Lauricocha province

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Lauricocha

| settlement_type = Province

| image_skyline = Cordillera_Huayuash_02552.JPG

| caption = The northeastern side of the Huayhuash range as seen from Lake Carhuacocha

| image_flag = File:Bandera de la provincia de Lauricocha.svg

| image_shield =

| image_map = Location of the province Lauricocha in Huánuco.png

| map_caption = Location of Lauricocha in the Huánuco Region

| coordinates =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Peru

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Huánuco

| established_title = Founded

| established_date =

| seat_type = Capital

| seat = Jesús

| leader_title = Mayor (Alcalde)

| leader_name =

| area_total_km2 = 1860.13

| elevation_m =

| population_total = 19,956 (2017)

| population_footnotes =

| population_density_km2 = auto

| blank_name_sec1 = UBIGEO

| blank_info_sec1 = 1010

| website =

| official_name =

}}

File:C.P. Queropalca 02188.JPG

Lauricocha is one of 11 provinces of the Huánuco Region in Peru. The capital of the province is Jesús. The province is found at high elevations in the Andes. The highest elevation in the province is snow-capped Yerupaja peak with an elevation of {{cvt|6617|m|feet}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.andes-specialists.com/andean-mountains-5000/|title=Andean Mountains - All above 5000m|website=Andes Specialists|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} and the lowest elevation is approximately {{cvt|3200|m|feet}} along the Marañon River north of the town of Rondos.Google Earth The population of the province was 19,956 in 2017 and had been declining for many years before that.

Lauricocha province is the source of the Marañon. Lauricocha Lake is the largest of many glacial lakes in the province. The lake and the headwaters of the Lauricocha and Nupe Rivers have been identified as among the sources of the Amazon River.Dasgupta, Shreya (2016), "Why the Source of the Amazon river remains a Mystery," BBC, [http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160516-why-it-is-hard-to-find-the-source-of-rivers-like-the-amazon], accessed 6 Nov 2018 The high, cool climate of the province limits economic activity. Agriculture is mostly pastoral and potatoes are the main crop.{{cite web |title=Peru is the leading potato producer in Latin America |url=https://peru.info/en-us/foreign-trade/news/7/29/on-top--peru-is-the-leading-potato-producer-in-latin-america |website=Peru Info |access-date=10 August 2021}} The Raura mine, producing copper, lead, silver, and zinc, is one of the highest mines in the world at an elevation of {{cvt|4791|m|feet}}.{{cite web |title=The World's 10 Highest Mines |url=https://www.mining.com/the-worlds-10-highest-mines/ |website=Mining |access-date=10 August 2021}} The province is popular for hikers and mountain climbers, especially to hike and climb in the Cordillera Huayhuash on the western border of Lauricocha.{{cite web |last1=Rivera |first1=Agnes |title=The Huayhuash Trek: A High Elevation Eden |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/huayhuash-trek-high-elevation-eden |website=Lonely Planet |access-date=10 Aug 2021}} The major north-south Inca road, the Qhapaq Ňan, which runs from Cuzco to Quito, Ecuador, traverses Lauricocha province and is well-preserved along much of its route in this province.{{cite book |last1=Hyslop |first1=John |title=The Inka Road System |date=1984 |publisher=Academic Press |location=Orlando |isbn=0-12-363460-1 |pages=68–69}}