Cordillera Blanca
Tropical ice-covered range with Peru's highest peak, Huascarán.
The Cordillera Blanca, whose name means "white range" in Spanish, is a 200-kilometer stretch of the Andes in Peru, running northwest between roughly 8° and 10° south latitude and 77° and 78° west longitude. It sits in the Ancash region, parallel to the Santa River valley—known as the Callejón de Huaylas in its upper and middle sections—on its western side. This range holds Peru’s tallest peak, Huascarán, which reaches 6,768 meters, along with several other summits above 6,000 meters and 722 glaciers. Almost the entire range lies within Huascarán National Park, created in 1975. Meltwater from its snow and ice supplies northern Peru with water year-round, and a hydroelectric plant in the Santa River valley generates 5% of the country’s electricity.
The Cordillera Blanca is the largest tropical ice-covered mountain range on Earth and holds Peru’s biggest concentration of ice. It belongs to the Cordillera Occidental, the westernmost part of the Peruvian Andes. The range acts as a continental divide: the Santa River on the west flows to the Pacific, while the Marañón River on the east drains into the Atlantic.
Until the 1990s, 722 glaciers were counted here, covering 723.4 square kilometers. Most—530 glaciers over 507.5 square kilometers—were on the western side; the eastern side had 192 glaciers covering 215.9 square kilometers. The vast majority (91%) were steep, short mountain glaciers; the rest were valley glaciers, except for one ice cap. Like other Andean glaciers, these have retreated significantly in the 20th century due to climate change, shrinking by over 15% since the 1970s. By 2003, satellite images showed only 485 glaciers left, covering 569.6 square kilometers.
Notable lakes include the Llanganuco Lakes on Huascarán’s northern side, reachable from Yungay; deep-turquoise Lake Parón, the range’s largest, north of Huandoy and accessible from Caraz; and Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha near Artesonraju and Alpamayo, only reachable by trekking or horseback from Caraz. Other lakes are Lake 69, Lake Allicocha, Lake Auquiscocha, Lake Palcacocha, Lake Querococha, and Lake Conococha.
Several peaks exceed 6,000 meters with at least 400 meters of topographic prominence, plus many over 5,500 meters. Huascarán Sur’s height is given as 6,746 meters on Peruvian IGN maps and 6,768 meters on Austrian Alpine Club maps. Important hot springs include Monterrey and Chancos, 7 and 27 kilometers from Huaraz, respectively, both developed into thermal bath facilities.
The dry season runs from May to September, with June and July being driest and most stable. Climate data for the village of Musho (elevation 3,084 meters), at Huascarán’s base, is typical. Flora and fauna are adapted to the mountain climate and elevation. Almost the entire range is protected by Huascarán National Park.
Plant communities include inter-Andean valley vegetation (xerophytic plants at lower elevations, shrubs and grassland higher up) and high-altitude Puna grasslands with patches of high Andean forest. Many plants have pubescent leaves to reduce water loss from intense solar radiation and cold nights. Examples include Polylepis racemosa, Escallonia resinosa, Alnus acuminata, Senna birostris, Vallea stipularis, Lupinus spp., Vaccinium floribundum, Puya raimondii, Calamagrostis vicunarum, Festuca dolichophylla, Jarava ichu, Azorella spp., and Ranunculus macropetalus.
Over 120 bird species have been reported in the park, notably the Andean condor, torrent duck, puna tinamou, brown pintail, Andean crested duck, white-tufted grebe, giant coot, and Andean gull. Mammals include the colocolo, Andean mountain cat, spectacled bear, taruca deer, vicuña, white-tailed deer, puma, northern viscacha, long-tailed weasel, hog-nosed skunk, and Andean fox.
- location
- Ancash region, Peru
- length
- 200 km (124 mi)
- highest_peak
- Huascarán, 6,768 m (22,205 ft)
- glaciers_recognized
- 722 individual glaciers (until 1990s)
- glacier_area_1990s
- 723.4 km²
- glacier_area_2003
- 569.6 km²
- national_park_established
- 1975
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The Cordillera Blanca is the most extensive tropical ice-covered mountain range in the world and has the largest concentration of ice in Peru. It is part of the Cordillera Occidental (the westernmost part of the Peruvian Andes), and trends in a northwesterly direction for 200 km between 8°08' and 9°58'S of latitude and 77°00' and 77°52' W of longitude. It has five of the most spectacular peaks above 6,000 m in the Peruvian Andes; the highest peak, Huascarán, rises to an elevation of 6,768 m above sea level. The Cordillera Blanca also acts as a continental divide: the Santa River on the west drains into the Pacific Ocean, whereas the Marañón River on the east drains into the Atlantic Ocean. Until the 1990s a total of 722 individual glaciers were recognized in this mountain range, covering an area of 723.4 km2. Most were on the western side of the range, where 530 glaciers covered an area of 507.5 km2, while on the eastern side 192 glaciers covered an area of 215.9 km2. Most of the glaciers, 91% of the total, were classified as mountain glaciers (they are generally short and have extremely steep slopes); the rest were classified as valley glaciers, except for one ice cap. Like all Andean glaciers, the Cordillera Blanca has witnessed a major retreat of its glaciers during the 20th century due to global climate change. Studies have shown a retreat of over 15% since the 1970s. Based on analysis of satellite imagery, in 2003 there were 485 glaciers left, covering an area of 569.6 km2. The area of permanent ice cover shrank by about a third between the 1970s and 2006.
