The Huayllay National Sanctuary is park in Peru

Peru

Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

 located in the Meseta of Bombón, Huayhuash Cordillera in the Pasco region

Pasco Region

Pasco is a region in central Peru. Its capital is Cerro de Pasco.-Political division:The region is divided into 3 provinces , which are composed of 28 districts .-Provinces:...

. The sanctuary is noted for the large scenic rock formations of the Rock Forest of Huayllay, and its native plants and animals.

Geology

The rock formations date to the Cenozoic age

Cenozoic

The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...

, and have been progressively worn down through erosion

Erosion

Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...

, and now stand above a valley. The formations are sometimes compared to Shilin Stone Forest

Shilin (Stone Forest)

The Stone Forest or Shilin is a notable set of karst formations located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, approximately from the provincial capital Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking...

 in China and Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is a public park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.-Genesis of the park:Entrance to the park is free according to the wish of Charles Elliott Perkins, whose children donated the land to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909....

 in the U.S.A.

Recreation

The rock forest is a major tourist attraction in Peru, for both hiking and sightseeing. It is also an international destination for rock climbers

Rock climbing

Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...

.

Extension and climate

The surface area of the district is 607 km² (234.4 sq mi). The climate is cold and dry, with temperatures that vary between 13.8 °C and -8 °C (59 °F and 18 °F).

External links

Municipality Huayllay

• Huayllay National Sanctuary - Rock Forest Natural Wonder of Peru and the World.