HUARAZ  , a

city of northern Peru and capital of the department of Ancachs, on the left bank of the Huaraz, or Santa river, about 190 M . N.N.W. of Lima and 58 m. from the coast . Pop . (1876) 4851, (1go6 estimate) 6000 . Huaraz is situated in a narrow fertile valley of the Western Cordillera, at a considerable elevation above sea-level, and has a mild climate . A railway projected to connect Huaraz with the port of Chimbote, on the Bay of Chimbote, a few miles S. of the mouth of the Santa river, was completed from Chimbote to Suchiman (33 m.) in 1872, when work was suspended for want of money . In the valley of the Huaraz cattle are raised, and wheat, sugar and fruit, gold, silver, copper and coal are produced . Alfalfa is grown by stock-raisers, and the cattle raised here are among the best in the Peruvian market . In the vicinity of Huaraz are megalithic ruins similar to those of Tiahunaco and Cuzco, showing that the aboriginal empire preceding the Incas extended into northern Peru .