Suni (geography)
Suni or Jalca is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru. It is located in the Andes at an altitude between 3,500 and 4,100 metres above sea level. Suni has a dry and cold weather and there are many glacial valleys.
Flora and Fauna
The flora includes gramineous plants and shrubs such as the taya-taya (Caesalpinia spinosa), the Quishuar (Chuquiraga rotundifolia), and the cantuta (this flower was considered sacred by the Incas).
Even though it is hard for plants to grow because of the weather, examples of what people cultivate are quinoa, cañigua, broad beans and ulluco.
The main fauna is the guinea pig and, among numerous other highland birds, the Chiguanco Thrush.
Overview
Andean Continental Divide
Westside | Eastside |
---|---|
Chala, dry coast | Low tropical rainforest or Selva baja |
Sea Yungas | High tropical rainforest or Selva alta |
Sea Yungas | Subtropical cloud forest or Fluvial Yungas |
Quechua - Montane valleys | Quechua - Montane valleys |
Tree line | Tree line - about 3,500 m |
Suni, scrubs and agriculture | Suni, scrubs and agriculture |
Mountain Top:
- Mountain passes - 4,100 m
- Puna grassland
- Andean-alpine desert
- Snow line - about 5,000 m
- Janca - Rocks, Snow and Ice
- Peak
See also
Literature
- ^ Pulgar Vidal, Javier: Geografía del Perú; Las Ocho Regiones Naturales del Perú. Edit. Universo S.A., Lima 1979. First Edition (his dissertation of 1940): Las ocho regiones naturales del Perú, Boletín del Museo de historia natural „Javier Prado“, n° especial, Lima, 1941, 17, pp. 145-161.