APUS IN THE ANDES:
The mountain range of the Andes in South America attracts lovers of the outdoors from all over the world to explore its mountain ridges and deep valleys. The Andes offers travellers an outdoor adventure and exceptional cultural experiences.
Throughout the Andes, interconnecting roads create a system that brings travellers from snowy peaks with waterfalls trickling down the hills to broad valleys. Villages with thatched roofed houses seem to be a long way from modern society. The rural scenery of the Andes and its inhabitants offers travellers true contact with the beauty and culture of the Andes.
The Andes forms the largest continuous chain of mountains in the world, stretching over more than 4000 kilometres, from the Mountains of Santa Maria in Colombia all the way south to “Tierra de Fuego” in Chile.
The width of the chain varies; in Ecuador it measures some 60 kilometres whilst in Bolivia it measures more than hundred and eighty thousand miles . In geological terms, the Andes can be considered as relatively young mountains, even though they where formed some fifty to sixty million years ago and are considered the second largest mountain chain in the world; only the Himalaya exceeds it in height. Due to the cold Humbolt stream of the Pacific Ocean the coastal region is one of the world’s driest deserts.
Just as surprising as the dry dessert, is the grey fog called the Garúa, that wraps up a large part of the dry coast from March until November. The Gurúa does not condense into rain nor does it evaporates under the heat of the sun. On the contrary; the phenomenon persists and encloses the earth in a humid coat that blurs and obscures the horizon
The greatness of the mountains is only matched by the many indigenous cultures that have influenced and left their marks in the region. Ancient artifacts, ruins, legends, beliefs and superstitions were left by pre-Columbian cultures and mark the specific character of the Andes as much as the majestic mountains do. Although more than four hundred and fifty years have passed since the conquest of the Incas, many pre-Hispanic believes and customs remain unchanged.
The belief in La Pacha Mama, mother earth, still lives on. She provides al necessities in life, from the food to housing. The past lives in her, the present takes place on her, and the future is born from her. She controls life and at the same time welcomes the dead and their spirits. Pacha Mama dies every year in the week before Easter. Those seven days she has no control over the evil spirits living in the fields, and the world becomes a dangerous place.
For the farmers, La Pacha Mama isn’t a myth or legend, but a very real being: she is the earth and the force to which all life owes its existence.
Offerings are made to La Pacha Mama, who resides in every place and time. But “Apus” are spirits of the earth living in particular places. Any natural place, such as rivers, lakes or hills can be its home. Apus in brooks and hills close to a village grant their daily protection to its crops, animals and inhabitants.
Apus living on hills control the productiveness of surrounding fields, while greater Apus live on mountain peaks and have power over the fertility of the animals.
They are powerful beings that can be ambivalent; they can work miracles as well as create disasters to punish a lack of respect.
Because of their potency Apus are greatly feared and respected. Up to this day people assemble to implore Apus to cure sickness and resolve problems of life.
The Andes are a cultural wonder just s much as it is a wonderful physical appearance. Traveller can be sure to be impressed by the untamed beauty of nature and the rich and intriguing culture of the Andean villages. The powerful appeal of the Andes attracts voyagers who, away from city life and commodities, explore the numerous paths and roads and the people passing by.
The magic of the Andes does not only roots in the majesty of the landscape but also in the Quechua people that live there and carry on their ancestral habits and traditions.