Arequipa (Department of Peru)

Arequipa Region
Region
The Colca Canyon in the Arequipa Region
Location of the Arequipa Region in Peru
Coordinates: 15°52′S 72°15′W / 15.86°S 72.25°W / -15.86; -72.25Coordinates: 15°52′S 72°15′W / 15.86°S 72.25°W / -15.86; -72.25
Country	Peru
Subdivisions	8 provinces and 109 districts
Capital	Arequipa
Area
• Total	63,345.39 km2 (24,457.79 sq mi)
Highest elevation	6,305 m (20,686 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2010 est.)
• Total	1,218,168
• Density	19/km2 (50/sq mi)
UBIGEO	04
Dialing code	054
ISO 3166 code	PE-ARE
Principal resources	Wheat, cotton, rice, onion, garlic, cooper seed fruits, milk.
Poverty rate	21.0% (INEI)
Percentage of Peru's GDP	5.64%
Website	www.regionarequipa.gob.pe

Arequipa (Aymara: Ariqipa; Quechua: Ariqipa) is a region in southwestern Peru. It is bordered by the Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac and Cusco regions in the north, the Puno Region in the east, the Moquegua Region in the south, and the Pacific Ocean in the west. Its capital, also called Arequipa, is Peru's second-largest city.

This region has a rough topography, which is characterized by heavy layers of volcanic lava covering large areas of its inter-Andean sector. It has deep canyons such as the ones formed by the Ocoña and Majes rivers. Plateaus range in height from medium, such as La Joya, and high-altitude ones such the Arrieros Pampa and those located in the zones of Chivay, Huambo and Pichucolla. Volcanic cones, such as Misti, Chachani, Ampato, Mismi, Solimana and Coropuna, emerge above the plateaus and attract snowfall. In contrast with these heights, there are deep canyons, including Majes, Colca, Sihuas and Ocoña, where important aspects of the ecological evolution of this zone can be clearly observed.

Along the coast, small plateaus and dunes represent characteristics of the desert of Arequipa, such as the ones located in the Majes, Sihuas and La Joya plains. These are particularly beautiful and developed.