Paracas District

The district Paracas ( Quechua: paraq ) is the largest district of the province of Pisco Peruvian Ica region. Capital is Además. It was home to the pre-Columbian Paracas culture.

The Paracas Peninsula, south of the Paracas Bay and the Islas Ballestas form the National Paracas Reserve, which was established on 25 September 1975 and has a total area of ​​335,000 hectares. The reserve is to protect the rich deposits of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, Humboldt penguins and other marine mammals and seabirds. Famous landmark was until August 2007 the rock formation of the Cathedral of Paracas, which was destroyed during the earthquake in Peru in 2007.

On the peninsula there is a large rock drawing of Candelabra de Paracas ( The Candelabra of Paracas ) of the Nazca lines is similar, but is much younger. He probably served as a guide mariners mark for navigation.

A legend tells that freedom hero General José de San Martín landed on the coast of Paracas in the course of his expedition on 8 September 1820. Tired from the long journey, he fell asleep on the beach. When he awoke, he was dazzled by the beauty of flying by flamingos. Their outspread wings in the setting sun were for San Martín the inspiration for the first red and white Peruvian flag, which is also a model of today's national flag.

Gallery

Coast of the Paracas Peninsula

Beach of Paracas

Ballestas island

Paracas in morning fog

• District in the Ica Region
• District in the province of Pisco