Herd of Guanacos - Patagonia - Cabo Dos Bahías - Prov. Chubut

Salt lake of Coipasa - Bolivia

Main square of Cajamarca - Peru

Magellan Street in Tierra del Fuego - Argentina

Cart at Chicligasta - Tucumán - Argentina

Gauchos cross with their cattle herd the Río Aluminé - Province of Neuquén - Argentina

Guaraní girl from Puerto Esperanza - Misiones - Argentina

The Paraná River on the border between Paraguay and Argentina

Huascarán, the highest mountain of Peru - Callejón de Huaylas

The giant fortress of Sacsahuamán – Cuzco

The imposing entrance to the Palace of Ollantaytambo.

Detail of the wall of the Palace of Ollantaytambo.

Detail of an uncu, precursor of the Indian Ponchos.

Two of the seven snakes of the Street Calle de las Siete Culebras - Cuzco

Panoramic view of the sacred city of Machu Picchu, seen from Huayna Picchu

The famous Baño de la Ñusta, the bath of the princess - Ollantaytambo

Golden idols of the Inca Period (Golden Museum, Lima)

Alpacas and lamas in front of the impressive wall of Saqsayhuamán - Cuzco.

The vast archaeological complex of Pisac, one of the imperial "capitals".

Three ulltis or conopas, carefully polished alpaca figures made of black basalt used as votive offerings to the pachamama.

The salt of Maras is still extracted like in the days of the Incas.

Ingapirca in Ecuador was one of the most beautiful monuments of the Inca empire and also the border town in the north.

Inca pottery, small pot of 17 cm in height, with the shape of a human head with stylized braids.

The mysterious Intihuatana of Machu Picchu.

The sacred city of Machu Picchu, seen from Huayna Picchu.

Upon a hilltop in the shadow of mount Huayna Picchu (in the background), the sacred city of Machu Picchu (“old mountain” in Quechua) was erected in the 15th century under ¬the Inca emperor Pachacutec. In 1983 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and in 2007 it was designated as one of the seven new wonders of the world by NewOpenWorld Foundation.

South American Indians - In the Chuquibambilla region, up in the highlands (Altiplano), an Aymara shepherdess is giving her little lamb the bottle, after having breastfed her own child, who is now on her back. - 1980

Peru - In the basin of the Ucayali (one of the major headstreams of the Amazon River), in the middle of the Peruvian jungle, a Shipibo Indian woman and her children cross the Yarinacocha lake near Pucallpa. - 1970

This Shipibo girl is using a large banana leaf as an umbrella to protect herself against the rain. - Ucayali, Peru

Gaucho festival - In Argentina, cowboys are called gauchos. They are a very proud people who guard their flocks in the immensity of the Pampas or at the foothills of the Andes. As they gather at parties, they wear their ceremonial outfit: a wide flat brim hat and a red poncho over a white shirt (Province of Salta, Northwest Argentina). - 1973

The Palitué Ranch - With his horse and his rebenque (a broad leather whip), the Argentine gaucho is similar to the North American cowboy. At the end of spring, he separates the calves from their mothers in order to brand, dehorn and castrate them. (Neuquén Province, Patagonia) - 1976

Guardamonte - The landscapes in Northwest Argentina are more mountainous and the vegetation is harsher than in the pampas. To deal with prickles and thorns, the gaucho equips his horse with a double layer of rigid, resistant leather called guardamonte, which gives him the appearance of a medieval warrior. (Campo Alegre, Province of Salta).

Ximena of Cajabamba - Ximena lives in Cajabamba, a village of 2300 inhabitants located in the fertile plains of Ecuador. She is wearing a traditional belt, hat and earrings, but the shawl and the sweater probably come from China. And so globalization expands across the planet (Cajabamba, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador). - 1973

Panpipes - Lucho is an Aymara Indian from the Peruvian Altiplano who plays the zampoña, a pan flute made of a double row of reed pipes. Easy to carry and essential to traditional Andean music, the zampoña has always accompanied the shepherds in the silence of their solitude. - 1969

This aymara girl, with the traditional hat, lives on the Bolivian Altiplano at 4000 m of altitude

The walls of “Cueva de las manos” (Cave of the Hands) in the province of Santa Cruz (Patagonia, Argentina) are covered with negative impressions of hands dated over 10,000 years back, though their significance has never been quite clarified. Maybe this cave of difficult access, located near Rio Pinturas, was a place of rites of passage and the hand impressions belonged to those who freely and solemnly swore to abide by the rules of the group.

Apart from his horse, the gaucho only possesses that which his belt can carry: an impressive, artfully engraved knife, some money and his own name, so people know who he is. - Estancia La Mimosa - Buenos Aires - Argentina

Gauchos use their horses only for riding and let oxen pull the large-wheeled wagons along the poor paths in the pampa (Villa Aberastain, province of San Juan, Argentina).

The gear gauchos use in the Argentinean pampa includes the typical hat, boleadoras or Tres Marias (small balls, fixed to the end of a long leather strip, thrown to hunt rheas), a lasso, a whip, a belt with the indispensable facón (a knife), a stirrup, spurs, and the traditional bombilla (a metal straw used to drink mate tea from a hollowed colocynth pumpkin).

Riding games in North and South America differ only slightly. In Argentina, contests are more strongly linked to everyday life and to Spanish riding games. In the jineteada, the rider attempts to tame a half-wild criollo horse armed with nothing but his rebenque, a whip ending in double leather straps that snap over the animal.

The life of the gauchos is one of hard work, but also one marked by a liking for fun and celebration. Unlike celebrations in the Patagonian pampa, in north-western Argentina women always take part. This has undoubtedly been inherited from times of the Independence War, in which women played an important role. In the picture, Arturo und Marion Fernández are to be seen drinking mate at their finca in Campo Alegre, province of Salta.

A perplexed Aymara girl stands on the edge of the Titicaca lake. Is she thinking maybe about the hardships of life that await her?

In the Patagonia, the Perito Moreno glacier front is 60 m high and 5 km long, towering over the Lago Argentino, into which from time to time mighty blocks of ice thunder down. This 30-km long glacier, with an area of 250 km2, is the only one in Argentina – and perhaps in the whole world – that has remained hardly untouched by the climate change.

If you have not seen the sky in Patagonia, you have not seen Argentina. The clouds, lit up by the sunlight and in constant change, are blown across the landscape by often strong winds. Countless windmills pump the scarce though essential water for men and cattle from the deep water table. - Estancia Las Toscas / Patagonia / Argentina

Every year, the largest carnival in South America – after Rio, of course – takes place in the city of Oruro, Bolivia. Life here is not easy, though, particularly after the closing of most mines. The simplest meal is a luxury, even if it costs just a few Bolivianos.

This 24-cm tall and 550-g heavy gold statuette was found in an Inca grave near Nevado Ausangate, 6336 meters high, in the region of Cuzco, Peru (Inka Museum, San Antonio de Abad National University, Cuzco).

The ruins of Machu Picchu – shot here from the top of mount Huayna Picchu – remained forgotten during four centuries before they were rediscovered in 1911 by American archaeologist and researcher Hiram Bingham, from Yale University.

A young Bolivian is doing his homework on the steps of the sanctuary of Tiahuanaco.- Bolivia

Dominga, an Aymara woman from the altiplano, cooking in the traditional fashion on a fire fuelled by dry lama dung, which she fans with a blowpipe. Her child accompanies her at all times (Chuquibambilla, Department of Puno, Peru).

Head of an indigenous community (Alcade) of Ollataytambo in the department of Cuzco. - 1969

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Vue générale des ruines incaïques de Machu Picchu (Cuzco). - 1969

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Les îles à guano de Chincha, au large de la ville de Pisco, servent de refuge à des milliers d'oiseaux. Cet engrais naturel est rune des principales richesses de la région. — 1969

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Sur les récifs de la côte sud du Pérou abondent les phoques qui vivent dans la plus totale liberté. (Islas Ballestas - Paracas - Pisco - 1969)

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Le littoral péruvien est un immense désert dominé par des collines de faible hauteur. Le vent qui monte de la mer favorise la formation de dunes. Entre Ica et Pisco — 1969

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Le désert côtier est traversé par des vallées fertiles qui descendent de la Cordillère des Andes. - À Tambo Colorado dans la vallée de la rivière Pisco. - 1969

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Au fond de chaque vallée côtière coule une rivière qui, grâce à l'irrigation artificielle des champs, rend possible l'agriculture. Mais tout autour s'étend le désert dans lequel ne croissent que des cactus. - Vallée de la rivière Jequetepeque, sur le chemin de Cajamarca. - 1969

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La Cordillère des Andes recèle quelques-uns des plus hauts sommets de la planète. Le Huascarán, qui se dresse dans la Cordillera Blanca, impose au paysage sa majestueuse silhouette ; il atteint l'altitude de 6768 mètres. - 1969

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Sur l'altiplano, balayé par un vent glacial et violent, l'agriculture n'est pas possible. Les indigènes se consacrent à l'élevage. D'immenses troupeaux d'alpacas paissent dans ces étendues sans limite où l'eau gèle même au milieu de la journée. - 1969

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Des indigènes de la Sierra centrale se rendent d'une vallée à une autre en conduisant leur troupeau de vaches. - Quebrada Querococha - Cordillera Blanca. - 1969

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L'église coloniale et le hameau de Tiobamba, dans le département du Cuzco. Au fond du Nevado Chicón, 5530m - 1969

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Les fleuves de la forêt suivent un cours capricieux qui change d'une année à une autre au gré des périodes de crue et de décrue. L'Ucayali rejoint ici le Marañon pour former l'Amazone. - 1969

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Une zone très humide, appelée ceja de montaña, sépare la Cordillère des Andes de la forêt tropicale (Selva). . - Entre Tingo María et Pucallpa. - 1969

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Sur le parcours des rivières de la forêt se trouvent des lagunes peu profondes entourées d'une-végétation luxuriante. On y aperçoit des huttes dans lesquelles vivent les Indiens. - Yanamono près Iquitos, Loreto. - 1969

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La civilisation Chavin, connue surtout par ses œuvres en pierre, appartient à l’époque formative du Pérou précolombien.

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L'un des abris sous roche de Pizacoma (département de Puno) est orné de peintures qui représentent une scène de chasse à la vigogne et qui auraient une antiquité d'environ 10’000 ans.

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La religion Chavin est marquée par un culte rendu en l'honneur du condor. Sa représentation, très schématisée, figure sur des dalles qui ornent le temple de la station éponyme de la Cordillère.

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Dans le temple souterrain de Chavin les archéologues ont découvert des dalles montrant la silhouette du puma, un dieu qui sera craint et vénéré pendant toute l'époque précolombienne.

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Entre les scènes peintes des abris sous roche de Pizacoma figurent des signes géométriques dont la signification exacte nous échappe.

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Céramique Chavin représentant une chauve-souris (collection W. Pelloni, Lima).

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Bas-relief en boue séchée (adobe) de la huaca Esmeralda, près de la ville de Trujillo.

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Le vase à étrier, créé par les artisans Chavin, fut employé jusqu'à l'arrivée des Espagnols en Amérique du Sud. Le récipient est orné d'une gravure qui représente un condor très schématisé (collection W. Pelloni, Lima).

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La civilisation Nazca, qui s'est développée au début de notre ère dans le sud du Pérou, a livré aux archéologues de très nombreuses poteries, d'une qualité exceptionnelle et couvertes de dessins polychromes (collection W. Pelloni, Lima).

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On doit aux potiers Mochica une multitude de vases portraits en terre cuite d'un réalisme saisissant (collection W. Pelloni, Lima).

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Les tisserands Paracas, qui vivaient sur la côte sud du Pérou il y a plus de 2000 ans, ont confectionné de remarquables étoffes couvertes de dessins symboliques (Museo antropológico, Lima).

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Les peuples précolombiens ont travaillé l'or qui avait pour eux une valeur symbolique. Ils en ont tiré des objets rituels parmi lesquels figurent des couteaux sacrificiels appelés tumi. Collection privée

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Parmi les dessins du désert de Nazca on distingue une immense araignée. La signification de ces images fantastiques a été l'objet de travaux contradictoires. Pour quelques archéologues, ce serait des signes en relation avec l’astronomie ; pour d'autres il s'agirait de véritables lieux de culte.

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Le désert de la côte sud montre de gigantesques dessins tracés dans le sable et attribués aux Nazca. L'un d'entre eux représente un condor de plusieurs dizaines de mètres de longueur. Ces figures ont été obtenues en enlevant la terre brune, riche en oxyde de fer, qui recouvre le fond sablonneux et jaunâtre, et en entassant cette dernière autour des zones ainsi dégagées.

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Sur le flanc de la colline de sable qui domine la baie de Paracas on remarque une étrange composition que les archéologues ont baptisée du nom de «candélabre».

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Le Cuzco, capitale de l'empire des Incas, était protégée par une énorme forteresse, appelé Sacsayhuamán, composée d'une triple muraille en dents de scie avec des angles rentrants et sortants. Chacun de ces murs mesure une hauteur de près de 10 mètres. - 1969

Indigenous people flock from all corners of the Andes Cordillera to take part in the Inti Raymi, the great festival in honour of the sun, in Cuzco on 24 June. This girl wears a moss dress and a kind of crown made of agave leaves and shells on her head. - 1969

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Pendant l'Inti Raymi les Indiens, déguisés et masqués, organisent de véritables concours de musique et de danse. - 1969

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Durant l'Inti Raymi on peut voir un Indien déguisé en empereur inca entouré de ses aides. La fête n'échappe pas à un certain romantisme qui n'est pas toujours de très bon goût. - 1969

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Dans le département du Cuzco se trouvent les ruines de villes que les Incas élevèrent entre le 12e et le 1 6e siècle. Celle de Pissac occupe une esplanade qui domine la vallée sacrée des Incas. Les blocs sont taillés dans du granit rose d'une exceptionnelle qualité.

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Les champs de cultures en terrasses sur les flancs escarpés de la Sierra ont permis une utilisation rationnelle de la terre. Ceux de Moray, dans le département du Cuzco, sont de forme circulaire et auraient été employés à la culture de la coca.

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L'architecture inca fait usage de gros et de petits blocs dans un assemblage d'une extraordinaire précision. Le système «polygonal» a servi à la construction de nombreux murs de défense. Nous en avons un exemple frappant à Limatambo (département du Cuzco).

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La Cordillère des Andes est semée de lieux de culte incas. Les bains de Tambo Machay, près du Cuzco, parlent en faveur de l'importance de l'eau dans la vie matérielle et spirituelle des indigènes.

Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of the Inca Empire, also has his equestrian statue. It stands in Lima in the middle of a neighborhood that does not belong to the colonial era. In the picture, the statue stands on a corner of the Plaza de Armas. It was moved to the Parque de la Muralla in 2004. - Peru - Lima - 1969

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Sur la Plaza de Armas, qui est le centre névralgique de chaque ville péruvienne, se dresse la cathédrale. Celle de Cajamarca (Sierra nord) appartient à l'époque coloniale. - 1969

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Femmes de Cajamarca en train de laver leur linge dans la rivière des Baños del Inca. - 1969

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Le musée de la vice-royauté du Cuzco renferme de très belles collections d'art colonial. Sa porte d'entrée est surmontée d'un linteau où l'on aperçoit les portraits des quatre frères Pizarro.

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Trujillo, ville de la côte nord du Pérou, a été construite par les Espagnols. L'architecture coloniale, en certains endroits de la localité, témoigne d'une très grande simplicité.

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Crieur de journaux de la ville d'Arequipa jouant à la toupie. - 1969

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L'architecture coloniale d'Arequipa fait emploi d'une pierre blanchâtre très facile à travailler. Les monuments religieux sont couverts d'éléments décoratifs exécutés avec un talent remarquable.

