# Ica, Peru

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ica%2C_Peru
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ica%2C_Peru.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ica%2C_Peru
> Source revision: 1348647180
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

City in the Department of Ica, Peru

City in Ica, Peru

Ica City Huacachina Oasis, Lord of Luren Temple, San Francisco Church, El Catador Winery, Plaza de Armas at night and Huacachina Dunes. Flag Coat of arms Interactive map of Ica Ica Location in Peru Coordinates: 14°04′S 75°44′W / 14.067°S 75.733°W / -14.067; -75.733 Country Peru Region Ica Province Ica Founded 17 June 1563 Founded by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera Government • Type Democracy • Mayor Emma Luisa Mejía Venegas (2019–2022) Area • Total 7,894 km2 (3,048 sq mi) Elevation 406 m (1,332 ft) Population (2017) • Total 282,407 • Estimate (2015)[1] 244,390 • Density 35.77/km2 (92.66/sq mi) Demonym Iqueño/a Time zone UTC-5 (PET) • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (PET) Area code 56 Website www.muniica.gob.pe

**Ica** (Spanish pronunciation: [\[ˈika\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Spanish); [Quechua](/source/Quechuan_languages): *Ika*) is a city and the capital of the [Department of Ica](/source/Department_of_Ica) in southern [Peru](/source/Peru). While the area was long inhabited by varying cultures of [indigenous peoples](/source/Indigenous_people), the Spanish *[conquistador](/source/Conquistador)* [Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera](/source/Jer%C3%B3nimo_Luis_de_Cabrera) claimed its founding in 1563.

As of the [2017 census](/source/2017_Peru_Census), it had a population of over 282,407. The city suffered extensive damage and loss of life during the [2007 Peru earthquake](/source/2007_Peru_earthquake).

## History

Ica in 1615, by [Guamán Poma](/source/Felipe_Guaman_Poma_de_Ayala)

Ica Cathedral with damage from earthquake of 2007

In 2007, researchers found the fossil remains of a prehistoric penguin, *[Icadyptes salasi](/source/Icadyptes_salasi)*, which inhabited the [Atacama Desert](/source/Atacama_Desert) about 30 million years ago. Scientists estimate it was about 4.5 or 5 feet (137 or 152 cm) tall, with a 1-foot-long (30.5 cm) beak.[2]

Evidence of prehistoric [indigenous](/source/Indigenous_peoples) civilizations has been found in the nearby deserts, such as that of [Paracas](/source/Paracas_culture). Other cultures include the [Chincha](/source/Chincha_people) and the [Inca](/source/Inca), the latter of whom ruled this area beginning in the 14th century. Numerous pre-Columbian [archeological artifacts](/source/Archeological_artifacts) are now displayed in the *[Museo Regional de Ica](/source/Regional_Museum_of_Ica_%22Adolfo_Berm%C3%BAdez_Jenkins%22)*.

The Inca were still in power when the Spanish conquistadors invaded the territory. The Spanish colonial city was founded on 17 June 1563 by Gerónimo Luis de Cabrera as *Villa de Valverde*. It was ruled by Spain under colonial rulers until Peru achieved independence in 1821.

On 15 August 2007, a [magnitude 8.0 earthquake](/source/2007_Peru_earthquake) occurred off the coast of Peru, severely damaging buildings, houses and infrastructure in Ica. Initially 17 people died and 70 were killed when a church collapsed. [Pisco](/source/Pisco%2C_Peru) was even more severely damaged and many people were buried under buildings that had collapsed. Some 80% of the city's buildings were destroyed.[3]

## Geography

The city is located on the [Ica River](/source/Ica_River) about 300 km (190 mi) to the south of [Lima](/source/Lima), along the desert coast of southern Peru. Further south along the [Pan-American Highway](/source/Pan-American_Highway) lies the city of [Nazca](/source/Nazca).

### Climate

Ica lies on the border of the Atacama desert and has one of the driest climates in the world [Köppen](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) *BWh*, with only around 1 centimetre of rainfall for the whole year. Temperatures are hot during the summer months (December – March) and warm through the winter months (June – September).

Climate data for Ica (San Camilo), elevation 407 m (1,335 ft), (1991–2020) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.9 (89.4) 33.0 (91.4) 33.4 (92.1) 31.9 (89.4) 29.2 (84.6) 26.0 (78.8) 25.2 (77.4) 26.1 (79.0) 27.8 (82.0) 29.2 (84.6) 30.0 (86.0) 31.0 (87.8) 29.6 (85.2) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.8 (64.0) 18.7 (65.7) 17.8 (64.0) 15.5 (59.9) 12.4 (54.3) 10.8 (51.4) 10.3 (50.5) 10.4 (50.7) 10.9 (51.6) 12.1 (53.8) 13.4 (56.1) 15.6 (60.1) 13.8 (56.8) Average precipitation mm (inches) 5.0 (0.20) 2.2 (0.09) 1.2 (0.05) 0.2 (0.01) 0.1 (0.00) 0.4 (0.02) 0.3 (0.01) 0.2 (0.01) 0.1 (0.00) 0.0 (0.0) 0.2 (0.01) 0.2 (0.01) 10.1 (0.41) Source: National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru[4]

## Transportation

Ica can be reached from [Lima](/source/Lima) by the [Pan-American Highway](/source/Pan-American_Highway), a journey of 320 kilometres (200 mi).

