Department of Tacna

Tacna (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtakna]; Aymara & Quechua: Taqna) is the southernmost department in Peru. The Chilean Army occupied the present-day Tacna Department during the War of the Pacific from 1885 to 1929 when it was reincorporated into Peruvian soil; today, it is known for being one of the most patriotic areas in the country.

Department of Tacna
Region
Flag
Seal
Location of the Tacna Region in Peru
Coordinates: 17.6°S 70.2°W / -17.6; -70.2
CountryPeru
Subdivisions4 provinces and 26 districts
CapitalTacna
Government
 • GovernorOmar Jiménez Flores
(2015–2018)
Area
 • Total16,075.89 km2 (6,206.94 sq mi)
Elevation
(Capital)
562 m (1,844 ft)
Highest elevation
3,415 m (11,204 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 • Total274,496
 • Density17/km2 (44/sq mi)
UBIGEO
23
Dialing code052
ISO 3166 codePE-TAC
Principal resourcesGrapevine, cotton, copper.
Poverty rate32.8%
Percentage of Peru's GDP1.7%
Websitewww.regiontacna.gob.pe

Geography

The department of Tacna is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, the department of Moquegua on the north, the department of Puno on the northeast, the Bolivian La Paz Department on the east, and the Arica-Parinacota Region of Chile on the south. The border between the Tacna Region and Chile is known as La Línea de la Concordia.

The region is located below the Titicaca plateau and has a diverse geography, including volcanoes, deserts, and mountainous zones, from which arise rivers that go over the punas and the plateaus, thus forming the hydrographical system of this zone. The region is small in size but has a significant mining and agriculture potential. It has various climates and diverse production.

Climate

This area has a large amount of sunshine year round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Tacna has a desert climate, abbreviated "Bwh" on climate maps.[1]

History
Inca Trail (Qhapaq Ñan) and terraces in Tarata (Pacific Rim).
Monument to the Battle of Tacna in the Alto de la Alianza, Cerro Intiorko in Tacna.
Miculla Petroglyphs, in the district of Pachía.
Fountain in Tacna.

Prehistoric era

There is evidence of the presence of a very early culture that goes back more than 10 000 years. The archaeological investigations in the region have proved that a civilization dwelled in this zone in the Stone Age. The Toquepala Caves (7630 BC) and Abrigo de Caru (6240 BC) belong to this age. There are other sites such as Girata Complex, Mullini, and Queñavichinca, where investigations have not been concluded.

Spanish conquest

The first groups of Spanish conquerors arrived in the region in 1535. These groups were formed by members of the Almagro expedition, organized to conquer Chile. During this time, the city of Tacna was called Villa San Pedro de Tacna. In 1615 and 1784 Tacna experienced violent earthquakes, and many towns were reduced to ruins. However, they were rebuilt by their people who decided to stay in the same place.

19th century

Tacna has a seat of honor in the emancipation process. Since 1810, the local patriots, following the example of their Argentine neighbors, who had already declared their independence, started to conspire. In 1811, Francisco Antonio De Zela sent forth the first libertarian outcry in Tacna. Once the Peruvian independence was consummated, the heroism of this city was honored by promoting it to the rank of villa in 1823. On May 26, 1828, President José de La Mar promulgated a law given by Congress by which the city of Tacna was given the title of Ciudad Heroica (Heroic City).

During the War of the Pacific against Chile, the tacneños placed themselves in the front line, offering their lives defending the nation.

Chilean administration
Main articles: War of the Pacific, Tacna Province (Chile), Treaty of Ancón, and Treaty of Lima (1929)

On May 26, 1880, after the Battle of Alto de la Alianza, the Chilean army occupied the Tacna province. Under the terms of the treaty, Chile was to occupy the provinces of Tacna and Arica for ten years, after which a plebiscite was to be held to determine the region's sovereignty. Tacna remained under Chilean control for 50 years, during which Chilean groups and authorities lead a campaign of Chilenization in an attempt to persuade the local population to abandon their Peruvian past and accept Chilean nationality.

However, Peruvian nationalists ensured that the Chilean propaganda failed and the planned plebiscite was never held. Finally, in 1929, the Treaty of Lima was signed in which Chile kept Arica, while Peru reacquired Tacna and receiving $6 million indemnity and other concessions.

Some of the important persons that lived in Tacna during the Chilean administration was Salvador Allende and his family; they lived eight years in the city. Salvador lived in Tacna since he was a baby, he arrived in 1908 and studied in the Tacna School (Liceo de Tacna).

Maritime dispute
Main article: Chilean–Peruvian maritime dispute

On January 26, 2007, Peru’s government issued a protest against Chile’s demarcation of the coastal frontier the two countries share. Peruvian President Alan García recalled his ambassador to Chile, Hugo Otero, to Lima to consult about the controversy over the maritime boundary the two countries share. According to the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, the Chilean legislatures endorsed a plan regarding the Arica and Parinacota region which does not comply with the current, established demarcation of the border. Moreover, they allege that the proposed Chilean law includes an assertion of sovereignty over 19,000 square meters of land in Peru's Department of Tacna.