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Les fêtes occupent une place importante dans la vie spirituelle des habitants de la Sierra. Les indigènes aiment à se rendre en dansant d'une communauté à une autre. - 1969

Lima is both a colonial city and a modern capital. Decades ago, the Plaza de San Martin (pictured) was the commercial center of the city. Most of the department stores, offices and travel agencies were located in this area. - Today, Lima is considered the political, economic, industrial, cultural, financial and commercial center of the country. Internationally, it is the fifth largest city in Latin America. - Peru - Lima - 1969

The population explosion in South America goes hand in hand with urban overcrowding: in Lima, thousands of people who cannot find housing live crowded together in makeshift neighbourhoods known as barriadas. - At the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal - Rimac neighbourhood - Peru - Lima - 1969

The capital of Peru is a city of contrasts. You can see all different types of people in the crowds flowing past. An Indian woman who has come down from the mountains offers tropical fruit for sale. - Peru - Lima - 1969

In the slums, everyone tries to improve their living conditions as best they can. - At the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal - Rimac neighbourhood - Peru - Lima - 1969

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Les Indiens de la Cordillère vouent un culte permanent à la Pacha Mama, qui est à la fois déesse de la terre et de la fécondité. Ce respect se traduit par des prières qu'ils adressent à celle dont dépend leur existence. - Puno - Hacienda San Juan de Chuquibambilla - 04h00 - 22 ° C en dessous de zéro. - 1969

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La fête du Corpus Cristi, apportée par les Espagnols revêt chaque année au Cuzco un faste particulier. Durant la cérémonie les statues de douze saints et saintes sont promenées autour de la Plaza de Armas. - 1969

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Les Indiens ont été convertis au christianisme. Leur foi est sincère et touchante. Ils se rendent à l'église portant de magnifiques cierges qu'ils ont eux-mêmes décorés. - 1969

Dressing up and wearing homemade woollen masks is always fun for the Indians. - Whitsun festival in Ollantaytambo, Cuzco department - 1969

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Chaque village de la Sierra, à l'exemple de la plus petite localité de la péninsule ibérique, a son patron ou sa patronne dont la fête est le prétexte de réjouissances qui durent plusieurs jours et auxquelles participent tous les membres de la communauté. - Procession de Pentecôte à Ollantaytambo, département de Cuzco. - 1969

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Des indigènes de la Sierra se rendent à cheval à rune des fêtes de leur communauté. - 1969

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Etalage au marché de Huanuco. Les petits sacs en toile contiennent des herbes aromatiques ou des plantes médicinales. - 1969

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Les femmes indiennes du département du Cuzco portent des chapeaux plats. On les distingue très facilement des métis qui, elles, sont coiffées d'un couvre-chef de couleur blanche, orné d'un ruban. Marché de Chincheros (département du Cuzco). - 1969

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Le camion demeure souvent le seul moyen de transport des habitants de la montagne. On y entasse passagers et marchandises dans un équilibre instable qui ne va pas sans offrir de sérieux dangers. - 1969

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Deux métisses d'Ayacucho attendent l'arrivée de l'autobus qui les ramènera à leur village. - 1969

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Sur les marchés de la Cordillère on peut acheter, pour quelques centavos seulement, un grand verre de chicha (bière) de maïs préparée par la marchande. - 1969

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Le pisco se conserve dans de grandes jarres en terre cuite qui portent également le nom de cette célèbre eau de vie nationale. - Hacienda Las Bárcenas, Ica. - 1969

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Courges gravées au feu en vente sur le marché de Huancayo (Sierra centrale). - 1969

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Les potiers indiens n'ont jamais connu l'usage du tour. Ils sont cependant capables de confectionner de très beaux objets utilitaires ou décoratifs que l'on peut acquérir sur l'un ou l'autre des marchés de la Cordillère. . - Quinua près de Ayacucho. - 1969

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La gravure au feu des courges séchées est l'une des formes les plus attachantes de l'artisanat péruvien. L'artiste emploie un tison qu'il appuie plus ou moins fort à la surface du fruit, ce qui lui permet d'obtenir des teintes allant du beige clair au noir le plus sombre. - Huancayo, Andes centrales - 1969

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Le lama joue un grand rôle dans la vie économique des populations de la Cordillère des Andes. Sa laine est utilisée à la confection d'étoffes. Avec ses os et ses tendons les indigènes fabriquent toute une gamme d'instruments d'utilisation courante. Sa viande, séchée, est consommée avec des pommes de terre et du maïs. C'est le charki déjà à la mode durant l'époque précolombienne. - Près de Taraco, province de Huancané, Puno - Région du lac Titicaca. - 1969

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Machu Picchu, la cité sanctuaire consacrée par les Incas au soleil, ne fut découverte qu'en 1911. Elle se situe dans la Cordillère des Andes, au nord du Cuzco, à une altitude de 3000 mètres.

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Andenes, terrasses de cultures incaïques de Pisac (département du Cuzco).

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Vallée du Río Apurimac dans laquelle vivaient des tribus hostiles aux Incas. Paysage caractéristique de la Sierra centrale.

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Les ruines de Machu Picchu sont dominées par une colline au sommet de laquelle se trouve un monument taillé dans un seul bloc de granit, appelé Intihuatana, c'est-à-dire la «pierre où l'on attache le soleil». Il s'agit sans doute d'un lieu de culte. - 1969

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Le cheval constitue souvent le seul moyen de transport des populations de la Sierra. - Femme indienne près d'Andahuaylas. - 1969

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Les cactées sont parmi les seules espèces végétales qui croissent dans les régions soumises à l'érosion de la Cordillère des Andes. - Vallée du Río Mantaro, à 70 km d'Ayacucho. - 1969

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La demeure des Indiens de la Cordillère des Andes est faite de briques en boue séchée, appelées adobes, recouvertes ou non de chaux. Elle est surmontée d'un toit de chaume. La maison se compose d'une seule pièce qui sert à la fois de cuisine, de chambre à coucher et de grenier où l'on garde les récoltes. - Près de la pierre de Sayhuite entre Abancay et Cuzco - 1969

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Terrasses d'assèchement d'eau salée à Maras (département du Cuzco). Ce procédé semble avoir déjà été utilisé par les Incas. - 1969

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Au centre du lac Titicaca se trouvent des îles flottantes artificielles sur lesquelles vivent des indigènes appelés Urus. Ce sont des métis qui parlent l'aymara et qui se consacrent surtout à la pêche. - 1969

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Depuis l'arrivée des Occidentaux sur sol américain, les Indiens ont appris à élever les chèvres et les moutons qu'ils font paître sur les grands pâturages de l'altiplano. - Près du lac Titicaca entre Taraco et Huancané. - 1969

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Le lac Titicaca est une véritable mer continentale. Les animaux domestiques n'hésitent pas à entrer dans l'eau pour se nourrir des plantes aquatiques qui sont très riches en protéines. - 1969

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Les Indiens qui vivent sur les rives du lac Titicaca utilisent un bateau en jonc, la balsa, qu'ils confectionnent eux-mêmes et qui leur permet de circuler aisément sur les eaux. - 1969

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La Sierra péruvienne est peuplée essentiellement d'indiens qui vivent en communauté et qui s'adonnent à l'agriculture. En certains endroits la fertilité de la terre est remarquable. - Récolte de céréales, Tiobamba, Cuzco, au fond du Nevado Chicón, 5530m - 1969

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Le marché aux bestiaux de Huancané, près du lac Titicaca, attire chaque dimanche des milliers de paysans de la montagne venus des quatre points cardinaux. - 1969

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L'emploi de machines est impossible dans la Cordillère des Andes, déjà à cause des difficultés du terrain. Tous les travaux agricoles se font à la main et sous le signe de la communauté. Récolte de pommes de terre à 4500 mètres d'altitude. - 1969

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La chaquitaclla ou bèche incaique est encore en usage de nos jours parmi les populations de l'altiplano. - Hacienda San Juan de Chuquibambilla, Puno. - 1969

When the head of a community in Cuzco goes somewhere, he is accompanied by the ‘pututeros’, young people who are given the task of blowing into large sea shells. - 1969

The Cuzco Indians wear clothes made of llama wool, which are famous for the richness and beauty of their colours. The patterns vary greatly from region to region of the department. - Indians from the province of Paruro, Cuzco. - 1969

With the arrival of the Spaniards, various musical instruments previously unknown on this continent were also introduced, including the harp, which the Indians have now learnt to build themselves and play in their own unique way. - Indians from the province of Paruro, Cuzco. - 1969

An Aymara Indian plays the zampoña or panpipe, which is made up of a certain number of reed pieces of different lengths. - Hacienda San Juan de Chuquibambilla, Puno - 1969

The quena is still the favourite instrument of the shepherds on the Altiplano. - Hacienda San Juan de Chuquibambilla, Puno - 1969

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Les indigènes ont adopté les instruments de musique apportés par les Espagnols tels que la harpe et le violon. - Festival de folklore Inti Raymi à Cuzco - Indiens de la province de Paruro - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Femme et enfants Shipibo en pirogue sur la lagune de Yarinacocha (département d’Ucayali). - 1969

A little Shipibo girl protects herself from the tropical rain with a banana leaf. - Paococha near Pucallpa, Ucayali department - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Au moyen de substances minérales de différentes couleurs, les femmes Shipibo tracent, à la surface d'étoffes en coton blanc, des dessins symboliques qui ressemblent beaucoup à ceux que l'on aperçoit sur les objets en terre cuite. - Paococha près Pucallpa (département d’Ucayali). - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
L'étoffe décorée est trempée dans l'eau de la rivière. Par une curieuse réaction chimique les dessins de couleur grise ou rougeâtre virent au noir le plus sombre. - Paococha près Pucallpa (département d’Ucayali). - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les Shipibo suspendent leurs hamacs aux piliers de leurs cases. - San Francisco près Pucallpa (département d’Ucayali). - 1969

A Shipibo woman has taken refuge from the scorching tropical sun inside her hut and is working on an elaborate necklace made from beads and seeds. - San Francisco near Pucallpa, Ucayali department. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Une potière Shipibo porte les dernières retouches à une énorme jarre en terre cuite couverte de dessins géométriques qu'elle vient de fabriquer. - Paococha près Pucallpa (département d’Ucayali). - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Pêcheur Shipibo des rives de l'Ucayali (principal affluent du fleuve Amazone) en train de réparer son filet. - Paococha près Pucallpa (département d’Ucayali). - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les pêcheurs de Pucallpa font sécher les poissons connus sous le nom de bocachico sur les rives du rio Ucayali. - 1969

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A Iquitos où la chaleur est accablante on se désaltère surtout en consommant des fruits tropicaux. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
L'Amazone vue depuis le quartier de Belén, à Iquitos. - 1969

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Guérisseur Yagua du village de Yanamono, près du rio Napo. - 1969

Arrows poisoned with curare are inserted into the blowpipes. This weapon is used to kill prey at a considerable distance from the hunter. Yanamono near the Rio Napo - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Le perroquet fournit aux indigènes des plumes multicolores qui, entrent dans la fabrication de couronnes et de bracelets que portent surtout les chefs de tribus.

The wife of a Yagua warrior wears a magnificent necklace made of long bast fibres and parrot feathers. Yanamono near the Rio Napo - 1969

The blowpipe is the Yagua's favourite weapon. They mainly use it to hunt birds and small mammals. Yanamono near the Rio Napo - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les bananes de la forêt tropicale sont chargées sur des camions qui doivent ensuite franchir la Cordillère des Andes. Les fruits sont vendus dans la plupart des villes du pays. Río Aguaytía, Région Ucayali - 1969

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Les indigènes de l'Amazonie se servent de pirogues taillées dans un tronc d'arbre au feu et à la hache. Avec ces fragiles embarcations ils circulent sur le plus grand fleuve du continent et sur ses affluents. Laguna Paococha, Pucallpa, Ucayali - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Le port de la ville de Pucallpa au bord de la rivière de l'Ucayali est le siège d'un intense trafic fluvial. Les gens passent souvent une partie de leur existence sur des bateaux qui assurent des relations entre les différentes localités des bords de l'Amazone. - 1969

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L'aube se lève sur la lagune de Paucocha. Près Pucallpa, Ucayali - 1969

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Il n'est pas rare de voir des Indiens de la Cordillère travailler dans l'une ou l'autre des entreprises industrielles du pays. Les indigènes manifestent beaucoup d'intérêt pour tout ce qui a trait à la mécanique. - Nouveau port de Pisco - 1969

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C'est au Pérou que se situent quelques-unes des mines les plus élevées de la planète. Certains gisements des environs de Cerro de Pasco sont à 5000 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer. - 1969

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Dans la Sierra centrale l'industrie se développe de plus en plus grâce à la construction de barrages qui, à l'exemple de celui de Mantaro, favorisera l'utilisation rationnelle de la force hydraulique. – Barrage Tablachaca, Tayacaja, Huancavelica - 1969

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Fonte de cuivre à La Oraya (département de Junin). - 1969

A Cordillera Indian works in a petrol station in the capital. - 1969

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A la recherche du pétrole. Prospection au large des côtes du nord. Entre Talara et Negritos -1969

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Les gisements de pétrole de Talara, sur la côte nord, ont une production qui permet dans une large mesure de couvrir les besoins du pays. Entre Talara et Negritos -1969

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Ouverture d'un nouveau puits dans la province de Piura. Entre Talara et Negritos -1969

The city of Callao was founded in 1537 by Francisco Pizarro on Callao Bay and quickly became the most important harbour for Spanish trade on the Pacific. Even today, the port of Callao handles 75% of Peru's total imports and exports, making it one of the most important fishing and trading ports in South America. - Southern partial view of the harbour of Callao near Lima. - Peru - Lima - 1969

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Le littoral péruvien est d'une extrême richesse en poissons. La pêche se pratique au moyen de grands filets. - 1969

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La cuisine péruvienne compte de nombreuses spécialités. Sur les marchés indigènes on peut goûter à des plats typiques et appétissants où figurent des poissons et de la viande grillés accompagnés de pommes de terre. - Aguas Calientes - Cuzco - 1969

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Des bateaux, les bolicheres, se consacrent à la pêche aux anchois. Ces poissons, séchés, servent à la fabrication de farine donnée comme aliment aux animaux domestiques. Le Pérou est le premier producteur du monde de farine de poisson. Sa vente à l'étranger constitue une source considérable de revenus pour la nation tout entière. Port de Paita dans le département de Piura. - 1969

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Arequipa est la deuxième ville du Pérou. Elle est dominée par le volcan Misti (altitude 5822 mètres). - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La route du littoral, la Panamericana, est souvent recouverte de sable ce qui entraîne de sérieuses perturbations dans les transports des passagers et des marchandises. Des équipes d'ouvriers sont chargées d'ôter le sable qui s'accumule sur l'asphalte. – Entre San Pedro de Lloc et Paiján - 1969

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Dans la lumière aveuglante des déserts du nord du Pérou. - Près de Chiclayo - Département de Lambayeque - 1969

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La panaméricaine, qui suit le littoral, traverse les déserts côtiers sur toute leur longueur. – Entre Talara et Piura - 1969

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L'autobus est l'unique moyen de transport entre les villes et les villages de la Cordillère des Andes. – Calca dans la vallée d'Urubamba - Cuzco - 1969

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Une route est en cours de construction qui mène de Yungay au lac Llanganuco dans le Parc National Huascarán dans la cordillère blanche. - 1969

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Rue principale de la ville de Huancayo (département de Junin), Andes centrales. - 1969

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La colonisation de la forêt est une tâche considérable. Il convient tout d'abord de déboiser le terrain et de lutter contre une nature exhubérante qui s'oppose à la pénétration de l'homme. Couper et brûler près Pucallpa - 1969

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Depuis quelques années on s'efforce de construire un réseau routier dans la forêt tropicale afin de permettre l'exploitation de cette immense surface du territoire national. Cette gigantesque besogne implique de lourds sacrifices financiers pour le gouvernement de la nation. - Dans la Cordillera Azul, entre Tingo María et Aguaytía - 1969

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Culture du coton à l'Hacienda Miraflores Près Humay dans la vallée côtière de Pisco (département d'Ica). - 1969

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L'agriculture de la côte est orientée vers la production massive du coton. - Hacienda Miraflores Près Humay dans la vallée côtière de Pisco (département d'Ica). - 1969

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Les habitants du littoral se consacrent à la culture de plantes industrielles. La canne à sucre constitue l'une des principales ressources agricoles de la côte péruvienne. La canne à sucre est également cultivée dans les régions basses et chaudes des vallées andines, comme ici sur les rives du Río Apurímac. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Le cheval des hacendados de la région d'Ica, habitué à se déplacer dans le désert, avance lentement, la tête de profil. Il ne lève presque pas les pattes mais chasse plutôt ces dernières de côté. C'est ce qu'on appelle le paso peruano. - Hacienda San Ramón de Alfredo Elías Vargas - 1969

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Précédé des "chapelles" d'un culte ésotérique, dominant la mystérieuse cité des dieux précolombiens, "huitième merveille du monde", se détache l'Intihuatana, où, lors des solstices, le grand prêtre Willac Umu amarrait symboliquement avec une chaîne d'or, au gnomon pétrifié, le soleil-Père des Incas...