The [Tren de la Costa](/source/Tren_de_la_Costa_(Peru)) is planned.

## Tourism

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Ica and surrounding areas are the traditional source of [Pisco](/source/Pisco) brandy. Ica is the site of the *Museo Regional de Ica*, a regional museum with exhibits ranging from prehistoric artifacts to the Spanish colonial era. On display are [pre-Columbian](/source/Pre-Columbian) funerary bundles and [mummies](/source/Mummies). The elongated skulls from the [Paracas](/source/Paracas_culture) and pre-Inca cultures suggest ritual deformation, perhaps to mark an elite class. Some skulls also bear evidence of [trepanning](/source/Trepanning), a kind of early brain surgery to relieve internal pressure or remove damaged skull matter suffered in battle.

A collection of furniture, paintings and artifacts date from the Spanish [colonial](/source/Spanish_colonization_of_the_Americas) era.

The Department of Ica encompasses considerable desert, giving it unique opportunities for tourism. The nearby [Huacachina](/source/Huacachina) oasis is located in the midst of sand dunes. The city of Ica attracts international travelers, as well as resort seekers from Peru. Some young visitors try sandboarding; others travel the dunes in sand buggies.

## Agriculture

The many days of sunshine have made Ica the center of an important agricultural region. Commodity crops are [cotton](/source/Cotton), [grapes](/source/Grape), [asparagus](/source/Asparagus), [avocado](/source/Avocado), [mango](/source/Mango), [olives](/source/Olive) and other produce. It is known by Peruvians as the "Land of Eternal Sun".

Although the area has four seasons, the climate is warm and dry. Visitors say that it feels like a northern summer year-round. The climate of the city can help in easing [asthma](/source/Asthma), which is aggravated by damp and humid climates and their associated [allergens](/source/Allergens).

The desert city has drawn water for domestic and agricultural needs from an aquifer fed by glacial melt water. The regional usage is exceeding the inflow of water into the aquifer. Because the aquifer is quickly drying up, activists have called for more efficient irrigation, or adding dams and water diversions.[5]

## See also

- [Ica stones](/source/Ica_stones)

- [Irrigation in Peru](/source/Irrigation_in_Peru)

- [Administrative divisions of Peru](/source/Administrative_divisions_of_Peru)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Perú: Población estimada al 30 de junio y tasa de crecimiento de las ciudades capitales, por departamento, 2011 y 2015](http://proyectos.inei.gob.pe/web/biblioineipub/bancopub/Est/Lib1020/cuadros/c0206.xls). *Perú: Estimaciones y proyecciones de población total por sexo de las principales ciudades, 2012-2015* (Report). Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática. March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Minard, Anne (25 June 2007). ["Photo Gallery: Giant Prehistoric Penguins Found"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070628185302/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/06/photogalleries/giant-penguins/). National Geographic. Archived from [the original](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/06/photogalleries/giant-penguins/) on 28 June 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** James Gancer [\[1\]](https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070816/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/peru_quake), [\[2\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20070816064242/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/08/16/peru.earthquake/index.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SENAMHI_4-0)** ["Normales Climaticás Estándares y Medias 1991-2020"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230821192714/https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=normales-estaciones). National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru. Archived from [the original](https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=normales-estaciones) on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Despite Economic Gains, Peru's Asparagus Boom Threatening Water Table"](https://www.theworld.org/2012/01/peru-asparagus-water-troubles/). *PRI's The World*. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Ica](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ica).

- [Ica and the Huacachina Oasis](http://www.trekker.co.il/english/peru-ica-huacachina.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20050614074836/http://www.trekker.co.il/english/peru-ica-huacachina.htm) 14 June 2005 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Trekker

- ["History of Peru, Ica"](http://www.tambopampa.com/english/about.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716191530/http://www.tambopampa.com/english/about.html) 16 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), TampoPampa

- [*Museo Regional de Ica* Website](https://web.archive.org/web/20090529060844/http://visitperu.com/museums.htm#m6)

v t e Peruvian cities with a population of over 100,000 Arequipa Ayacucho Cajamarca Callao Chiclayo Chimbote Chincha Cusco Huacho Huancayo Huánuco Huaraz Ica Iquitos Juliaca Lima Pisco Piura Pucallpa Puno Sullana Tacna Talara Tarapoto Trujillo

v t e Department capitals of Peru Chachapoyas (Amazonas) Huaraz (Ancash) Abancay (Apurímac) Arequipa (Arequipa) Ayacucho (Ayacucho) Cajamarca (Cajamarca) Callao (Callao) Cusco (Cusco) Huancavelica (Huancavelica) Huánuco (Huánuco) Ica (Ica) Huancayo (Junín) Trujillo (La Libertad) Chiclayo (Lambayeque) Lima Huacho (Lima) Iquitos (Loreto) Puerto Maldonado (Madre de Dios) Moquegua (Moquegua) Cerro de Pasco (Pasco) Piura (Piura) Puno (Puno) Moyobamba (San Martín) Tacna (Tacna) Tumbes (Tumbes) Pucallpa (Ucayali)

[14°04′S 75°44′W / 14.067°S 75.733°W / -14.067; -75.733](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ica,_Peru&params=14_04_S_75_44_W_type:city)

Authority control databases International VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Czech Republic Israel Other Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ica, Peru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ica%2C_Peru) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ica%2C_Peru?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.