According to the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, Chile had defined a new region "without respecting the Concordia demarcation." The Peruvian government maintained that the dispute over the Chilean plan is part of an ongoing maritime dispute whereby Chile has tried to use the demarcation process to extend its maritime frontier. Over the past 50 years, Peru has maintained claims over roughly 40,000 square kilometers of ocean territory. The Chilean government has asserted that the region in dispute is not a coastal site named Concordia, but instead refers to boundary stone No. 1, which is located to the northeast and 200 meters inland.[2]

Given that the proposed Chilean law does not recognize the borderline established by both nations in the 1929 agreement, Peru lodged diplomatic protests with Chile. In the complex territorial dispute, Chile is asserting the border near the Pacific Ocean to fit in the geographical parallel, which Lima asserts will cut off at least 19,000 squares meters ? of the Peruvian territory.[3]

A possible border dispute was averted when the Chilean Constitutional Court ruled on January 26, 2007, unconstitutional legislation. Peru said, "could be seen as a move by Chile to encroach on its maritime territorial sovereignty." While agreeing with the court's ruling, the Chilean government reiterated its stance that the maritime borders between the two nations were not in question and have been formally by the international community.[4]

Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia has expressed that his country may turn to the international court at The Hague but has said that the necessary documents for that action are not ready.[5]

On January 28, 2007, Peru’s leading newspaper El Comercio reported that the President of the Cabinet of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros del Perú), Jorge del Castillo, expressed his grave concern over the pending maritime dispute with Chile.[6]

The maritime boundary between Chile and Peru as defined by the International Court of Justice on 27 January 2014.

On January 27, 2014, in the final ruling of the International Court of Justice located in The Hague, Peru gained some maritime territory. The maritime boundary extends only to 80 nautical miles (150 km) off of the coast. From that point, the new border runs in a southwesterly direction to a point that is 200 nmi (370 km) equidistant from the coast of the two countries.

Under the ruling, Chile lost control over part of its formerly claimed maritime territory and gave additional maritime territory to Peru.

From the 27 January 2014 court press release:

The Court concludes that the maritime boundary between the Parties starts at the intersection of the parallel of latitude passing through Boundary Marker No. 1 with the low-water line, and extends for 80 nmi (150 km) along that parallel of latitude to Point A. From this point, the maritime boundary runs along the equidistance line to Point B, and then along the 200 nmi (370 km) limit measured from the Chilean baselines to Point C. In view of the circumstances of the case, the Court has defined the course of the maritime boundary between the Parties without determining the precise geographical co-ordinates.[7][8]

Political division
Map of the Tacna region showing its provinces

The Tacna Region is divided into four provinces (Spanish: provincias, singular: provincia), which are composed of 26 districts (distritos, singular: distrito).

Provinces

The provinces, with their capitals in parenthesis, are:

Economy

Tacna's primary income earner is copper mining. Agriculturally, Tacna produces 53.15% of the whole olive crop in Peru. It also produces maize, potatoes, wheat, cotton, oregano, alfalfa, and grapevine (for the production of wine and pisco). It also has a sizable herd of dairy cattle and lamb.

In addition to mining and agriculture, fishing is also important, as Tacna's sea is abundant in fish resources.

Local customs

Typical dishes and beverages

Tacna offers visitors colorful dishes exquisitely combined and abundantly served. The picante a la Tacneña and patazca Tacneña belong to this region.

Corn and cheese, chicharrones with toasted corn, cuy, or guinea pig chactado, corn cake with peanuts and raisins, baked pork, grilled lamb, are also local specialties.

To drink, Tacna has macerated Brussels apricot, frutilla or tumbo, and wines produced in the local vineyards.

Festivities

Carnivals. They are celebrated in different towns and villages with typical local dances that can go on for entire days and nights.

  • April – Corn and Potato Festival in Tacna.
  • May 26 – Anniversary of the Battle of Alto de la Alianza.
  • June 7 – Anniversary of the Battle of Arica.
  • June 20 – Day to remember the tacneño patriot Francisco Antonio De Zela.
  • June 23. Night of San Juan.
  • August 28. Procesión de la Bandera. A singular and moving civic patriotic act in which the women of Tacna carry the red and white Peruvian flag through the streets of the city. Later, various associations, groups of students, and the armed and police forces take part in a parade that ends in the main square, where the Arch of the Heroes is located. For a week the locals celebrate the reincorporating of the Heroic City of Tacna as part of the Peruvian territory. Simultaneously, a fair for farm and livestock products, industrial goods, and handicrafts takes place.

References
  1. Climate Summary for Tacna, Peru
  2. Peru protests against Chile's new definition of territory Xinhua People’s Daily online. (accessed January 27, 2007)
  3. Prensa Latina
  4. Chilean court ruling averts looming border dispute with Peru – International Herald Tribune
  5. “Peru-Chile Sea Dispute May Go to The Hague” Lima, Jan 27, 2007 Prensa Latina (accessed Jan 28 2007)
  6. El Comercio /Politica/Lunes, 29 de enero de 2007
  7. CORDER, MIKE (27 January 2014). "World court draws new Peru-Chile maritime border". ap.org. Associated Press. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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