Reader's Guide
Among the most important lakes in the range are the Llanganuco Lakes, which are located on the northern side of Huascarán, and are accessible from the town of Yungay; the deep-turquoise Lake Parón (the biggest lake in the Cordillera Blanca), located just north of Huandoy, accessible from the town of Caraz; Lakes Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha, which are near Artesonraju and Alpamayo and are accessible only by trekking or on horseback from Caraz. Some other notable lakes are Lake 69, Lake Allicocha, Lake Auquiscocha, Lake Palcacocha, Lake Querococha, and Lake Conococha. There are several 6,000 m peaks in the Cordillera Blanca with a 400 m topographic prominence, and several other peaks over 5,500 m. Huascarán Sur, the highest, has two commonly quoted heights: 6,746 m from the Peruvian National Geographic Institute (IGN) map and 6,768 m from the Austrian Alpine Club (OeAV) survey map. Among the most important hot springs in the area are Monterrey and Chancos, which have been transformed into thermal bath facilities. They are 7 and 27 km respectively from the regional capital, Huaraz. The dry season extends from May through September, June and July having the least rain and more stable weather. The data on the chart correspond to the village of Musho (elevation: 3084 m), located at the foot of Huascarán. Flora and fauna in the range have adapted to the climate and elevational range of mountainous areas. Almost all of the Cordillera Blanca is protected by Huascarán National Park. The main types of plant communities present in the area are the vegetation of inter-Andean valleys (xerophytic plants in the lower elevations and shrubs and grassland at the higher elevations) and high-altitude vegetation (Puna grasslands and patches of high Andean forest). Plants in the range have adapted to the intense solar radiation, low temperatures, and water availability. Most plant species have pubescent leaves, an adaptation that protects the plants from water loss due to the intense solar radiation and low nighttime temperatures of the mountain climate. Examples of typical vegetation of this area include Polylepis racemosa, Escallonia resinosa, Alnus acuminata, Senna birostris, Vallea stipularis, Lupinus spp., Vaccinium floribundum, Puya raimondii, Calamagrostis vicunarum, Festuca dolichophylla, Jarava ichu, Azorella spp., and Ranunculus macropetalus. More than 120 bird species have been reported in Huascarán National Park. The most notable include the Andean condor, the torrent duck, the puna tinamou, the brown pintail, the Andean crested duck, the white-tufted grebe, the giant coot, and the Andean gull. Among the mammals reported in the same area are the colocolo, the Andean mountain cat, the spectacled bear, the taruca deer, the vicuña, the white-tailed deer, the puma, the northern viscacha, the long-tailed weasel, the hog-nosed skunk, and the Andean fox.
Did You Know?
- The Cordillera Blanca is the most extensive tropical ice-covered mountain range in the world.
- Huascarán, the highest mountain in Peru, has two commonly quoted heights: 6,746 m from the Peruvian IGN map and 6,768 m from the Austrian Alpine Club survey map.
- Between the 1970s and 2006, the area of permanent ice cover in the Cordillera Blanca shrank by about a third.
- Snowmelt from the Cordillera Blanca provides part of northern Peru with its year-round water supply, and 5% of Peru's power comes from a hydro-electrical plant in the Santa River valley.
- Lake Parón is the biggest lake in the Cordillera Blanca, located just north of Huandoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cordillera Blanca?
It is a 200-kilometre stretch of mountains running northwest through Peru's Ancash region, sitting within the broader Andes system. The Spanish name translates to 'white range,' a nod to the extensive glacial ice that blankets its peaks.
What makes Cordillera Blanca so special?
It holds the title of the world's most extensive tropical ice-covered range and contains the largest concentration of glaciers in all of Peru. At its peak, the range was home to over 700 individually recognized glaciers covering more than 700 square kilometres.
What is Cordillera Blanca's highest peak?
Huascarán, rising to 6,768 metres (22,205 feet), stands as the tallest mountain in the entire country of Peru and is located within this range. It serves as the crown jewel of the range's dramatic skyline.
How does Cordillera Blanca's story end?
While the range itself is permanent, its ice is in measurable retreat—glacier coverage dropped from roughly 723 square kilometres in the 1990s to about 570 square kilometres by 2003. This ongoing loss of ice is one of the most visible signs of climate change in the tropics.
Why is Cordillera Blanca important?
Almost the entire range falls within Huascarán National Park, designated in 1975 to protect its glaciers, biodiversity, and surrounding cultural heritage. It is a major destination for mountaineers and a critical water source for the valleys of Ancash.
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