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El condor pasa... «Le condor passe», chanson folklorique péruvienne, que semble illustrer, au-dessus de l'océan Pacifique, le survol de l'oiseau sacré des Andes. Parfois, en effet, le cuntur vénéré par toutes les ethnies de l'ancien Pérou et «messager du Soleil» des Incas plane majestueusement sur les déserts infinis du littoral.

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A 100 kilomètres à vol d'oiseau du Pacifique et ici, à 5500 mètres d'altitude, au bord du rio Pasto Grande, l'altiplano - le haut plateau - est néanmoins la région la plus peuplée aussi bien d'Indiens Aymaras que de troupeaux de lamas et d'alpacas. L'immense steppe glacée aux couleurs de vieil or patiné s'étend jusqu'au pied des glaciers bleuis, qui atteignent ou dépassent 6000 mètres.

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Sinueux et torrentueux, le rio Apurimac - le «Seigneur qui parle» - s'étrangle en grondant dans un étroit canyon avant de se joindre à mille affluents qui, tous ensemble, formeront beaucoup plus loin l'abondant Amazone.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
A 3.500 mètres d'altitude, la cyclopéenne forteresse de Sacsahuaman domine le Cuzco. Avec ses trois remparts mégalithiques en dents de scie, ce «Maginot» inca «fait honte des pyramides au Nil et comme Atlante, au ciel, arrime l'homme» (Tirso de Molina, 1583-1648). Sertis comme des gemmes précieuses par on ne sait quels fantastiques joailliers, certains blocs de ce puzzle géant, hauts de 9 mètres sur 4 d'épaisseur, pèsent plus de 350 tonnes!

Wearing a woollen chullo under his typical cuzqueño hat and dressed in a wonderful poncho, this young Indian from the sacred valley holds the vara de mando, a silver-plated staff as a sign of his official dignity. He is the alcalde of an ayllu, an agrarian community handed down from the Inca era, in which the Quechuas still live today as they did in times gone by.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
On ne peut qu'admirer, dans la Vallée sacrée, l'imposante entrée d'un palais d'0llantaytambo. Sans doute les tenons qui ressortent de cet incroyable «jeu de cubes» ont-ils servi à soulever et à mettre en place d'énormes monolithes aux angles parfaitement jointurés.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Peintures rupestres de Mazo Cruz, à 4500 mètres (département de Puno, Pérou). Quel Champollion déchiffrera les fresques pariétales des cavernes sacrées de Kelkatani, la «pierre écrite» entre 7000 et 10.000 ans? Ces danses cynégétiques de chorégraphes archaïques, auréolés de plumes, furent peintes à l'ocre rouge sur un kran granitique large de 26 mètres et haut de 6, par le chaman d'une mystérieuse civilisation d'altitude.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sorte de «Jérusalem» des Andes, le célèbre site archéologique de Chavin de Huantar s'élève à 3 200 mètres dans la Cordillera Blanca. D'insolites stèles gravées y ont été mises au jour. Celle-ci est ornée d'un grand prêtre-dieu d'un culte magico-religieux qui influença tout l'ancien Pérou environ deux mille ans av. J.C. Portant un sceptre, coiffés et ceinturés de serpents, les étranges personnages de Chavin sont souvent ailés. Crocs et griffes de félins ou serres de rapace sont caractéristiques du style. (Hauteur de la stèle, 78 centimètres; largeur, 70 centimètres.)

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Paracas-Necrópolis aux premiers siècles de notre ère. L'incomparable art textile des tisseuses-brodeuses des déserts du Sud-Pérou illustre à profusion le culte obsédant des têtes-trophées et réduites, portées en plastron, en franges et en pendeloques. (Museo nacional de Antropologia y Arqueologia, Lima, Pérou.)

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Taillée à vif dans le roc sur un kilomètre de long, la «grecque» du canal pré-inca de Cumbe Mayo fut conçue de façon à réduire la vitesse du courant. Tunnels, pictographies symboliques, sièges et tables à sacrifices accompagnent le trajet de cet ingénieux ouvrage hydraulique qui a la particularité de dévier, à 3.700 mètres d'altitude, les eaux du versant Pacifique vers la sierra de Cajamarca.

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Les tombeaux pillés des Nazcas (IIIe - VIIIe siècle) du Pérou méridional ont livré des milliers de huacas polychromes, figuratifs ou abstraits, qui forment une véritable «encyclopédie par l'image». Par la finesse de la pâte, la perfection des formes et la stylisation poussée du dessin, la céramique nazca relève d'un art inimitable qui rend hommage aux défunts et aux dieux. (Collection privée, Lima, Pérou.)

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Exhumés des sables du Pérou septentrional, plus de 100.000 huacas à anse-étrier décrivent de façon réaliste et vivante la vie quotidienne des Mochicas d'il y a deux mille ans. Comme en témoigne ce guerrier agenouillé, coiffé d'un casque matelassé de coton et décoré de spirales, avec de gros rouleaux d'or aux oreilles et un bouclier au bras. (Collection privée, Lima, Pérou.)

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Succédant aux Mochicas, l'opulent royaume des Chimus connut il y a une dizaine de siècles des fastes éblouissants. De merveilleux joyaux, tel ce masque d'or funéraire (22 carats), aux yeux percés de 14 pendeloques d'émeraudes, furent retrouvés dans les ruines des pyramides colossales en briques de pisé. (Museo de Oro del Perù, Miguel Mujica Gallo, Lima.)

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"Sphynx" solaire du haut-plateau bolivien, le légendaire dieu créateur Kon Tiki Viracocha, au masque de Puma auréolé, garde les secrets d'un monde disparu du haut de la fameuse Porte du Soleil de Tiahuanaco. Haute de près de 3 mètres et large de 4 mètres, elle est découpée dans un seul bloc d'andésite, qui pèse plus de 10 tonnes!

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Lors de son apogée (VIIIe - XIIe siècles), la haute culture de Tiahuanaco déferla tout au long de la côte péruvienne. L'iconographie de ce tissu dit tiahuanacoïde (115 x 58 centimètres) en laine et coton, trouvé sur le site de Campanario (Huarmey) et la frange au signe scalaire, rappellent les étranges petits hommes allis au nez en bec de condor, du linteau de la Porte du Soleil. (Museo Yoshitaro Amano, Lima, Pérou.)

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Précieuse parure de momie d'un tombeau antique de Larache, au nord du Chili, datée d'environ 1.000 av. J.-C. par le Père Le Paige. Deux colliers, l'un en rondelles de turquoises, l'autre en petits tubes de lapis-lazuli, entourent une plaque pectorale en or, une grosse turquoise et quatre clochettes d'or, entre deux «plumes» d'or ajourées. (Museo de San Pedro de Atacama, Chili.)

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C'est par la gueule ouverte sur des crocs aigus que s'échappe la fumée des offrandes (résine ou suif de lama brûlés) de cette lampe à encens en céramique, en forme de puma (Tiahuanaco, 667 ap.J.C.). (Haute 20 cm - Museo del Instituto nacional de Arqueologia, La Paz, Bolivie.)

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En forme de fausse cloche, ce très beau kero à libations en céramique nous dévoile le faciès autoritaire d'un Pakaje de la noble caste solaire des hommes-condor de Tiahuanaco. Hauteur: 16 centimètres. (Museo del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología, La Paz, Bolivie.)

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Kero de la 4e époque de Tiahuanaco (667-1000 apr. J.-C.), est frappé d'un mascaron de ofrenda, masque de tête ornemental d'offrande en relief. H: 13,5cm. (Museo del Instituto Nacional de Archeologia, La Paz, Bolivie)

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Vu du templete semi-souterrain de Tiahuanaco, l'escalier monumental aux six marches lithiques et la grande portada d'entrée du Kalasasaya restaurée. On aperçoit au centre la stèle «Ponce» du sanctuaire du Soleil.

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Le monolithe Ponce, l'un des dieux pétrifiés «géants» et «pleureurs» de la «Mecque» bolivienne, mesure 3 mètres de hauteur. Il est entièrement gravé de glyphes géométriques indéchiffrables. Trois larmes carrées ruissellent de ses yeux d'où tombe, sur le côté, une «aile» à tête stylisée de poisson. Des anneaux entourent ses chevilles.

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Très fréquentes sur les cimes de l'altiplano du Collao qui cerne le lac Titicaca, de bizarres chulipas monolithiques logeaient les chefs de haut rang momifiés, d'une mystérieuse race «d'avant que le soleil apparaisse». Haute de 12 mètres, la tour funéraire tronquée de Cutimbo, près de Puno, s'élargit d'une corniche supérieure. Elle est sculptée de pumas en relief à la base.

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Puma Puncu, l'un des plus vastes ensembles archéologiques de Tiahuanaco, n'est plus que ruines disloquées et chaotiques. Quel culte ésotérique réunissait des milliers de pèlerins dans l'immense enceinte quadrangulaire? Des clés de bronze fondu dans des mortaises assemblaient les énormes dalles qui gisent pêle-mêle, longues de 8 mètres, larges de 5 mètres, épaisses de 2 mètres.

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Derrière la table des sanglants holocaustes, béant sur le fascinant paradis des cimes andines tapissées d'une forêt exubérante, l'admirable muraille du Temple aux Trois fenêtres de Machu Picchu se dresse sur la place du quartier sacré de la célèbre «Cité perdue» des Incas.

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Dans le feu d'artifice des vagues, Inti, le Soleil-Père des Incas, se couche sur le Pacifique...

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A près de 4.000 mètres d'altitude, Koati, l'île de la Lune, profile ses vestiges inca sur le Titicaca, le grand lac le plus «haut» du monde, que couronnent, au fond, les glaciers immaculés de la Cordillera Real de Bolivie.

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L'une des curieuses portes à grecque scalaire de Iñak Huyo, temple et palais des Vierges de l'île de la Lune. 2000 servants et servantes de Quilla, la Lune-Mère, prenaient soin de ce sanctuaire lambrissé d'argent et en cultivaient les terrasses étagées. Les vestales inca y filaient la précieuse laine de vigogne, entretissée de plumes de colibri et filetée d'or.

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Idole de pierre de l'île du Soleil (lac Titicaca). Hauteur: 45 centimètres. Ce bossu de l'époque Tiahuanaco (1000-1100 ap.J.-C.) tient un pututo, gros coquillage de mer (Strombus galeatus), utilisé comme trompette par tous les aborigènes des Amériques jusqu'aux Incas et encore de nos jours. (Museo del Instituto nacional de Arqueologia, La Paz, Bolivie.)

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Au coeur du lac Titicaca, dans l'île du Soleil, subsistent les ruines du palais de Manco Capac, l'«Adam» inca, mandé par l'astre-Père, selon la tradition, pour endoctriner les peuples redevenus barbares après un certain «déluge» andin.

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Tadeo Escalante (1807-1832), de l'école de peinture du Cuzco, est l'auteur des fresques murales d'Acomayo, récemment découvertes. Ce peintre métis, mais descendant de l'Inca Atahuallpa, décora l'intérieur de sa maison natale, dite Molino de los Incas, des quatorze portraits des dynastes impériaux. Ici, ceux de Mayta Capac, Capac Yupanqui et Inca Roca.

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Tadeo Escalante (1807-1832), de l'école de peinture du Cuzco, peignit aussi la Ñusta Mama Huaco filant la laine auprès d'une vigogne et suivie d'un jorobado, bouffon nain et bossu la cour impériale de Cuzco, qui l'abrite sous un parasol de plumes chatoyantes. Fresques murales d'Acomayo, Cuzco.

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A une vingtaine de kilomètres du Cuzco s'entrouvre la verte vallée de l'Urubamba, jadis «rio du Soleil». Et la piste secrète de Manco Inca vers un toujours introuvable et dernier refuge...

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Quoi de plus pittoresque qu'une balsa de totora flottant sur le Titicaca? Depuis des millénaires, les Aymaras de la «Méditerranée» andine et céleste naviguent et pêchent à bord de ces gracieuses gondoles en roseau du lac sacré, qu'ils façonnent entièrement «à la main» et ficellent avec des cordelettes en paille d'ichu.

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Tandis que le ciel tropical et le Pacifique se fondent au lointain, l'arrière-pays de Nazca n'est, dans le Sud-Pérou, qu'un long désert çà et là hanté de fantomatiques cactus-cierges.

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Sur le fond de décor de l'«Enfer vert» amazonien, le petit matin se lève au-dessus de la paisible lagune de Paococha, dont les eaux bercent les pirogues des Indiens Shipibos.

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«Diadème» des Andes centrales, le gigantesque nevado du Huascaran (6768m) - sommet culminant du Pérou et le second d'Amérique -, éclaire de ses neiges éternelles la Cordillera Blanca, longue de 180 kilomètres et qualifiée de «Suisse» péruvienne.

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L'Ingachungana, siège impérial de l'Inca à Ingapirca, en Equateur, est sculpté en triangle à flanc d'abîme, à même la roche. Mais il s'agirait, littéralement traduit, du «jeu de hasard» de l'Inca. En forme de «canapé», le dossier en est bizarrement creusé d'une «chaine» de losanges profonds de 8 centimètres, où aurait couru et rebondi une boule de pierre.

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Sans doute construit vers 1490 par Huayna Capac dans la province équatorienne de Hatun Cafiar, Ingapirca fut l'un des plus beaux monuments du nord de l'Empire du Tahuantinsuyo. A la fois palais fortifié, tambo royal et temple du Soleil, il surprend par son inhabituel plan ovale et ses rangées de pierres bombées au reflet vert (longueur: 37,10m; largeur 12,30).

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Sous un théâtral ciel d'orage, le Qhapac-Ñan, chemin royal de l'Inca, mène aujourd'hui les touristes intrépides entre 3500 et plus de 4000 mètres d'altitude, de l'entrée de la Vallée sacrée jusqu'aux portes, jadis interdites aux profanes, de Machu Picchu.

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Sur les sentiers acrobatiques des Andes, le trafic n'est plus uniquement assuré aujourd'hui par le lama, seule bête de charge des âges précolombiens mais aussi par de longues caravanes d'ânes courageux. - Perú - Ancash - Callejón de Huaylas

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Parcourue en 1830 par le voyageur français Alcides d'Orbigny, la stupéfiante chaussée pré-inca de Takezi, en Bolivie, pavée de pierres plates, s'étend quasi en ligne droite "par de larges paliers successifs pour vaincre la pente", sur au moins 65 km.

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A Limatambo, à 60 kilomètres du Cuzco, les magnifiques murailles polygonales de Tarahuasi aux niches trapézoïdales soutiennent une ample terrasse nivelée sur 243 mètres de longueur et 6 mètres de haut, d'où l'on domine l'étroite vallée.

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Fendu de-ci de-là de caniveaux pour l'écoulement des eaux de pluie, ce chemin empierré par les Incas descend vers Copacabana, au bord du lac Titicaca. Chaque année, le 6 août, des milliers de pèlerins aborigènes l'empruntent pour aller implorer la Mamacha, vierge indienne miraculeuse.

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«Nombril» sacré de l'Empire du Tahuantinsuyo, aujourd'hui capitale archéologique de l'Amérique du Sud, Cuzco est une triple ville inca, coloniale et républicaine, millénaire et mystérieuse. Face à la Plaza de Armas, l'ancienne Huacaypata cérémonielle, s'élève l'église baroque de la Compania de Jésus, là où se dressait l'Amaru Cancha de Huayna Capac.

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La formidable abside de Santo Domingo n'est autre que le temple semi-circulaire du Coricancha, le fabuleux Sanctuaire du Soleil et de l'Or du Cuzco. A l'arrivée des conquistadors, le 15 novembre 1533, tout ce panthéon scintillait de plaques d'or!

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Six pumas en haut relief ornent la façade d'un original palais aujourd'hui dit «Casa de los Pumas» (Casa Velarde) de la calle Santa Teresa.

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Dans les étroites ruelles de la «Rome» inca, entre les résidences monolithiques décapitées qui supportent un étage «à l'espagnole», cheminent les Indiennes cuzquenas, aux costumes typiques.

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La mélodie pleurnicharde des quenas (flûtes de bambou des Andes) s'est métissée, depuis la Conquête hispanique, de harpes rustiques et d'instruments à corde dont les Indiens en poncho tirent une musiquette lancinante. La veille du festival solaire Inti Raymi sur la place principale de Cuzco.

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Sur les hauteurs escarpées de Cusilluchayoc qui dominent Cuzco, ces gradins échelonnés suggèrent davantage des sièges où reprendre souffle que de simples escaliers.

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De nos jours comme aux siècles passés, les lamas chargés de besaces joliment rayées qui ne doivent pas peser plus de 25 kilos se reposent dans l'ombre gigantesque des remparts de Sacsayhuamán.

