Skip to main content

Duck Canyon, Ancash, Peru

Cañón del Pato (Spanish: Duck Canyon) is on the Rio Santa (Santa River) at the north end of the Callejón de Huaylas (Corridor of Huaylas) in north-central Peru.

The mostly rocky canyon walls are too steep and arid for cultivation, and in only a few places are the slopes of the imposingly rugged canyon suitable even for grazing domestic animals.

The canyon was formed by the river where the north end of the Cordillera Negra range (to the west) converges with the Cordillera Blanca mountain range (to the east). These two Andean ridges run generally parallel for nearly 140 km (87 mi) from south of the city of Huaraz northward to the Cañón; the Cordillera Blanca continues northward for another hundred kilometers (62 mi) or more.

The Callejón de Huaylas is the valley between the two cordilleras averaging about 16 km (10 mi) in width, measured on a map from the crests of the two ridges, but in places as much as 25 km (16 mi) in width.

This route is one of the most dangerous in the world because it is so narrow, and that is why it has been included in the documentary series "Deadly Routes" produced by the History Channel.

Anta viewpoint
Viewpoint at km 600 of PE 3N, in Anta, between Jangas and Marcará.

  • In the distance, to the north, we can see the Huandoy mountain (left) and the Nevado Huascarán Sur mountain (right) in the Huascarán National Park.
  • At the base of the statue is written "Virgin Mary Help of Christians, pray for us"

Duck Canyon (Cañón del Pato)
The main south–north highway through the Callejón de Huaylas existed as a narrow dirt track prior to construction of the highway through the Cañón. Construction of the highway's northward extension began in 1952 at the town of Caraz, about 30 km south of the Cañón.

  • The highway penetrates and traverses the Cordillera Negra. Eventually it descends westward and continues to the Pacific Ocean port city of Chimbote and northward to the city of Trujillo, providing motor vehicle access to the Pacific coast from the Callejón.

Small tributary river
The Santa River receives small tributaries from the surrounding mountains.


Multiple mine entrances

Very narrow section of the canyon

Waterfall

First stage of Duck Canyon
The first stage of Duck Canyon is located between the northern area of Callejón de Huaylas and the Duck Canyon Hydroelectric Plant.

  • It covers 12.5 km (8 mi) and passes through 35 tunnels (1 to 35).

Mining gallery
Gallery excavated in the rock resulting from mining activity.


Duck Canyon Hydroelectric Power Plant
The Duck Canyon hydroelectric power plant is an electric power generation plant located on the Santa River in the department of Ancash in Peru.

  • The Duck Canyon power plant is one of the plants that provides the most energy to the National Interconnected System of Peru (SINAC).
  • It was initially conceived by the engineer and scientist from Aijaz (Ancash) Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo and then designed by French engineers from the NERPYC and is considered one of the most outstanding engineering works in the Andean country and, at the time of its design, in the world.
  • See more at Central hidroeléctrica Cañón del Pato - Wikipedia.

Huarochiri bridge

Second stage of the Duck Canyon
The second stage of the Duck Canyon is located between the Huarochirí bridge (from the detour to La Pampa and Corongo) and the limit of the gorge.

  • It runs 8 km (5 mi) and passes through 8 tunnels (37 to 44).
  • Two more tunnels (45 and 46) further west, between the second stage and Chuquicara.

Lunch along the Duck Canyon route

More mining activity

Final stage of the Duck Canyon
Afterwards, the highway continues its path until it descends to the coast and reaches Panamericana Norte, in the city of Santa, located between Chimbote and the bridge over the Santa River, which in turn flows into the sea.


Santa's Castle (El Castillo de Santa)
Political-administrative center, built with mud. Mochica culture. 300 CE (Chimbote, Santa, Ancash).

  • Two large mud pyramids stand out, one at the top, with access ramps, rooms, patios, platforms, extensive garbage dump and cemetery. The other, smaller in size and on the east side.
  • The pyramids were covered with mural paintings, several pieces are still preserved; there is also no doubt about the strategic and defensive nature of the site, as it visually dominates a large part of the valley.
  • The pyramid at the top was built on the stone construction of the former occupants in the 3rd century CE.

See also

Source

Location

Location: Canon del Pato, 02260, Peru