# Huánuco

Huánuco (Spanish pronunciation:; Quechua: Wanuku) is a city in central Peru. It had a population of 196,627 as of 2017 and in 2015 it had a population of 175,068. It is the capital of the Huánuco Region and the Huánuco District. It is the seat of the diocese of Huánuco. The metropolitan city of Huanuco is 170,000 hab (2011, urban pop, INEI). It has three districts, Huanuco (head), Amarilis, and Pillco Marca. In this city, the Higueras river meets the Huallaga river, one of the largest rivers in the country.

## History

The city of Huánuco was founded by Spanish conquistador Gómez de Alvarado in 1539, in the Inca town of the Yarowilca clan, Wanako. In 1541, the city was moved to its current location in the Pillco Valley.
The indigenous chronicler Juan de Santa Cruz Pachacuti Yamqui Salcamaygua notes that during the Inca Empire, Pillco was a significant source of Aclla nuns for the capital city of Cusco, stating, "...there were maidens from all nations, especially from three, namely: Cusco and its territory, the Chachapoyas, and Pillco, which they now call Guánuco."
Huánuco was the scene of one of the Chilean massacres during their occupation of Peruvian territory from 1881 to 1883.

## Geography
### Climate

Huánuco has a mild semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). The temperatures are pleasant throughout the year with very warm days and comfortable nights due to its elevation of 1,913 metres or 6,276 feet.
Climate data for Huánuco, elevation 1,919 m (6,296 ft), (1991–2020) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.5 (79.7) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.7 (80.1) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.5 (79.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 20.7 (69.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 20.6 (69.1) | 20.8 (69.4) | 20.5 (68.9) | 19.6 (67.3) | 19.0 (66.2) | 19.6 (67.3) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.3 (70.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 20.4 (68.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.3 (59.5) | 15.4 (59.7) | 15.2 (59.4) | 14.8 (58.6) | 13.9 (57.0) | 12.6 (54.7) | 11.7 (53.1) | 12.5 (54.5) | 13.9 (57.0) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.2 (59.4) | 14.3 (57.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 53.1 (2.09) | 59.0 (2.32) | 76.9 (3.03) | 34.4 (1.35) | 11.7 (0.46) | 5.5 (0.22) | 4.1 (0.16) | 6.7 (0.26) | 12.9 (0.51) | 43.5 (1.71) | 50.0 (1.97) | 70.0 (2.76) | 427.8 (16.84) |
| Source: National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru ||||||||||||||

## Education
### Schools

* C.S. Colegio de Ciencias
* CNA UNHEVAL
* G.U.E. Leoncio Prado
* C.S. San Luis Gonzaga

### Universities

* Universidad Nacional "Hermilio Valdizán"
* Universidad Privada "Huánuco"

## Notable people

* Mariano Ignacio Prado - President and General, born in 1825.
* Leoncio Prado - Colonel and hero; fought in Cuba and against the Chilean invasion after The War of the Pacific.
* Javier Pulgar Vidal - Famous geographer, born in Panao Province.
* Daniel Alomía Robles - Musical composer and ethnologist born in 1871, famous for El Cóndor Pasa
* Johan Fano- Professional football player
* Beker Fabian - poet and writer

## Transportation

It is served by the Alférez FAP David Figueroa Fernandini Airport. One of the main highways of the country passes by Huanuco, connecting Lima-Callao with Tingo Maria and Pucallpa in the Peruvian Amazonia.