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L'énorme rocher de l'adoratoire de Kenko, à 3 kilomètres du Cuzco, est ciselé à profusion de rigoles, de pitons, de marches, d'autels, d'animaux symboliques. Au centre du grandiose amphithéâtre creusé de dix-neuf niches-sièges en éventail se dressait un totem lithique en forme de puma assis.

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A 3.700 mètres d'altitude s'étagent les quatre terrasses de Tampu Machay, «Balneario del Inca». Des loges en trapèze ornent le plus élégant «temple de l'Eau» consacré aux ablutions lustrales du dynaste et de la Coya son épouse lors de leur union rituelle.

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Unies à la verticale, ces six dalles plates et rectangulaires en porphyre rose, hautes d'environ 4 mètres, forment le monumental «Miroir du Soleil» d'0llantaytambo, au faîte du palais du Sinchi 0llanta, chef des Tampus de la Vallée sacrée qui osa s'opposer à Pachacutec par ses amours interdites avec Cusi Coylor, la princesse «Étoile Joyeuse».

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En dehors des sentiers touristiques de Machu Picchu, Maximilien Bruggmann - l'auteur des photographies de cet ouvrage -, a découvert cette roche aux fentes rectangulaires alignées, jamais «publiées», et qui illustre enfin la technique secrète des Incas pour découper de gigantesques monolithes!

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Dans le doux «Eden » de la Vallée tropicale sacrée des Incas s'étend à 3.100 mètres d'altitude le vaste complexe archéologique de Pisac, l'une des «capitales» impériales. Une trentaine de résidences au style raffiné entourent l'Intihuatana elliptique, voué au culte astral.

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0llantaytambo est l'un des rares et derniers bourgs authentiquement inca où les Quechuas vivent encore dans les palais ancestraux. Tel cet Indien qui coud sur le seuil d'une double portada en trapèze à l'inca.

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Auprès des terres ingrates cultivées au sud du lac Titicaca, de calmes hameaux indiens interrompent la monotonie de l'immense altiplano, «toit» des Andes et «pays de chimère».

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La neige, en Amérique du Sud, surprend toujours! Mais à 4.000 mètres d'altitude ce troupeau de lamas au repos dans le corral, s'en accommode durant l'hiver austral.

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Au pied de la Cordillère, la riche vallée de Pisco, bien que située en bordure des déserts côtiers, nourrit des troupeaux de vaches, et les champs de maïs y prospèrent.

This India from San Juan de Chuquibambilla smiles from under her montera, the headdress with the pleated scarf. She only wears her beautiful traditional dress, whose embroidery she is proud of, on very special highland festivals.

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Reliés par des andenes en demi-lune, profonds de 150 mètres, les quatre «cirques» aux sept terrasses de Moray étagées en entonnoir évoquent des colisées. Toutefois, les aqueducs qui les irriguent suggèrent qu'il s'agit plutôt de gradins dédiés à la culture des pommes de terre à déshydrater (moraya) ou de «jardins d'acclimatation» de fleurs magiques.

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Dans une vallée transversale partant de la Vallée sacée des Incas, les salines échelonnées de Maras sont toujours exploitées comme au temps des Incas. Selon la tradition, les Maras sont «nés» et partis de la mythologique caverne de Tamputoco avec les quatre Ayars géniteurs de la dynastie impériale.

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Chaumières, corrales à lamas et champs cultivés dans la région d'Acomayo sont encadrés de murettes en petites pierres.

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Sur l'altiplano de Puno, les hommes labourent encore avec la takila, bêche inca en bois dur que l'on enfonce d'un coup de pied, tandis que la femme, qui porte le dernier-né sur son dos, retourne les mottes de terre.

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La montagne «sauvage», le nevado Salcantay, le plus haut sommet de la Cordillère de Vilcabamba, qui culmine à 6271 mètres, nous cache Machu Picchu. En bas, d'artistiques «champs-blasons» aux graphiques totémiques du puma et du condor, «se dessinent nettement sur le paysage».

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Très animée, la feria dominicale de Chinchero attire des centaines d'aborigènes aux costumes couleurs d'arc-en-ciel!

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Dans le village d'Acomayo, près de Huánuco, des files d'épis de mais sèchent et se dorent au soleil.

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Héritée des Incas, la coutume veut qu’on boive la chicha de mais mousseuse et alcoolisée par la fermentation dans de grands verres qui ont remplacé les beaux kéros de bois laqué. - Chinchero, Cuzco

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Les temps changent! les fillettes indiennes d'Acomayo transportent l'eau non plus dans une poterie, mais dans une vulgaire cruche émaillée.

The serious face of this girl from Combapata, Cuzco, is tanned by the harsh mountain climate. She wears a cap with a forward-facing peak and a wide, patterned, hand-woven belt around her waist.

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Nattes brunes sous sombrero de paille blanche ou de feutre brun, le dos plus chargé que celui de l'âne, ces Indiennes de Huaripampa, dans le département d'Ancash, grimpent courageusement vers quelque lointain marché.

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A l'issue des obscurs dédales du «quartier des prisons» de Machu Picchu repose une dalle plate et triangulaire en forme de condor couché face au soleil levant. Entre la «collerette» de pierre et le bec recourbé, une rigole recueillait le sang fécondant des sacrifices qui s'écoulait jusque dans les entrailles de la Terre-Mère.

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Entre Cuzco et Abancay, à 3500 mètres d'altitude, surgit un fascinant monolithe! Sculptés dans un dôme de lave haut de plus de 2 mètres, entre des «temples, des lagunes-réceptacles et des canaux, ressortent quelque deux cents figures allégoriques: morts allongés, pumas, serpents, vigognes, singes, lézards, crapauds, scorpions. Peut-être la «maquette» en pierre de Sayhuite était-elle liée à des sortilèges et à des rites de pluviomagie...

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Chez les anciens Péruviens, le quipu, mystérieuse cordelette à noeuds mnémonique, que nul ne sait plus déchiffrer, remplaçait l'écriture. Long de 3 mètres et de couleurs variées, celui-ci, qui provient des fouilles de Nazca, sur la côte, a six cent ans d'âge. (Musée régional de Ica.)

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Dès lors que le cavernicole ou le chasseur nomade précolombien devient sédentaire, il tisse les fibres végétales pour se vêtir. D'abord rudimentaire, le tissage devient, avec l'apparition du coton vers 1.400 av. J.-C., un artisanat authentique. Art que cultive toujours, sur le rustique métier de bois posé à l'horizontale, ce tisserand de Quinua, près d'Ayacucho.

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Ce fardo funéraire d'un mètre de hauteur est visible au Museo de Antropologia y Arqueologia de Lima, Pérou. Quel dignitaire inca se cache derrière un masque d'apparat en cuivre? Quelle princière momie coiffée de fines nattes postiches, le front ceint d'un Ilauto à plumes jaunes, vêtue d'un uncu à dessins géométriques ceinturé d'une cordelière à pompons rouges, emporta pour son voyage posthume une besace aux lamas stylisés selon d'ancestrales traditions?..

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Tissée en coton, prolongée de franges abondantes, l'artistique chuspa d'un Indien coquero d'il y a six cents ans contenait encore sa provision de route de feuilles de coca. Le motif en étoile carrée du haut symbolise le lama céleste, géniteur et protecteur de l'espèce. (Museo regional de Ica, Pérou.)

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Précurseur du poncho indien, l'uncu inca aux dessins linéaires en cinq couleurs qui alternent à l'oblique avec des étoiles à huit pointes vient de la région de Chincha, sur la côte sud du Pacifique péruvien. Hauteur: 97 centimètres, largeur: 77 centimètres. (Museo nacional de Antropologia y Arqueologia de Lima, Pérou.)

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Chef-d'oeuvre tant par la texture du tissage en cumbi que par l'harmonie des coloris, ce somptueux uncu impérial fut porté par l'un des dynastes ou par quelque noble de la cour du Cuzco. Quatre-vingt-huit «cases» contenant de mystérieux symboles dits tocapus, interprétés comme une «écriture antique» et secrète, sont actuellement étudiés par Victoria de la Jara et Tomas Barthel. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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En ce jour de fête champêtre sur le haut plateau de Puno, des Ilameros exécutent la très ancienne «danse du Lama», le solennel et dédaigneux camélidé exclusif des Andes, devant la toute simple église de San Juan de Chuquibambilla.

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Chaque année, à partir du 21 juin, qui marque, dans la sierra, le solstice d'hiver, les fêtes solennelles de I'Inti Raymi, «Pâques du Soleil» des Incas, sont reconstituées au Cuzco. Le soir venu, Indiens et Indiennes, en tenue de gala, se livrent entre eux aux danses populaires qui sont plus un rite qu'une distraction.

In front of the wall of the famous ceremonial centre of Chavín de Huantar in the middle of the Cordillera Blanca, where a high Peruvian culture emerged 2000 years before the Incas, this Indian plays a sad tune on his quena ... of love and eternity.

This woman from Combapata with her peculiar flat hat, her sharply cut face framed by an embroidered scarf, embodies all the dignity of the ancient pre-Columbian peoples.

In the vast and infinite silence of the Altiplano, the Aymara have been playing their zampoña since time immemorial ... whose wistful and strange sounds are carried away by the mountain winds.

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C'est par une musique aussi tonitruante que discordante que la banda, l'orchestre en ponchos bariolés, inaugure aux quatre vents le nouveau terrain de football!

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Exhumés de tombeaux pré-inca et inca, ces très vieux instruments sont conservés au Museo Yoshitaro Amano de Lima, Pérou. Longue de 20,5 centimètres, une quena d'os blanc à quatre trous, ponctuée de petits cercles poinçonnés au centre, provient du site de Lauri-Chancay, sur la côte. Et de Chincha, plus au sud, l'autre quena en forme de bras prolongé d'une main et gravée d'un totem humain.

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Exhumés de tombeaux pré-inca et inca, ces très vieux instruments sont conservés au Museo Yoshitaro Amano de Lima, Pérou. Trouvée à Palpa, dans les sables des déserts, la zampoña (flûte de Pan américaine, 32 cm) est faite de bambous inégaux liés avec des cordelettes végétales. La petite zampoña on a trouvé à Lauri, Chancay.

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L'un des «trésors» les plus «hauts» du globe: celui découvert à 6.050 mètres d'altitude, au sommet du volcan Pili, dans les Andes du Chili. Un éventail de plumes rouges, des cordelettes tressées, une ceinture tissée, des fragments de tunique multicolore, des tupus (fibules) et un bracelet de cuivre oxydé, une idole d'argent, furent trouvés près du cratère éteint. Ces offrandes rappellent le culte des volcans d'où se disaient issues de vieilles ethnies, encore pratiqué au moment de la Conquête espagnole. (Museo de San Pedro de Atacama, Chili.)

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La «déesse des Neiges» reposait à 5.634 mètres d'altitude, sur le Pichu Pichu, l'un des trois volcans à «nom de chat» d'Arequipa. Protégés par une chape de glace et de cendres du «feu de la terre», des momies à colliers de turquoise et quarante crânes humains trépanés disposés en cercle parfait entouraient la petite idole d'or, haute de 8 centimètres. (Museo de la Universidad nacional de San Agustin, Arequipa, Pérou.)

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Cette autre petite idole féminine de la cime du Pichu Pichu, haute de 14 centimètres, est en argent. Elle était habillée de vêtements miniatures. (Museo de la Universidad nacional de San Agustin, Arequipa, Pérou.)

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Offert en holocauste au dieu Soleil, comme calmement endormi d'hier, la tte entre les mains et prêt à s'éveiller, le petit prince inca du Cerro El Plomo, au Chili, devait avoir neuf ans. Lui aussi comblé d'offrandes d'or et d'argent, d'amulettes emplumées, coiffé de cent vingt-trois nattes, anesthésié de coca et de chicha, il garde miraculeusement depuis plus de cinq cents ans les couleurs de la vie. Porté en litière jusque sur la cime sacrée où le gel le surprit et le momifia, découvert en 1954, il dort aujourd'hui dans un... réfrigérateur au Museo de Santiago, Chili!

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La fort étrange «consultation» d'un moderne «prêtre des esprits», a lieu à 4 heures du matin, par un froid de 17°C sous zéro, sur le haut plateau péruvien. Des feuilles vertes de coca, fèves et graines, fleurs séchées, papiers de couleur... disposés sur un autel improvisé, sont offerts à la Pachamama, déesse de la Terre-Mère et de la fécondité avant d'être brûlés au-dehors.

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Ce plat-fontaine cérémoniel en argent du culte de l'Eau provient de Andahuaylillas, aux environs du Cuzco. Devant l'aryballe sur le rebord, on distingue un petit personnage mâchant la coca, et l'abreuvoir aux lamas dont Fun est couché et l'autre sans tête. Cette très rare qocha est percée de trois orifices par où s'écoule le liquide. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Haute de 24 centimètres, lourde de 550 grammes, cette «vierge» d'or pur fut retrouvée dans une sépulture de Hualla Hualla, au pied du Nevado Ausengate, sommet déifié du Cuzco. Dix lames d'or soudées et repoussées modèlent cette conopa, splendide pièce de l'orfèvrerie inca. L'aryballe d'or modèle réduit, haut de 10 centimètres, est originaire d'Acomayo. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Tumi de Pukamoqo (Cuzco) en Ilaqsa ou tumbaga, le savant alliage d'or, de cuivre et d'étain des orfèvres impériaux. Le manche de la hache sacrificielle est surmonté d'une tête de lama aux oreilles et yeux de cuivre pur. Hauteur: 19,5 centimètres. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueobogia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Ce charmant lama miniature (41 millimètres) en argent ornait une sépulture du volcan Quimal, sommet, culminant à 4303 mètres, de la cordillère de Domeyco, au Chili. (Museo de San Pedro de Atacama, Chili.)

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Très réaliste, ce couple de jorobados en argent, haut de 6 centimètres, nouis rappelle que les bossus étaient au service personnel de l'Inca et de la Coya. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Souvenir de la conquête inca en Equateur, ce bracelet d'argent haut de 11cm et 10,5 centimètres, figure an Museo del Banco central de Quito, Equateur.

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Souvenir de la conquête inca en Equateur, ce bracelet d'argent haut de 10,5 centimètres, figure an Museo del Banco central de Quito, Equateur.

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Sous la longue coiffe rectangulaire des Acllas et fardée de cinabre, une «femme choisie » d'argent doré semble tendre les bras à l'Inca (23 centimètres de haut). (Museo de Oro del Perû, Lima.)

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A 11 kilomètres de Lima, au bord de la Carretera central, la route des Andes, s'élève l'élégant palais pré-inca (XIIe) de Puruchuco, le «Seigneur au casque emplumé» soumis par les Incas. Nous voyons ici son merveilleux poncho cérémoniel au dos couvert de plumes jaunes d'ara. Masquée et couronnée d'argent bruni, la noble momie portait un couvre-nuque dont les motifs stylisés illustrent un art plumaire de toute beauté. Par-devant, le poncho est entièrement constellé de petits cercles d'argent et bordé de plumes noires et bleu turquoise. (Museo de Puruchuco, Lima, Pérou.)

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Kero cérémoniel en bois taillé de l'époque dite de «transition inca-coloniale». Sous un soleil, une demi-lune verte semble pleurer comme des flocons de neige (?). De chaque côté, des dignitaires casqués portent un «toast» aux astres vénérés. Des tocapus ornent la bande centrale, et dessous tombent ou volent des kantutas (Kantu buxfolia Juss), fleurs nationales et sacrées des Incas, dont il existe trente-deux variétés (hauteur: 19,5 centimètres). (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Impressionnant kero inca de bois en «tête de puma» totémique, aux couleurs peu fréquentes, obtenues an moyen de laques résineuses dont les Indiens n'ont pu, de nos jours, retrouver le secret de fabrication (hauteur: 19 centimètres).(Museo e Instituto de Arqueobogia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Non moins frappant est ce kero-portrait en haut relief, «tatoué» de trois bandes superposées noire, marron et rouge. En couvre-nuque, une scène royale dépeint l'Inca, son blason et son épouse, éventés par le parasol de plumes qu'agitent les traditionnels cumillos. Un autre bossu joue de la tinya (tambour) tandis que fleurs et motifs géométriques complètent la décoration (21 x 16 x 11,5 centimètres). (Museo de la Universidad nacional de San Agustin, Arequipa, Pérou.)

