Canta

{{Other uses}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Canta | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = | image_skyline = Bird's-eye view of Canta, Peru.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = View of the town of Canta | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Peru | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Peru | coordinates = {{coord|11|28|1.2|S|76|37|26.4|W|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Peru}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Peru|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Department of Lima|Lima]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Peru|Province]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Canta Province|Canta]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Peru|District]] | subdivision_name3 = [[Canta District|Canta]] | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Arturo Paredes Salcedo<br><small>(2019-2022)</small> | unit_pref = Metric   | area_footnotes = | area_urban_footnotes =  | area_rural_footnotes =  | area_metro_footnotes =  | area_magnitude =  | area_note = | area_water_percent = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank2_title =  | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_urban_km2 = | area_rural_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank2_km2 =  | area_total_ha = | area_land_ha = | area_water_ha = | area_urban_ha = | area_rural_ha = | area_metro_ha = | area_blank1_ha = | area_blank2_ha = | length_km = | width_km = | dimensions_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 2,819 | population_as_of = 2017 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 2385 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | population_demonym = Canteño/a | timezone = [[Time in Peru|PET]] | utc_offset = −5 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website =  | footnotes = }}

'''Canta''' is a town in the [[Lima Region]], in western [[Peru]]. The town is located on the [[Chillón River]] and is the capital of the [[Canta Province]]. With a population of 2,385 ([[2017 Peru Census|2017 census]]), it is also the capital of [[Canta District]]. It is frequently visited by tourists from [[Lima]] because of its quietness and the beauty of its natural landscapes. The town's altitude is 2,819 m above sea level.

== Etymology == The word ''canta'' comes from the Cauqui language spoken by the ancient inhabitants and their meaning can be indicated with these two meanings: * ''canta'' = tie to catch vicunas * ''canta'' = hillside, decline<ref>{{cite book |title=Canta. Potencial turístico |author=Homero Huamán |date=1998}}</ref>

== Geography == The town is {{convert|103|km}} from Lima, about a three-hour bus ride, and is often visited by geography students from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. The small town of [[Obrajillo]] is nearby.

<gallery> Image:Nov 21 & 22 - 046.jpg|Aerial photo of Canta, Peru Image:Nov 21 & 22 - 093.jpg|Aerial photo of Canta, Peru </gallery>

=== Climate === Canta has a dry [[subtropical highland climate]], characterized by the [[Köppen climate classification]] as a [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'').<ref>{{Cite journal |date=23 October 2023 |title=Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02549-6/tables/1 |journal=Nature: Scientific Data |language=en}}</ref>

Canta experiences relatively stable temperatures throughout the year, with minor variations between months. The yearly average high temperature is 18.0°C (64.4°F), while the yearly average low temperature is 8.0°C (46.4°F).<ref name="WMONormals"/>

The total annual precipitation is 376.4 millimeters (14.82 inches). Canta receives the majority of its precipitation during the [[wet season]], which typically spans from January to March. The months from May to September typically receive very little rainfall.<ref name="WMONormals"/>

{{Weather box | width = auto | collapsed = yes | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Canta (1991–2020) | Jan high C = 17.2 | Feb high C = 16.8 | Mar high C = 16.9 | Apr high C = 17.7 | May high C = 18.5 | Jun high C = 18.5 | Jul high C = 18.5 | Aug high C = 18.9 | Sep high C = 18.9 | Oct high C = 18.5 | Nov high C = 18.1 | Dec high C = 17.5 | year high C = 18.0 | Jan low C = 8.1 | Feb low C = 8.2 | Mar low C = 8.3 | Apr low C = 8.3 | May low C = 7.9 | Jun low C = 7.6 | Jul low C = 7.5 | Aug low C = 7.9 | Sep low C = 8.1 | Oct low C = 8.2 | Nov low C = 8.0 | Dec low C = 8.3 | year low C = 8.0 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 71.1 | Feb precipitation mm = 93.4 | Mar precipitation mm = 96.8 | Apr precipitation mm = 30.3 | May precipitation mm = 2.2 | Jun precipitation mm = 0.5 | Jul precipitation mm = 0.0 | Aug precipitation mm = 0.8 | Sep precipitation mm = 3.7 | Oct precipitation mm = 11.3 | Nov precipitation mm = 18.3 | Dec precipitation mm = 48.0 | year precipitation mm = 376.4 | source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Peru/CSV/Canta_81502.csv |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020 — Canta |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=27 January 2024}}</ref> }}

== History == At some time in the 16th century, it was dominated by the Inca [[Pachacuti|Pachacutec]] during his path to the north. The Spanish conquistadors found Canta in a prosperous locality. It was given like a parcel to don [[Nicolás de Ribera]]. During the [[Peruvian War of Independence|War of Independence from the Spanish Crown]], the people of Canta gave strong support to the cause of liberation.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{in lang|es}} [http://www.carabayllo.net/temas/275-culturales/1064-mito-del-nevado-la-viuda La Viuda myth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424040926/https://carabayllo.net/temas/275-culturales/1064-mito-del-nevado-la-viuda |date=2023-04-24 }} * {{in lang|es}} [http://www.arqueologiadelperu.com.ar/canta.htm Cantamarca, archaeological site]

[[Category:Populated places in the Department of Lima]]