Apurímac River

The Apurímac River is a vital waterway in the country of Peru. Its name comes from the Quechua words "apu," meaning chief, and "rimaq," meaning the one who speaks or an oracle. Together, the name translates to "the chief oracle." This river is famous because it is considered the most distant source of the Amazon River. It begins high in the mountains and flows through a very rugged landscape.

The river starts from glacial meltwater on a mountain ridge. This ridge is part of the Mismi mountain in the Arequipa Province. The Mismi is located in the south-western mountain ranges of Peru. The water rises near the village of Caylloma. From this high starting point, the river is actually quite close to the Pacific coast. The water travels from these cold glaciers down toward the lowlands.

As the river flows, it follows a path toward the northwest. It passes near the city of Cusco. The river moves through narrow, steep-sided valleys called gorges. These gorges can reach depths of up to 3,200 feet. This depth is almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. The river's journey is not smooth. Its course is often interrupted by many waterfalls and fast rapids.

The river undergoes several name changes as it joins other streams. First, the Apurímac joins the Mantaro River. At this point, it becomes the Ene River. Later, the Ene joins the Perené River at an elevation of 1,000 feet above sea level. After this junction, the water is called the Tambo River. Finally, the Tambo joins the Urubamba River at 400 feet above sea level. At this stage, the river becomes the Ucayali River. The Ucayali is the main headstream of the Amazon River.

Sometimes, scientists and explorers look at the whole system as one long river. They call the entire stretch from the Mismi source to the Ucayali junction the "Apurímac." This total system has a length of 1,450 miles. Because the terrain is so difficult, traveling the full length is a massive challenge. So far, there have been six attempts to travel the entire length of the Apurímac. Only two of those attempts have been successful.

Human history is closely tied to this river. In the 13th century, the Inca people built a bridge over the water. This bridge was very important because it gave them access to the west. One specific bridge is known as Queshuachaca. This bridge is unique because it is reassembled on an annual basis. History shows the bridge was quite durable. It was built around 1350 and was still in use in 1864. By 1890, it was described as dilapidated but still hanging.

The river has even influenced famous literature. The bridge built by the Inca served as the basis for a book. This book is titled "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." It was written by Thornton Wilder in 1927. The river remains a major part of the geography in the departments of Cusco and Apurímac. It connects the high Andes mountains to the massive Amazon system.