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La macka est la forme la plus caractéristique de l'aryballe des Incas. De corps sphérique et base conique, flanquée de deux anses basses latérales, la jarre est en outre pourvue, sous le col sphérique, d'une petite tête en relief qui a pour but de retenir la corde avec laquelle l'Indien transporte ba poterie pleine sur son dos. Celle-ci, mise au jour en Equateur, est unique en son genre par le décor géométrique et zoomorphe exceptionnel (hauteur: 23 centimètres). (Museo del Banco central, Quito, Equateur.)

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A peine haut de 10 centimètres, ce petit kero inca est délicatement peint de gracieux sujets nulle part ailleurs représentés sur ces vases des libations rituelles de chicha de maïs. (Museo Yoshitaro Amano, Lima, Pérou.)

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Cruche cérémonielle de Huacaypata, l'antique place sacrée du Cuzco inca. Haute de 28 centimètres, de ravissantes tonalités soulignent les anses-jaguars et les deux serpents allongés qui encadrent un harmonieux panneau géométrique. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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La couleur noire de cette bizarre céramique carrée est caractéristique du style Chimú tardif - transition Tallan du Nord péruvien (1470-1532). Elle représente deux colicas, des «magasins» à grains (hauteur: 22 centimètres). (Museo arqueologico Brüning, Lambayeque, Pérou.)

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Ce très élégant vase à fleur de Limapampa, mis an jour en 1928 très près du Coricancha de Cuzco, sur la Rimac Pampa, réunit plusieurs des motifs décoratifs chers aux Incas: la grande fleur de kantuta, la tête de Puma et une ronde hiératique de Vierges du Soleil qui se donnent la main, où perchent des oiseaux. Il n'existe an Pérou que deux ticachuranas de ce type (hauteur: 34centimètres). (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Sur fond d'azur dilué, deux napas, lamas blancs aux longs cous croisés, totems des Collas du lac Titicaca, décorent cette céramique plate à deux anses. Elle daterait de la conquête inca (1300-1470) des tropicales vallées boliviennes. (Instituto nacional de Arqueologia, La Paz, Bolivie.)

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Cette coquille spiralée d'escargot est une céramique inca de l'Equateur. Elle contient un petit récipient dont l'ouverture mesure 4,5 centimètres de diamètre. Largeur 18 cm - hauteur 9 cm (Museo del Banco central, Quito, Equateur.)

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Né, selon la légende, des dents d'un enfant du Soleil, le mais fut «adoré comme un dieu» dans tout l'ancien Pérou. Des épis de maïs en pierre on Sara Mama étaient enterrés dans les champs, et des choclos d'or, avec les momies. Aujourd'hui encore, quand on sème le maïs dans la sierra, de joyeuses fêtes sont célébrées. (Museo regional de Ica, Pérou.)

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Une autre porra étoilée, en lourde pierre taillée à huit pointes, de l'époque inca (1300-1400). Diamètre: 13 centimètres. (Instituto nacional de Arqueologia, La Paz, Bolivie.)

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Ullti de basalte noir soigneusement poli, en forme d'alpaca. On distingue la longue toison et l'épais jabot de laine soyeuse de l'un des auquénidés des Andes. Offrande votive, l'ullti au dos creux fait partie du culte agricole visant à obtenir la fertilité de la terre qui nourrit les troupeaux d'alpacas (longueur: 23 centimètres). (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Très lourd récipient liturgique, sculpté dans la pierre. Circulaire, il mesure, d'une anse à l'autre, 59 centimètres. Des amarus lovés en spirale ou serpentant l'entourent (diamètre intérieur: 31,5 centimètres). (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Quadrangulaire, ce réceptacle cérémoniel en pierre, lié au culte de l'eau, est orné au fond, en haut-relief, d'un batracien. Tout autour, quatre soleils entre douze ranas que soulignent quatre serpents bicéphales à tête de condor semblent rappeler le thème favori de Tiahuanaco, lieu de la genèse mythique des Incas (largeur: 19,5 centimètres; longueur: 24 centimètres; hauteur: 6,5 centimètres). (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

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Depuis trois mille ans ou davantage encore, 1'Indien de la Vallée sacrée des Incas et de toutes les Andes, pour appeler hommes et dieux, souffle dans le pututo, grosse conque marine du Pacifique, le Spondylus au son rauque.

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Enigmatiques et impérissables «testaments» de l'Empire inca du Tahuantinsuyo, les temples s'ouvrent majestueusement sur Inti Cancha, la place cérémonielle du haut quartier magico-religieux de Machu Picchu, que surplombent les quatorze terrasses pyramidales de l'observatoire et acropole solaire où se trouve l'Intihuatana.

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Rien n'illustre mieux la science hydraulique des anciens peuples de la Cordillère des Andes que les seize Amanahuasis, superbes «bains» rituels ou liturgiques qui s'étagent en cascade depuis le faste du «gratte-ciel» des Incas jusqu'aux abîmes qui le défendent.

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Longeant les Barracas en pente et restaurées des antiques agriculteurs, cent escaliers qui totalisent plus de trois mille marches et hauts paliers relient les deux cent soixante palais, temples, sanctuaires, thermes, autels sacrificiels, cavernes à momies et jardins «suspendus» de cet «hymne de pierre», Machu Picchu, qui est un véritable défi à la nature et qui conserve tous ses secrets!

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Absolument invisible depuis le fond du sauvage canyon de l'Urubamba, dressée à 2500 mètres d'altitude dans l'ombre du Huayna Picchu, enchâssée dans un imprenable piédestal granitique, la fantomatique «Cité perdue» de Machu Picchu le demeura au sens réel du mot durant quatre cents ans avant que ne la retrouve miraculeusement, en 1911, l'explorateur américain Hiram Bingham.

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Précédé des "chapelles" d'un culte ésotérique, dominant la mystérieuse cité des dieux précolombiens, "huitième merveille du monde", se détache l'Intihuatana, où, lors des solstices, le grand prêtre Willac Umu amarrait symboliquement avec une chaîne d'or, au gnomon pétrifié, le soleil-Père des Incas...

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Piquillacta: De curieuses figurines en turquoise ont été mises au jour dans ce grand centre pré-inca (Culture Huari 800-1200 ap. J.-C.) qu'occupèrent ensuite les empereurs du Cuzco. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad de Cuzco)

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Pachacamac: Le plus grand sanctuaire de la côte péruvienne, consacré au dieu créateur de l'univers, fut investi par les Incas, comme en témoigne cette porte en «trapèze».

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Poignée d'une pala de labranza, outil agricole mais d'usage cérémoniel, sculptée dans le bois de huarango (caroubier) et surmontée de petits personnages en parade. (Museo Regional de Ica)

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Ollantaytambo: le fameux ‘Baño de la Ñusta’, le bain de la princesse ‘Etoile joyeuse’, qui venait ici pour recevoir l'eau purificatrice descendue des glaciers andins.

The classic general view of the ruins of Machu Picchu. In the middle distance the dominant Huayna Picchu. - 1969

The classic general view of the ruins of Machu Picchu from a different angle. In the middle the dominant Huayna Picchu. - 1969

Machu Picchu - Sacred Square - Main Temple and Temple of the three windows - the staircase leads to the Intihuatana - 1969

Machu Picchu - view through one of the windows of the temple of the three windows - 1969

Between Cuzco and Abancay, at an altitude of 3,500 meters, emerges a fascinating monolith! Carved in a lava dome more than 2 meters high, between “temples”, lagoons-receptacles and canals, stand out some two hundred allegorical figures: lying dead, pumas, snakes, vicuñas, monkeys, lizards, toads and scorpions. Perhaps Sayhuite's stone “model” was linked to spells and rites of pluviomagic ... - 1969

At 3500 meters above sea level, the cyclopean fortress of Sacsayhuamán dominates the city of Cuzco. With its three monolithic ramparts in the shape of saw teeth, this “Maginot Line” of the Incas “overshadows the pyramids on the Nile ...” (Tirso de Molina, 1583-1648). Some of these blocks of this giant puzzle, set like gemstones by unknown and great jewelers, are 9 meters high, 4 meters thick and weigh more than 350 tons! - 1969

The twelve-angled stone is a stone block that is part of a palace located on Hatun Rumiyoq street, in the city of Cuzco. Today, the stone is part of a wall of the palace of the Archbishop of Cuzco, which was previously the residence of Inca Roca, the sixth sovereign of the kingdom of Cuzco. - 1969

In the gentle "Eden" of the sacred tropical Valley of the Incas, at an altitude of 3,100 meters, the vast archaeological complex of Pisac, one of the imperial "capitals", extends. About thirty residences in a refined style surround the elliptical Intihuatana, dedicated to the sun cult. - 1969

This wall of a palace in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley is amazing. Undoubtedly, the spikes that emerge from this incredible “set of cubes” served to lift and place huge monoliths with perfectly joined angles. - 1969

People from the province of Paruro participate in a folk festival in Cuzco - Young boy with a hat made of dried agave leaves. - 1969

Pentecost Festival in Ollantaytambo, Cuzco - Young Indian woman in typical costume. - 1969

You do not need a bus to go to the market. This truck in Calca in the Urubamba Valley will be filled with Indians to the last place, including their merchandise, of course. - 1969

An Indian in typical dress drinking her chicha - Cambapata market - Cuzco - 1969

Folklore festival in Cuzco - a musician from Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca playing the Zampoña. - 1969

Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) - competition for folk groups in the stadium of Cuzco. - 1976

The colonial church of Tiobamba in the department of Cusco. In the background the Nevado Chicón, 5530m, from the Cordillera Urubamba. - 1969

Cuzco, the sacred "navel" of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, is today the archaeological capital of South America: Inca, colonial and republican at the same time. In front of the Plaza de Armas, the ancient ceremonial Huacaypata, rises the Cathedral of Cuzco. - 1969

Cuzco, the sacred "navel" of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, is today the archaeological capital of South America: Inca, colonial and republican at the same time. In front of the Plaza de Armas, the old ceremonial Huacaypata, stands the baroque church of La Compañía de Jesús where the Amarucancha de Huayna Capac once stood. - 1969

The Corpus Cristi festival, brought by the Spanish, acquires a special splendor every year in Cuzco. During the ceremony, the statues of twelve saints are shouldered around the Plaza de Armas. – 1969

What could be more picturesque than a reed raft floating on Titicaca? For millennia, the Aymara people of the paradisiacal "Mediterranean" of the Andes have been fishing in their elegant reed boats in the sacred lake. The boats are made “by hand” by bundling the reeds with ichu strings. - 1969

A woman of the "Uros" who lives on the floating islands on Lake Titicaca. She still grinds the wheat as it did hundreds of years ago. - 1969

A cross on the wayside between Abancay and Cuzco. - 1969

The village of Juli on the southwest bank of Lake Titicaca was a religious center during the colonial period. This is reminiscent of a number of churches, the rich interior of which testifies to the past glory. Here the Santa Cruz church, on whose esplanade the students play a game of Fulbito. - 1969

The village of Juli on the southwest bank of Lake Titicaca was a religious center during the colonial period. This is reminiscent of a number of churches, the rich interior of which testifies to the past glory. Here is an imposing portal in front of the Santa Cruz Church, over whose esplanade two boys lead their pigs. - 1969

Entrance to the Church of l’Asunción in the village of Juli on the southwest bank of Lake Titicaca, which was a religious center during the colonial period. - 1969

The church of Andahuaylillas, a town of about 3,900 inhabitants near Cuzco. It contains many colonial treasures, which is why it is often called in Peru the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes" in an effort to compete with the Old Continent. - 1969

Stop at the Chilca railway station near Huancayo in the department of Junín. - 1969

One of the most attractive forms of Peruvian crafts is the decoration of dried gourds. The artist from the «Centro Artesanal de Huancayo» uses a sharp piece to draw scenes from everyday life. - 1969

Wheat fields near Andahuaylas in the Apurímac department. - 1969

In autumn, the predominant color of the cultivated fields in the Sierra is brown. Near Huancayo, Junín Department. - 1969

Corn on the cob hangs to dry on the wall of the house. Acomayo in the Huánuco region in central Peru. - 1969

The Morococha mine produces silver, zinc, copper and lead. It is located at 4,540 m in the central Andes, near the Ticlio Pass, which connects Lima with the eastern parts of the country. - 1969

The "Callejón de Huaylas" with the Cordillera Blanca is also called "Peruvian Switzerland". On the left the Huascarán 6780 m, on the right the Nevado Copa, 6188 m. - 1969

A weaver with her spindle makes yarn from sheep's wool. Mancos in the Callejón de Huaylas, Department of Ancash. - 1969

A weaver with her spindle makes yarn from sheep's wool. Cajamarca Region in North Peru. - 1969

Cajamarca women wash their clothes in a small river near Baños del lnca. - 1969

"Las Ventanillas de Otuzco" is an archaeological site in the district of Baños del Inca, 8 km northwest of the city of Cajamarca. The individual windows are tombs from the pre-Inca period. - 1976

The Panamericana crosses many desert stretches of the peruvian coast. In places it is blown with sand by the strong winds, as here near San Pedro de Lloc in the province of Pacasmayo in the department of La Libertad. - 1969

On the Panamericana, between Arequipa and Ica, the gate on the back wall of a truck has opened and a load of oranges has been poured onto the road. - 1969

In the valley of the Río Jequetepeque, on the way to Cajamarca, the terraces are being prepared for the planting of rice. – 1976

Huanchaco is the beach of Trujillo in the department of La Libertad. As hundreds of years ago, fishermen still go out to sea with their balsa boats. - 1972

The Laguna de Huacachina is located in an oasis a few kilometers west of the city of Ica. Because of the increased water consumption due to tourism, the lake fell dry in 1988. As a result, pipelines were laid to supply additional water from Ica. - 1969

A worker picks the cotton on a plantation of the Hacienda Miraflores near Humay in the coastal valley of Pisco, Ica department. - 1969

A wooden grave plaque at the cemetery of Sechura in the department of Piura, northern Peru. - 1969

In the middle of the desert, one finds the cemetery of Sechura in the department of Piura, northern Peru. - 1969

At the Plaza de Armas in Lima, a popular meeting place for tourists and locals alike, a shoe polisher sits on a small stool. He takes the opportunity to run his small business and polish people's shoes. - Peru - Lima - 1969

These women sell their fish at a market in the Rimac neighbourhood of Lima. The pelicans are waiting to get their hands on a bite. - Peru - Lima - 1969

Jirón de la Unión, on the west side of the Plaza de Armas in Lima. On the right the building of the ‘Club de la Unión’. - Peru - Lima - 1969

In the city centre of Lima, Avenida Nicolás de Piérola, from ‘Plaza Dos de Mayo’ towards ‘Plaza San Martín’ (Hasselblad with telephoto lens 500) - Peru - Lima - 1969

The Jirón de la Unión is a street in the Damero de Pizarro in the historic centre of Lima, capital of Peru. For many years it was the most important street in the city, characterised for being the most ‘aristocratic’ and where the most famous inhabitants of the city gathered. Later, with the deterioration of the historic centre of Lima, the Jirón de la Unión lost its aristocratic character to assume a totally commercial one after the recovery of the sector. Since 2005, with the revaluation plan for the historic centre of Lima, it has once again become one of the most commercial thoroughfares in the centre of Lima. In 2013, it was voted the sixth most expensive street in Latin America by Colliers International. - Peru - Lima - 1969

A street vendor rides his tricycle on the beach promenade of Ancón, a seaside resort on the northern outskirts of Lima. - Peru - Lima - 1969

The city of Callao was founded in 1537 by Francisco Pizarro on Callao Bay and quickly became the most important harbour for Spanish trade on the Pacific. Even today, the port of Callao handles 75% of Peru's total imports and exports, making it one of the most important fishing and trading ports in South America. - Northern partial view of the harbour of Callao near Lima. - Peru - Lima - 1969

An ice cream vendor in Iquitos, on the edge of the Amazon River, preparing a "raspadillo". - 1969

A weaverbird’s nest on the roadside on the way to Pucallpa in the Amazon rainforest. - 1969

Evening atmosphere in the Amazon rainforest - at Pucallpa on the Río Ucayali. - 1969

Sunrise over the Río Ucayali in the Amazon jungle near Pucallpa. - 1969

A Shipibo woman from the village of San Francisco near Pucallpa wears a typical clay pot painted with geometric patterns. - 1969

A little Shipibo girl from Paococha on the Río Ucayali admires her mascot, a blue bird. - 1969

A Shipibo woman from the village of San Francisco near Pucallpa. - 1969

An old Shipibo woman spinning her wool into yarn - Paococha on the Río Ucayali. - 1969

