kingdom of gold. Also, the missionaries had the Christian desire to take the gospel to the newly discovered native tribes.

The jungle missions acquired great importance in the 18-Century; during all the years following the first Amazon expeditions, the Jesuits and the Franciscans Christianized and founded different jungle villages, contributing this way to create new routes that shortened distances between tribes and territories. In 1740, the Jesuit Jose Bahamonde founded the Santa Barbara de Nanay and Santa Maria de Iquitos villages on the Mazan River. All the people joined in one and migrated to the high shores of the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya rivers.

According to the most accepted story, Iquitos was founded by the Jesuits with the name of San Pablo de los Napeanos, becoming then the first fluvial port on the Amazon River. In that time it was a small village inhabited by the Iquito indigenous tribe. Soon the village became a strategic place for the departing missionaries to other jungle regions. When the missions were banned, a long period of isolation that lasted through-out the 19-Century followed; nevertheless, it was during this time that the fundamentals of a new political organization were established. By the turn of the 20-Century the signs of progress seemed to reach the region when steam navigation appeared, the elastic gum demand was at its best and foreign migration increased.

The long distance from the nation's capital and the lack of communication means kept Loreto isolated for most of the 19-Century. Just in 1880, when the world's demand for rubber reached its highest, this area became important to many. Iquitos was transformed, its population grew and modern buildings appeared in its earthen frontier streets.

Wealth was a consequence of rubber barons' success but the economic heyday of Iquitos only lasted 30 years. When world's rubber demand turned from Amazonia to the Far-East colonies because of their lower prices, the region's economy was seriously affected. The golden age of opulence had ended. Nevertheless, Iquitos would have other yet not equally compared prosperity periods during the past 50 years from the timber and oil exploitation.

Climate and Geography of Loreto

The Loreto Region is dominated by dense vegetation with low elevation hills and surfaces that are crossed by the Amazonian rivers. Loreto is the largest region of the country (142 377 square miles) and the least populated.

The Amazon River Basin is the world's largest drainage basin measuring 2 375 000 square miles, about 40% of the South American continent. Also, the Amazon River Basin claims the greatest diversity of freshwater fish of any river basin in the world, and its potential biomass is estimated in more than 3000 fish species, most of them beneficial for human nourishment.

In almost all the region, weather is hot and rainy. Showers are bound to happen all through the year. Average temperature is between 60°F to 70°F during the months of June and August to a maximum of 100°F in the months of December to March. Average humidity is 84% with heavy rains all times.