A Yagua Indian girl in Yanamono near Iquitos in the Amazon rainforest. - 1969

The blowgun is the preferred weapon of the Yagua. They use it mainly to hunt birds and small mammals. Yanamono on the banks of the Río Napo near Iquitos – 1969

In the Belén district of Iquitos, two boys are playing with their marbles. - 1969

In the Belén district of Iquitos, families with many children are not rare. - 1969

At the bridge over the Río Aguaytía, a tributary of the Ucayali River, halfway between the cities of Tingo María and Pucallpa, the bananas are transferred from the boats to the trucks. - 1969

Ceramic Inca Costeño - water carrier with monkeys - height 18 cm - original from the Nazca Valley, around 1370 - the container on the left is a potato - Museo Regional de Ica - 1969

Huaco Inca on the north coast - with a dead man - Anthropological Museum - Lima - 1969

Double vase with monkeys - height 16 cm - Inca Norteño - Museo Brüning Lambayeque - 1976

Double jug with monkeys - Inca costeño - height 17 cm - around 1370 - Museo Regional Ica - 1976

Double jug with bird - Inca - Colonia (transition) - excavation in Tacaraca, Ica - 15th century - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Jug or barrel, width 18 cm - excavation in Tacaraca, Ica - around 1370 - Museo Regional Ica - 1976

Vessel with 2 sun virgins and the Qantú flower - height 11 cm - in Quechua it is called Aisana - Museo Arqueológico Cuzco - 1976

Unique vases, height 34 cm, with sun virgins, stylized puma head and the Qantú (Cantuta = national flower) - found in Limaqpampa, Cuzco - Museo Arqueológico Cuzco - 1976

Inca Lambayeque ceramics – man, 23 cm high - Museo Brüning Lambayeque - 1976

Inca norteño - cat with open mouth - height 19.5 cm - Museo Brüning Lambayeque - 1976

Inca Norteño - Black ceramic - length 26 cm - Museo Brüning Lambayeque - 1976

Ceramic container in the shape of a house - height 23.5 cm - on the bottom side with a puma head - Inca Culture - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Glossy black ceramic - Head - height 29 cm - Chimú-Inca - Museo Brüning Lambayeque - 1976

Ceramic - Snake with decorations - length 39 cm - Inca norteño - Pacha type for water worship - Brüning Lambayeque Museum - 1976

Inca ceramic - height 13 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Inca vessel in the shape of a human head with stylized braids - height 17 cm - Cuzco area - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Black ceramic - Chicha charger - Chimú-Inca - Origin Lambayeque Region - Brüning Lambayeque Museum - 1976

Jar with head - Inca costeño - Nazca Valley - height 18 cm - around 1370 - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Huaco with truncheon (star to hunt) - Chimú-Inca - height 17 cm - Brüning Lambayeque Museum - 1976

Jar - Tallán to Inca transition - 1470 to 1532 - Late Chimú - height 25 cm - Brüning Lambayeque Museum - 1976

Inca ceremonial ax with feline and turquoise inlays - 24 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Inca silver pectoral - width 15 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Inca silver pectoral - width 16 cm, height 13 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Golden lama - Origin: Teteqaqa, near Cuzco - height 82 mm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Musicians - Inca Norteño - weight 3 g each, height 33 mm - silver, copper and gold alloy - 15th century - Brüning Lambayeque Museum - 1976

Silver vase with two heads - Inca Costeño - around 1370 - Pisco valley - height 20 cm - Regional Museum of Ica

Solid silver Inca idol (hunchback) - Cuzco region - height 6 cm - Museum 'Oro del Perú' Miguel Mujica Gallo - Lima - 1977

Inca idol from the top of the Pichu Pichu volcano (5500 m) - Height 14 cm - Museum of the National University of San Agustín, Arequipa - 1976

Silver Inca idol - Cuzco Region - height 10.5 cm - Museum 'Oro del Perú' Miguel Mujica Gallo - Lima - 1977

Solid silver Inca idol (hunchback) - Cuzco region - height 6 cm - Museum 'Oro del Perú' Miguel Mujica Gallo - Lima - 1977

Inca culture gold idol - height 24 cm - weight 550 g - found in a tomb at the foot of the Ausangate mountain - Museum and Institute of Archeology of the National University of Cuzco - 1976

Gold and silver idol - Inca culture - height 24 cm - the gold one weighs 550 g - found in a tomb of Hualla Hualla at the foot of the Ausangate mountain - Museum and Institute of Archeology of the National University of Cusco - 1976

Silver idol representing a woman - height 57 mm - from an Inca sanctuary at the top of the Pili volcano in Chile - 6050 m - Museo San Pedro de Atacama - 1976

Objects from a sanctuary inca at the top of the Pili volcano in Chile - 6050 m - above: bag of coca, feather duster, hair / below: cotton shirt, man carved in shell from the Caribbean Sea, poncho - Museo San Pedro de Atacama - 1976

Inca / Colonial - glass necklace - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Aríbalo - Imperial Inca - around 1470 - height 22 cm - National Museum of Archeology - La Paz - Bolivia - 1976

Aríbalo - Inca culture - around 1470 - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Aríbalo - Inca culture - height 90 cm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Aysana - height 18.5 cm, with Virgin of the Sun (width 4 cm) - ceramics from the Cuzco area - Museo Arqueológico Cuzco - 1976

Aríbalo - Inca costeño - Ica valley - around 1370 - height 34 cm - Ica Regional Museum - 1976

Aríbalo - with representation of a man - Nazca Valley - around 1370 - height 32 cm - Museo Regional Ica - 1976

Aríbalo, urpu in Quechua - Inca costeño - around 1370 - height 19 cm - Museo Regional Ica - 1976

Aríbalo - Inca / Chancay Culture - comes from the Lauri site - height 30 cm - Amano Museum, Lima - 1976

Aríbalo with tassels - Inca Norteño - height 19 cm - Museo Brüning Lambayeque - 1976

Inca ear ornament - Cuzco region - diameter 43 mm, thickness 2 cm - Museo de Oro del Peru, Lima - 1977

Three ulltis or conopas, carefully polished alpaca figures made of black basalt used as votive offerings to the Pachamama - heights: 8 cm, 9.5 cm, 10 cm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Ceremonial vessel for the cult of water - length 25 cm, hole 10 cm diameter - Museum and Institute of Archeology of the University of Cuzco - 1976

Macana Inca Costeño in stone and Huarango wood - silver inlays and feathers - length 58 cm - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Kero of polychrome ceramic - Inca - height 13 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Classic Kero No. 49 - with platinum repair - Museum of the National University of San Agustín Arequipa - 1976

Kero from the transition period Inca colonial - with Tocapus ornaments - Cuzco zone - height 22 cm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Kero Nro. 50 - Archaeological Museum Cuzco - 1976

Kero Inca - The houses represent granaries (Qolqas) - with drawings of plants for food (white corn, two varieties of chili pepper) - height 24 cm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Kero with Tocapus in the center and flowers in the lower part - Inca-Colonial Transition - height 19.5 cm - Museo Arqueológico Cuzco - 1976

Kero Nr. 55 (back) - Museum of the National University of San Agustín Arequipa - 1976

Kero Nr. 55 - Museum of the National University of San Agustín Arequipa - 1976

Kero 'Selva' of Inca-Colonial transition - Cuzco area - height 18.5 cm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Kero with Tocapus - Inca-Colonial Transition - Museum of the National University of San Agustín - Arequipa - 1976

Kero Inca with feline and condors - Cuzco area - height 25 cm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Kero Inca with stylized puma head - Cuzco region - height 19 cm - Cuzco Archaeological Museum - 1976

Wooden Kero number 52 - height 19.5 cm - Period of transition to colonial Inca - with Tocapus = Inca letters - Museum of the National University of San Agustín - Arequipa - 1976

Wooden Kero No. 53 - Period of transition to colonial Inca - Museum of the National University of San Agustín - Arequipa - 1976

Wooden Kero number 52 - height 19.5 cm - Period of transition to colonial Inca - with Tocapus = Inca letters - Museum of the National University of San Agustín - Arequipa - 1976

Quipus Inca - Detail of a Quipus 3m long by 30cm high - Nazca Valley - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Tassel - Inca period - length 30 cm - National University of San Agustín, Arequipa - 1976

Coca bag - Inca - height 66 cm - Museum of Anthropology, Lima - 1977

Ceremonial shirt from the Inca period (Coast) - 15th century - height 88cm and width 77.5 cm - squares 75x75 mm - Nazca valley - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Unku of the emperor with central Tocapus, detail (88 different figures) - Archaeological Museum Cuzco - 1976

Fabric with decorations of stylized people and lamas - width 30 cm, height of people 37 mm - Inca costeño culture - Nazca valley - around 1370 - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Inca costeño fabric with representation of stylized feathers - around 1370 - Nazca Valley - width 26 cm - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Inca fabric - Lauri, Chancay - Amano Museum Collection - Lima - 1976

Inca Weaving from Pisquillo, Chancay - with Chacana - Amano Museum Collection, Lima - 1976

Inca-Chancay fabric - with green and red - Amano Museum Collection, Lima - 1976

Inca-Chancay fabric - with different browns - Amano Museum Collection, Lima - 1976

The internal drainage system of the terraces of Machu Picchu, created by the Incas, consisted of three layers, a first layer of mulch, a second of sand and a third of gravel. These layers allowed the water sucked in by the terraces not to flood the terraces, but to run downhill and be quickly absorbed without creating landslides that would endanger the city and its inhabitants. - 1976

Along the partly restored Barracas of the former farmers, 100 stairs with more than 3000 steps run down the slope. They connect 260 palaces, temples, sanctuaries, thermal baths, sacrificial altars, caves of mummies and "hanging gardens" and make Machu Picchu a "stone poem". . . a challenge of nature ... an unfathomable secret. - 1976

The imposing entrance to this palace in Ollantaytambo is amazing. Undoubtedly, the stone cones on the incredible "dice game" of the Incas were used for this purpose. Lifting the gigantic monoliths into place and putting them together without gaps. - 1976

Inca basket - diameter 19 cm - comes from an Inca grave in Solcor - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (province Antofagasta) - Chile - 1976

Burial gift of the small, about 9 year old Inca prince from Cerro el Plomo in Chile, who had been offered to the sun god as a sacrifice of atonement and was discovered in 1954 - see photo KDI-111 - in a refrigerated display case in the Museo de Santiago, Chile! - 1975

Character representing the Inca with offerings - Inca culture 1300-1400 - Height 21 cm - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

An old woman from Yungay talks about the Terremoto earthquake of 31 May 1970, which had a magnitude of 7.8 and killed about 70,000 people. - 1976

An lndia cuzqueña from the Ollantaytambo region in her typical dresses. - 1976

The front side with the portal of the colonial church of San Pedro of Zepita on Lake Titicaca. - 1976

"Las Ventanillas de Otuzco" is an archaeological site in the district of Baños del Inca, 8 km northwest of the city of Cajamarca. The individual windows are tombs from the pre-Inca period. - 1976

Rock paintings of Mazo Cruz, 4500 m above sea level (Puno department, Peru). Which Champollion will ever be able to interpret the 7000 to 10 000 year old wall frescoes of the "described stone" in the holy caves of Kelkatani? The dances of the hunters decorated with a wreath of feathers were painted with red ochre paint on a granite surface of 26 by 6 metres and bear witness to a mysterious highland civilisation. - 1976

Chavín Culture, Peru. The huge temple complex near the village of Chavín de Huántar behind the Cordillera Blanca gave its name to a culture whose influence around 1000 BC can be traced over a wide area and in later cultural forms, so that it can be called with some justification the mother culture. Recurring motifs are the jaguar or a mixture of predator, snake and condor and warriors with predator teeth, condor claws and snake hair or hair with condor heads. Here the main portal to the temple complex with the large ceremonial square in the foreground. - 1976

The Chavín culture, which we know mainly through its stonemasonry, belongs to the developmental period of pre-Columbian Peru. - 1969

The Chavín religion is characterised by a cult in honour of the condor. The very schematic representation of this giant vulture is also found on stone slabs that decorate the temple of the Chavín site in the Cordillera. - 1969

The Lanzón of Chavín is a sacred monolith or wanka that belongs to the Chavín culture. It is carved in irregular granite, 4.54 m high and is located in its original location in a sector of an interior gallery of the Old Temple of Chavín. It is called the "Lanzón" because it has the shape of a giant spire whose ends are firmly embedded in the floor and ceiling of the gallery. It has three sides covered with engraved motifs representing a deity with human features mixed with those of animals. It is the largest of the sculptures or monoliths preserved from the Chavín culture. - 1969

Chavín Culture, Peru. Recurring motifs are the jaguar as in this picture or a mixture of predatory cat, snake and condor and warriors with predator teeth, condor claws and snake hair or hair with condor heads. This relief plate is located at the edge of a circular square between the old and the new temple. - 1976

On one of these blocks is carved the image of a mythical creature that today's archaeologists call "Medusa", but in reality it is the representation of the same mythical creature of the New Temple period that was carved on the " Lanzón " of the Old Temple. - 1976

The heads of nails (Cabezas clavas) are a series of sculptures representing heads of cats, snakes and birds, combined with human features. They owe this name to the fact that they end like a nail in an extension, which meant that they could easily be embedded into the façade of the temple at symmetrical intervals. One theory assumes that they were the guardians of the temple. They were carved in sandstone of different consistency, quartzite and granite. Unfortunately, of the 56 who were there, only one is still on site. The others have disappeared or are kept in museums. - 1976

The heads of nails (Cabezas clavas) are a series of sculptures representing heads of cats, snakes and birds, combined with human features. One theory assumes that they were the guardians of the temple. They were carved in sandstone of different consistency, quartzite and granite. Unfortunately, of the 56 who were there, only one is still on site. The others have disappeared or are kept in museums. - 1969

The heads of nails (Cabezas clavas) are a series of sculptures representing heads of cats, snakes and birds, combined with human features. They have been carved in sandstone of different textures, quartzite and granite. Unfortunately, of the 56 that were there, only one is still on site. The others have disappeared or are kept in museums. - 1969

The heads of nails (Cabezas clavas) are a series of sculptures representing heads of cats, snakes and birds, combined with human features. They have been carved in sandstone of different textures, quartzite and granite. Unfortunately, of the 56 that were there, only one is still on site. The others have disappeared or are kept in museums - 1969

During the excavations in Chavín, fragments of stone slabs with anthropomorphic figures were found, probably belonging to a roof cornice. - 1969

This stele shows a figure of a magical-religious cult, under whose influence the whole of ancient Peru was under around 1000 BC. The figure carries a sceptre; hair and belt are made of snakes. Most of these peculiar representations of Chavín also have wings; fangs, cat's claws or birds of prey claws are characteristic features. - 1969

During the excavations in Chavín, fragments of stone slabs with anthropomorphic figures were found, probably belonging to a roof cornice. - 1969

Chavín Culture ceramics with a bird - Private collection, Lima - 1969

Typical ceramics of the Chavín culture - Private collection, Lima - 1969

Ceramic Huaco of the Chavín Culture - Private collection - Lima - 1969

One of the few, if not the only fabric preserved from the Chavín culture: painted cotton and again the familiar motifs of fangs, feather snakes and condor claws. - Museo Amano, Lima, Peru. - 1976

Detail from the temple complex of Cerro Sechín in the Valley of Casma on the Peruvian Pacific coast. The complex of around ninety monolithic slabs, some of them enormous, is attributed to the coastal Chavín style, although the reliefs have little in common with other ancient Peruvian stonework and show more similarities with the Mexican Monte Albán culture. - 1976

Detail from the temple complex of Cerro Sechín in the Casmatal on the Peruvian Pacific coast. The complex of around ninety monolithic slabs, some of which are enormous, is attributed to the coastal Chavín style, although the reliefs have little in common with other ancient Peruvian stonework and show more similarities with the Mexican Monte Albán culture. The figures in profile all look towards the main entrance of the temple. - 1976

Detail of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture with human figures carrying fans and ceremonial staffs in their hands. Private collection. - 1969

Detail of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture with a stylised reptile. The whole cloth has 9 figures and measures 2.50m x 1.18m. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1977

Detail of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture with four warriors with masks. In one hand they are holding a trophy head, in the other apparently a musical instrument. Four trophy heads hang from the trousers. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1977

Detail of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture. On the dress are trophy heads. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1969

Detail of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture with stylised birds. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1969

Detail at the edge of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture. Each person carries two trophy heads. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1977

Detail of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture with a stylised person carrying wings. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1969

Detail of a mummy cloth (manto) of the Paracas necropolis culture with a stylised cat (11 cm). Museo de la Universidad Nacional de San Agustín - Arequipa - 1976

Chan Chan was the capital of the pre-Columbian Chimú Empire. Best preserved is the Tschudi area, named after the Swiss researcher Tschudi. The palace is now known as Palacio Nik-An. This area is being restored and is open to tourists. Here you can still see some of the banqueting halls with their magnificent decorations. - 1969

The "Huaca del Dragon", or as it is also called, rainbow temple, is located outside the city of Trujillo near Chan Chan. It is a large religious monument, ceremonial and administrative centre made of mud bricks, whose murals are decorated with relief friezes depicting anthropomorphic figures and depicting the rainbow in stylised form. - 1969

Detail eines Federkleides - Chimú-Kultur - Amano-Museum - Lima - 1976

Gold death mask - Chimú culture - width 32 cm - Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1977

Coastal ceramics influenced by the Chimú culture - Height 16 cm - Museo Regional de Ancash - Huaraz - 1976

Black, shiny ceramics of the Chimú-Inca culture - height 29 cm - Museo Arqueológico Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

Chimú-Lambayeque Culture - XII. Century - Diameter: 10 cm - Weight 25 g - Burial figure dressed with an ornamental skirt and a burial mask on the face - consists of equal parts of gold, silver and copper - cast and hammered - Museo Arqueológico Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

Two gold vases with turquoise inlays - - 1977

Gold vase of the Chimú culture - Height 20,5 cm, diameter on top 17 cm - Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología - Lima - 1977

Gold vase and ear pendant of the Chimú culture - height of the vase 20,5 cm - diameter top 17 cm - Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología - Lima - 1977

Bangle, pin and earrings of the Chimú culture - Private collection - 1969

Chimú breast jewellery - with 166 faces, silver figures - Origin: Lambayeque - Archaeological Museum Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

The golden tumi of Íllimo was a knife or ceremonial axe of the Lambayeque culture (8th to 14th centuries), although it was long wrongly attributed to the Chimú culture. It was made of embossed gold leaf and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Its blade had a semi-circular shape and its handle was an elaborate representation of a deity, probably the mythical Naylamp mentioned in Spanish chronicles. It is the most famous example of old Peruvian goldsmithing. It was stolen from the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology in Lima in 1981. The valuable stolen piece had the following dimensions: Total length 43.5 cm; length of the figure of the god 29 cm; length of the knife in the shape of a half-moon 14.5 cm; maximum width 15.5 cm. The weight was 1 kilogram. - 1977

Tumi of gold, ceremonial axe - Height 35,4cm - Weight 457,5 g - 22 carat - set with turquoise - Chimú culture - Museo Oro del Perú - Lima - 1977

Tumi of gold, ceremonial axe - Chimú culture - Private collection - Lima - 1969

Lambayeque culture - gold tumi with turquoise inlays, representing the deity "Naymlap" - 22 carat - weight 536 g - Museo Oro del Perú - Lima - 1977

Gold and silver cast brooch of the Chimú Lambayeque culture - hammered and embossed work - with shells and earrings in turquoise - 12th century - Height 4.5 cm, weight 7 g - Museo Arqueológico Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

Detail of a pre-Inca fabric. Height 43 cm, width 29 cm. There are 15 motifs on the fabric, it measures 3.22 m by 1.57 m. - Museo Puruchuco - Lima - 1976

Detail of a pre-Inca fabric. There are 15 motifs on the fabric and it measures 3.22 m by 1.57 m. - Museo Puruchuco - Lima - 1976

Feather hat - 12th century - Contents of a burial bundle - Ceremonial dress of feathers interspersed with silver - Puruchuco Museum - Lima - 1976

Fabrics of wool and cotton - Mochica culture - Origin Chiquitoy, Trujillo - Museo Amano - Lima - 1976

Tissue of the Nazca Culture - Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima - 1977

Gold bracelet of the Nazca culture - Colobri figures in flight and rings in high relief - 18 carat - Weight 60 g - Length 14.2 cm, width 7 cm - Museo Oro del Perú - Lima - 1977

Bottle with double spout and bridge from the Nazca culture depicting a Nazca god - age ca. 1700 years - height 22 cm - found in the Hacienda Cahuachi - Department Ica - Regional Museum of Ica - 1969

Bottle with double spout and bridge from the Nazca culture depicting a Nazca god - age ca. 1700 years - height 22 cm - found in the Hacienda Cahuáchi - Department Ica - Regional Museum of Ica - 1969

Ceramic drinking vessel of the Nazca culture in the shape of a fish - Museo Regional de Ica - 1969

Nazca culture ceramic bottle - Museo Regional de Ica - 1969

Nazca culture ceramic bottle representing a monkey - Museo Regional de Ica - 1969

Bottle with double spout and bridge from the Nazca culture - Private collection, Lima - 1969

Nazca culture ceramic vase - Private collection, Lima - 1969

Doll from Chancay - Height 35 cm - Private collection - Lima - 1976

Doll from Chancay - Height 34 cm - Private collection - Lima - 1976

Belt with male figures in cotton and wool - width 10,2 cm - Museo Amano - Lima - 1976

Chancay fabric with stylised personified animals - Height 22.5 cm - Width 8 cm - Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima

Vicús culture ceramic vase - Museo Regional de Ica - 1969

Vicus-Frías culture - golden hair remover - 20 carats - weight 41,5 g - height 13 cm - Museo "Oro del Perú" Miguel Mujica Gallo - Lima - 1977

Ceramic of the Mochica culture - Private collection - 1969

Ceramic huaco of the Chimú culture - Private collection - Lima - 1969

Ceramic huaco of the Mochica culture - Private collection - Lima - 1969

Ceramic huaco with a toucan - culture Mochica - Private collection - Lima - 1969

Big pot with cat relief - tricolour - 3 cats with body and head - found in Jancu near Huaraz, Ancash - culture Recuay - Regional museum of Huaraz - 1976

Huaylas ceramics - Representation of the sun deity on the back. Height 17,5 cm - Place of discovery Jancu near Huaraz, Ancash - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Ceramic vessel Huaylas with a cat-like creature in negative painting - Height 23 cm - Place of discovery Jancu near Huaraz - culture Recuay - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Ceramics of the culture Santa, Huari period, with two monkeys and snakes with human head - Height 20,5 cm - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Ceramics of the culture Santa, Huari period, with two monkeys and a musician playing on the zampoña - on the vessel a stylized cat animal is painted - Height 26 cm - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Human figure with child carved in stone - Height 84 cm - culture Recuay - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Human figure carved in stone - Height 97 cm - culture Recuay - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Stone slab with man and two pumas - width 1.65 m - culture Recuay - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Stone slab with two pumas and two birds - height 57 cm - culture Recuay - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Stone slab with two pumas and a human holding two trophy heads - Height 38 cm, width 1.69 m - Height of the human 32 cm - culture Recuay - Museo Regional de Huaraz - 1976

Stone figure of the Huaylas type - Private collection - Lima - 1969

Very often, on the heights of the Collao Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, one finds those strange monolithic chullpas, mummy graves of high leaders and members of a mysterious race that existed "before the sun rose". In Sillustani, on the Umayo peninsula on the lake of the same name, there are twelve tomb towers, some of which have collapsed. - 1976

Very often, on the heights of the Collao Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, one finds those strange monolithic chullpas, mummy graves of high leaders and members of a mysterious race that existed "before the sun rose". In Sillustani, on the Umayo peninsula on the lake of the same name, there are twelve tomb towers, some of which have collapsed. - 1969

Very often, on the heights of the Collao Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, one finds those strange monolithic chullpas, mummy graves of high leaders and members of a mysterious race that existed "before the sun rose". In Sillustani, on the Umayo peninsula on the lake of the same name, there are twelve tomb towers, some of which have collapsed. This tower has the relief of a lizard. - 1969

Detail of the wall of a square Chullpa of Cotimbo near Puno on Lake Titicaca. - 1969

The square shape of a Chullpa is very rare - Cotimbo near Puno on Lake Titicaca - 1969

Very often, on the heights of the Collao Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, one finds those strange monolithic chullpas, mummy graves of high-ranking leaders and members of a mysterious race that existed "before the sun rose". The blunt, 12 m high burial tower of Cutimbo, near Puno, has a relief with pumas at its base.

This puma head is part of a well in Juli - Puno - 1976

The petroglyphs of Toro Muerto are located in the Majes valley and are spread over an area of 5 km². It is perhaps the richest area of rock art in the world; it has more than 6'000 blocks engraved in bas-relief. These blocks have been engraved with all kinds of geometric and anthropomorphic representations, birds, quadrupeds, reptiles, etc. - 1976

Detail of a Tiahuanaco fabric, 160x62 cm, made of cotton and wool - Origin: Campanario, Huarmey - Amano Museum - Lima - 1976

Tiahuanaco warrior mummy from the coast - Nazca Valley - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Burial bundles of the coastal Tiahuanaco culture - Nazca Valley - 11th century - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Tiahuanaco fabric with four hands in red - Amano-Museum - Lima - 1976

Tiahuanaco culture ceramic vessel - Private collection Pelloni - Lima - 1969

Plate of the coastal Tiahuanaco culture - Nazca valley - 11th century - diameter 26 cm - Regional Museum of Ica - 1976

Coastal Tiahuanaco - Vessel with anthropomorphic representation of a warrior - Nazca valley - Height 32 cm - 10th century - Ica Regional Museum - 1969

Coastal Tiahuanaco - Vessel with anthropomorphic representation of a warrior - Nazca valley - Height 32 cm - 10th century - Ica Regional Museum - 1976

Ceramics of the coastal Tiahuanaco culture in the form of a man (priest?) with a Kero in his hands - 11th century - Nazca Valley - Museo Regional de Ica - 1976

Offering for the Pachamama - cult object made of stone - farm with animals and agricultural crops - private collection Lima - 1977

Offering for the Pachamama - Father, mother and two children - Cult object made of stone - Bolivia - 1977

Offering for the Pachamama - Hand - Length 10 cm - Private collection Lima - 1977

Two gauchos from the province of Córdoba try to catch a foal. They have retained some traditional garments of their status. Despite the rapid development of the country, they are and remain the living symbol of Argentina. The gaucho spends most of his existence on the horse, which is his most loyal friend. Rough, brave and strong, the man of the pampas loves freedom above all else. - 1973

The Iguassu Falls are located on the Argentine-Brazilian border, in the midst of a tropical nature with lush vegetation. The imposing Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Gorge) is one of the most beautiful points of these waterfalls. The water roars seventy metres below. - 1973

Gaucho Arnaldo in the evening light at Estancia Mimosa. (Entre Ríos Province). - 1973

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina. With a population of around 15 million, it is the largest city in South America. It stretches across the entire back part of the Río de La Plata estuary and is made up of a number of neighbourhoods, each with its own special face. In the peripheral zones, there are gardens full of colourful flowers. In the heart of the capital, large parks are somewhat reminiscent of those of London, which may have been their models. In these magnificent parks, many citizens spend their Sundays and holidays. The centre, where the skyscrapers stand, is teeming with life. This is the seat of trading houses, banks, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, nightclubs and cabarets. You can also see magnificent avenues in this district. The "Avenida 9 de Julio" is considered by Argentines to be the widest in the world. - 1973

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina. With a population of around twelve million, it is the largest city in South America. It stretches across the entire back part of the Río de La Plata estuary and is made up of a number of neighbourhoods, each with its own special face. In the peripheral zones, there are gardens full of colourful flowers. In the heart of the capital, large parks are somewhat reminiscent of those of London, which may have been their models. In these magnificent parks, many citizens spend their Sundays and holidays. The centre, where the skyscrapers stand, is teeming with life. This is the seat of trading houses, banks, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, nightclubs and cabarets. You can also see magnificent avenues in this district. The "Avenida 9 de Julio" is considered by Argentines to be the widest in the world. - View of Buenos Aires from the Olivetti Tower. - 1973

The Calle Florida is an elegant shopping street in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. Sections of it have been a pedestrian zone since 1913. - 1973

The Plaza de Mayo represents the heart of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. This place is the former founding area of the city and, like almost all South American plazas, serves representative purposes. It is located near the old port in the Monserrat district. - 1973

The Avenida de Mayo is a large avenue in the Montserrat district of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Planned as a majestic boulevard based on the Parisian model and opened on July 9, 1894 after heated arguments, the Avenida de Mayo is now a symbol of Argentine-Spanish relations and reflects the social problems of Buenos Aires. The avenue, lined mainly with maple-leaved plane trees, connects the historic Plaza de Mayo with the Plaza del Congreso (picture) and halfway crosses the 16-lane main artery Avenida 9 de Julio. - 1973

The Casa Rosada is the palace of the President of Argentina. It is located in the capital Buenos Aires on the east side of the Plaza de Mayo in the Montserrat district. - 1973

This old covered wagon moves through the streets of the La Boca district in the east of Buenos Aires. - 1973

Near the large port of the Argentine capital is the famous neighbourhood of «La Boca», where, according to popular myth, the tango is said to have originated - which is not entirely true. From the middle of the 19th century onwards, thousands of immigrants came to the country. They settled more or less everywhere, but showed a certain preference for the Buenos Aires area. There were many Italians among them. They liked it particularly well in «La Boca». This district consists of small, nested houses made of corrugated iron, painted in vivid colours, which make up all its charm. The inhabitants, called porteños, earn their living from a wide variety of activities in the capital's huge port. «La Boca» is a centre of attraction for tourists in search of the exotic. - 1973

Near the large port of the Argentine capital is the famous neighbourhood of «La Boca», where, according to popular myth, the tango is said to have originated - which is not entirely true. From the middle of the 19th century onwards, thousands of immigrants came to the country. They settled more or less everywhere, but showed a certain preference for the Buenos Aires area. There were many Italians among them. They liked it particularly well in «La Boca». This district consists of small, nested houses made of corrugated iron, painted in vivid colours, which make up all its charm. The inhabitants, called porteños, earn their living from a wide variety of activities in the capital's huge port. «La Boca» is a centre of attraction for tourists in search of the exotic. - Calle Suarez 179 - 1973

In the streets of the Olivos district in the metropolitan area of Greater Buenos Aires, this basket maker peddles his horse and cart. - 1973

According to tradition, the tango, the Argentine national dance, was born in the 19th century in San Telmo, a district of the state capital. It was first adopted by young people of rather free morals, then by the sons of “good families”. The singer Carlos Gardel contributed to the spread of tango throughout the world. This artist is still present in all memories. The Argentines have a real cult for him. - 1973

Night falls on the capital of Argentina. The nightlife is about to begin. Restaurants, cabarets, nightclubs, concert halls, cinemas and theatres by the hundreds invite city dwellers to leave their homes and enjoy themselves. Thousands of people crowd the pavements, while the traffic on the streets is becoming more and more intense. In the famous Avenida Corrientes, one of the most beautiful streets in Buenos Aires, neon lights are lit and shop windows are illuminated. The air becomes fresher and the great capital finally deserves the name given to it by Pedro de Mendoza in the 16th century. - 1973

Argentina's climate varies greatly from season to season. During the southern summer, the temperature sometimes becomes stifling, easily exceeding 30 degrees in the shade. This heat is all the more trying because it is accompanied by very high humidity. The inhabitants of the capital suffer more than those in the countryside from this situation. The result is a mass exodus to the beaches, especially to Mar del Plata, Argentina's famous seaside resort. It is located on the Atlantic coast, some 400 kilometres south of Buenos Aires. Thousands of tourists and holidaymakers frequent Mar del Plata, especially during the months of January to March, when the summer holidays take place. In addition to the pleasures of bathing, water sports and fishing, the city offers its occasional residents everything that an urban centre has to offer in terms of entertainment. Tourists stay in luxurious hotels, can rent houses or flats, thus escaping the heat of the capital and the main cities in the centre of their country. - 1973

Argentina, the country of bovines, however, has a wildlife that is well represented and varies from one region to another. In this area, the Atlantic coastline occupies a privileged place. It is true that it stretches, from north to south, over hundreds of kilometres. Mammals and birds abound on the coasts. In Cabo dos Bahías (province of Chubut) there is a huge colony of penguins. These animals are protected. They live their lives in peace and quiet and are a fascinating subject of study for the naturalist. They are not very shy and are easy to approach. - 1973

There are many species of wildlife along the coast of Argentina. In addition to penguins, there are also the lobos (sea wolves), which are scattered along the coast. These lobos, like other animals along the coast, form colonies that are surprisingly large in number. One of these groups has taken up residence in La Lobería, in the province of Río Negro. - 1973

Among the wild species of the Argentinean coast are the elephant seals, which, like the others, live in huge colonies. At the northern end of the Valdés peninsula (Chubut province), one of these colonies can be seen and is a real tourist attraction. These enormous mammals laze lazily on the beach floor. Despite their somewhat fearsome appearance, elephant seals - especially the females and young - are harmless. Only if you try to cut off their retreat to the sea do they become aggressive. - 1973

Argentina's soil holds real treasures, but has not yet been fully explored. Oil, however, has been extracted for years, in considerable quantities in the area of Comodoro Rivadavia province of Chubut on the southern coastal strip. If you follow the road from Buenos Aires to the southern tip, you will notice strange machines in the pampas, reminiscent of large grasshoppers, which are constantly pumping oil out of the earth's interior. Drilling rigs also rise up from the ocean. Comodoro Rivadavia is home to thousands of engineers, workers and employees who earn their living directly or indirectly from the oil deposits. The “black gold” is not refined in the city itself, but in La Plata, south of Buenos Aires. Comodoro Rivadavia's oil production covers part of the country's needs. Further drilling is being done in other provinces, especially in Mendoza and San Juan. - 1973

Comodoro Rivadavia is an important port and industrial city on the Atlantic coast of the province of Chubut in southern Argentina. The town of Comodoro Rivadavia was founded in 1901 as the center of the sheep farming region in Central Patagonia. However, when oil was found in search of drinking water in 1907, the city began to grow rapidly. - 1973

For Argentines, Patagonia is a remote and wild world where the most diverse legends circulate. In his work “The Children of Captain Grant”, Jules Verne has given us a description of this mysterious country that excites our imagination. The Río Negro marks the natural border between the provinces of Buenos Aires and Río Negro. In the background of the photo, we can see the silhouette of the church of Carmen de Patagones, an important place of the colonization of the country. During the 19th century, immigrants used the rivers that cross Patagonia in order to penetrate the interior of the country. - 1973

The settlement of settlers from Wales in the valleys of southern Argentina represented the first stage of a comprehensive colonisation programme. Welsh people even ventured into the Andes range. Their intention was to promote agriculture and exploit mineral resources in this part of Argentina. North and west of the Río Chubut, they discovered virgin land as they advanced into the long valleys of the Sierra. The picture shows the interior of a colonial home in Gaiman (Chubut province), an important settlement. This home belongs to Miss Mainwen Williams, the 70-year-old daughter of an Argentinian mother and a Welsh father. Her family includes nine siblings. All the objects that decorate the house are about eighty years old, so they date from the first period of immigrant settlement in this region. There is a small Welsh museum in Gaiman. - 1973

This kiosk is located at Plaza 25 de Mayo in the city of San Juan. The newspaper vendor is selling her wares. - 1973

The sky over Patagonia looks different from anywhere else. It is often veiled by very light clouds that let a strange light shine through. Sometimes the wind blows in violent gusts and causes sandstorms. Then it is necessary to seek shelter immediately to escape the turmoil of the elements. A yellowish light intensifies the sense of threat that grips the traveller. But the storm does not last long, and soon the sky is clear again. The inhabitants of the Pampas have taken advantage of the wind. They set up windmills at various points on their property and use them to pump water out of the ground. In many places this precious wet is completely lacking, which is all the more regrettable because thousands of cattle, which together with the sheep make up the wealth of Patagonia, need a watering place. This picture was taken on the estancia “Las Toscas” in the province of Santa Cruz. - 1973

National Road 3 between Viedma and San Antonio Oeste (Río Negro province). This important transport connection begins in Buenos Aires and leads to the zones near the south polar. Its total length is 3218 kilometres. At the other end of the road, in Tierra del Fuego, is Ushuaia, the southernmost city on earth. The initially asphalted National Road 3 gradually turns into a sandy track, riddled with deep holes that endanger the traffic. Drivers have to be very careful. Petrol stations and garages are rare. Keep this in mind when you travel to Patagonia. Drivers always carry provisions, enough petrol and tools to repair breakdowns. They also have a sense of solidarity and are always ready to help a motorist in trouble. - 1973

A cistern truck and a car are travelling on National Road 3 in Patagonia. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Patagonia, also known as desierto verde (green desert), is an immense sheep pasture. The sheep are bred only for the wool. The estancieros completely neglect meat production. The sheep meat is therefore of poor quality and plays no role at all in the national budget. On the other hand, the price of wool has been repeatedly driven up on the international market. About ten million sheep are kept in the polar zones, seven million in Patagonia alone. The wool is pressed into bales of 200 to 300 kilos. It is shipped by ship from Río Gallegos (Santa Cruz province) to Buenos Aires and from Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) to Europe. In the last few years, synthetic fibres have increasingly competed with wool. Our picture was taken between Río Gallegos and Río Turbio (Santa Cruz province), on the track leading to the Cordillera. - 1973

The boleadoras were the gaucho's first weapon with which he infallibly forced an ostrich (Ñandú) or a bull to the ground within thirty meters. - 1976

This track leads to the Estancia Killik Aike Norte in the province of Santa Cruz. - 1973

Sheep shearing takes place during the months of December and January, in the heart of the southern summer. The work is carried out in a galpón, a building reserved for this purpose that can be seen in all the estancias. The sheep are led to the galpón by ovejeros on horseback. Each esquilador (shearer) shears about 200 sheep a day. He uses an electric shearer set in motion by a motor which, at the same time, provides light to the property. Twice a year the esquiladores cut the wool around the sheep's eyes. The animals cannot see clearly because of the thickness of their fleece. - 1973

The owners of the estancias are very often descendants of immigrants from Europe. They raise sheep to produce as much wool as possible. This estancia is called “Cancha Carreras” and is located between Río Turbio and Calafate (Santa Cruz province). An estancia consists of several buildings, namely residential houses, galpones, workshops, storage sheds, garages, meeting and entertainment halls, libraries, etc. On some estancias you can even find an airfield on which the small planes land that are necessary for the quick connection between the farm and the provincial capital. Enormous distances separate the individual estancias, which are practically cut off from the rest of the world. Contact with the outside world is maintained with the help of short-wave transmitters. Springs guarantee the water supply. They make it possible to establish plantations. Around the estancia stretches the grassy steppe of the pampas, where the domestic animals can graze undisturbed. - 1973

The araucarias (Araucaria araucana) grow in the Andes on both sides of the border between Argentina and Chile. This tree reaches a height of 30 meters. - 1973

South of Sarmiento, one comes across a petrified forest known as “Bosque José Ormachea”. It consists of araucaria trunks that are around 70 million years old. Around it stretches the desert, dominated by washed-out, strangely coloured hills. - 1973

South of Sarmiento, one comes across a petrified forest known as “Bosque José Ormachea”. It consists of araucaria trunks that are around 70 million years old. Around it stretches the desert, dominated by washed-out, strangely coloured hills. - Province of Chubut - 1973

Guanacos are the most common wild animals in Patagonia. They belong to the large family of camels. Guanacos live in groups, are extremely shy and flee at any unusual noise. The Tehuelche used guanaco skins to make their clothing. - 1973

Guanacos are the most common wild animals in Patagonia. They belong to the large family of camels. Guanacos live in groups, are extremely shy and flee at any unusual noise. The Tehuelche used guanaco skins to make their clothing. Cabo dos Bahías - Province of Chubut - 1973

Guanacos are the most common wild animals in Patagonia. They belong to the large family of camels. Guanacos live in groups, are extremely shy and flee at any unusual noise. The Tehuelche used guanaco skins to make their clothing. - Cabo dos Bahías - Province of Chubut - 1973

This armadillo, called a pichi, lives in southern Patagonia. It feeds on grasses and roots. These armadillos are often hunted for their tasty meat. Traditional musical instruments such as the charangos are also made from the carapace parts of some armadillo species. - 1973

The “Cueva de las Manos”, a difficult-to-access rock shelter above the Río Pinturas, between Bajo Caracoles and Perito Moreno (Santa Cruz province). The walls are covered all over with depictions of hands. - 1973

The “Cueva de las Manos”, a difficult-to-access rock shelter above the Río Pinturas, between Bajo Caracoles and Perito Moreno (Santa Cruz province). In a side grotto are these rock paintings of guanacos, hands and symbols. The diameter of the circle is 27 cm. - 1973

Representations of a younger, more developed culture depict meanders, either painted or carved, forming intricate overall patterns. In certain cases, they are even extremely complex labyrinths. They too are probably an expression of religious ideas, but the exact meaning of all these symbols cannot be determined. - This rock painting is located near San Martín de los Andes. - 1975

On the estancia “La Margarita” at Lake Viedma, in the province of Santa Cruz, the gauchos set off for the sheep pastures. On horseback, they cover great distances across the steppes of Patagonia. - 1973

Farrier Delphin Rodríguez from Bahía Bustamante (Chubut province) smiles cheerfully, which is not at all the case for all gauchos in the Pampas. Most of them are rough around the edges as a result of their adventurous lives. It often takes a lot of patience to be accepted by the men in a group. However, beneath the tough exterior lies a big heart. Their love of nature and the great outdoors has become legendary. They are completely at one with the special landscape in which they live, and their profession requires people of unusual strength. - 1973

The gaucho spends most of his life on horseback. He watches over the huge herds of sheep in Patagonia. When he rests from his long journeys across the pampas, he devotes himself to handicrafts. He makes admirable leather whips and takes special care in the manufacture of his stirrups, which are an important part of the mount. The horse of Delphin Rodríguez, the farrier in the previous photo, has stirrups decorated with beautifully crafted wooden pieces. - 1973

On 21 October 1520, Ferdinand Magellan and a fleet of four ships entered a strait separating Patagonia from Tierra del Fuego, which today bears his name. On 28 November of the same year, the Portuguese navigator's sailors reached the Pacific Ocean. The passage had taken thirty-six days. This achievement was one stage in the first voyage around the world, an adventure that was to end in death for Magellan and most of the men in his crew. Today, traversing the Strait of Magellan offers no difficulties, despite the harsh weather in these regions. A ferry connects the mainland with the large southern island. The areas on both sides of the strait belong to Chile. Tierra del Fuego owes its name to the navigator Magellan, who was astonished to notice Indian fires all along the shores. Today, instead of the Indian fires, the columns of flames from the oil drilling sites glow there. The National Road 3 leads to the northern shore of the strait and continues over there. - 1973

On the map, the north of Tierra del Fuego is the natural continuation of the Argentine Patagonia. Here, too, the vast plains can be found, where thousands of domestic animals graze on the thin grasslands. Three million sheep are raised in huge estancias. Suddenly, however, the landscape changes. Hills appear, covered by forests that become denser towards the south. Here, rainfall also increases, allowing lush vegetation to develop. - 1973

This picture is a document. It depicts Angela Loij, who was born sometime between 1896 and 1898 on the estancia “La Sara” (Tierra del Fuego province). This woman is the last survivor from the Ona-lndian tribe, who inhabited a large part of Tierra del Fuego not so long ago. Angela Loij lives in a modest little house in Río Grande, the second largest town on the island, with the support of some clergymen who have settled in the area. The Ona hunted on foot. They consumed the meat of guanacos, foxes, birds and seals, but also shellfish, mushrooms, wild fruits and berries. They built conical, portable huts out of branches and covered them with skins. To protect themselves from the cold, they greased their bodies. The Ona lived in small groups of only about twenty people. - 1973

The dusty track of National Road 3 between Puerto San Julián and Puerto Santa Cruz - Patagonia - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Low tide on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean at the provincial border south of Comodoro Rivadavia. View towards the northeast - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Barren landscape on the way to Puerto San Julián on the Antlantic coast - Santa Cruz province - 1973

Flock of sheep on the Río Gallegos - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Letterbox of the Estancia La Tapera - in the background the Río Chico - Province Santa Cruz - 1973

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego province) is the southernmost city on earth. It was built on the northern bank of the Beagle Channel. Its foundation dates back to 1862, the work of Reverend Waite Hockin Sterling, who came to this deserted area to protect the Indians against the bad treatment they were subjected to by the whites. Ushuaia is on Argentinean soil. On the other side of the channel, you can see islands that belong to Chile. Cape Horn is not far away. Buenos Aires, on the other hand, lies 3218 kilometres by road to the north ... For about fifty years, Ushuaia served as a penal colony. Today it has about five thousand inhabitants. The port is frequented by ships of small and medium tonnage as well as by sailing boats, whose owners sometimes sail around the world all by themselves. Tourists are rare in Ushuaia. The city's strategic location is important. The Argentine army maintains an air force and naval base here. - 1973

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego province) is the southernmost city on earth. It was built on the northern bank of the Beagle Channel. Its foundation dates back to 1862, the work of Reverend Waite Hockin Sterling, who came to this deserted area to protect the Indians against the bad treatment they were subjected to by the whites. Ushuaia is on Argentinean soil. Cape Horn is not far away. Buenos Aires, on the other hand, lies 3218 kilometres by road to the north ... For about fifty years, Ushuaia served as a penal colony. Today it has about five thousand inhabitants. The port is frequented by ships of small and medium tonnage as well as by sailing boats, whose owners sometimes sail around the world all by themselves. Tourists are rare in Ushuaia. The city's strategic location is important. The Argentine army maintains an air force and naval base here. - 1973

View of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. - 1973

This decommissioned ship is anchored near Ushuaia. - 1973

On the way to Estancia Sofía - Río Gallegos Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

At the east end of Lago Fagnano in the region of Hostería Kaiken - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

At Lago Argentino in the Calafate region. There are indigenous pictograms on the rocks. In the background the Andes. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Disused wheels on the edge of the Río La Leona - in the background Cerro Fortalezza 722m - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Río La Leona with Cerro Fortaleza, 722m. - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Horse skeleton in the pampas north of Río Turbio on the way to Calafate. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

After a heavy rain on the track from Camarones to Bahia Bustamante - Chubut Province - 1973

Travelling flea market in Commodoro Rivadavia - Chubut Province - 1973

A goods train on an unguarded level crossing near Lepa station - Chubut province - 1973

Steam locomotive with coal trailer in Río Turbio - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

A few kilometres outside Ushuaia is the southernmost national park on earth, where nature has retained all its authenticity. It is forbidden to hunt, fish or cut wood. It is teeming with water birds, predators, hares. Still lakes shine in the most glorious colours. A snow mountain, EI Condor, rises from the park and forms the border between Argentina and Chile, to which the western part of Tierra del Fuego belongs. Argentina has many national parks. - 1973

Mountain range in the region around Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego ARG - 1973

On the Río Pipo southwest of Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego ARG - 1973

These iron wheels can be found on the Río Pipo in the Argentinean part of Tierra del Fuego. Monte Susana in the background. - 1973

In recent years, a lively trade has developed between Ushuaia and various ports around the world. In the city's shops you can buy alcoholic beverages, clothes made of synthetic fibres, electrical appliances and cameras at unrivalled prices. The main customers are sailors in transit. Many of the inhabitants of Ushuaia earn their living through trade. The quays are busy at all hours of the day and night. Large bales of wool are waiting to be loaded. Each one bears the name of the estancia from which it came. Men are constantly rushing back and forth between the ships and the goods stacked in the harbour. A ship from Italy has anchored in the bay of Ushuaia. Immediately, the cargo of about six thousand sheep is brought on board. This is no easy task, because the animals are scattered all over the place. Each of them represents a value of about eighty francs. Beyond the canal, on its southern bank, the imposing outline of the island of Navarino can be seen, which is in Chilean possession. - 1973

There are huge flocks of sheep in Patagonia. Not the meat but the wool is the main purpose of sheep farming. One sheep yields four to five kilos of wool. After shearing, this is pressed into bales weighing about 200 kilograms and wrapped in cloth. In the port of Río Grande, these bales are shipped to Europe. - 1973

There are huge flocks of sheep in Patagonia. Not the meat but the wool is the main purpose of sheep farming. One sheep yields four to five kilos of wool. After shearing, it is pressed into bales weighing about 200 kilograms and wrapped in a cloth on which a worker writes the name of the estancia. - Estancia “Las Toscas” in the province of Santa Cruz. - 1976

Lake Brazo Rico near Calafate - in the background you can already see the Perito Moreno glacier. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Rainbow over Lake Brazo Rico near Calafate - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

The northern arm of Lake Brazo Rico near Calafate - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

At the northern arm of the lake Brazo Rico near Calafate with a dead tree and two water birds - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Landscape at the eastern end of Lago Argentino. In the background the Andes. - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. - On the picture you can recognise the author of these photos: Maximilien Bruggmann. - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. Navigation on the Silver Lake is dangerous, if only because of the wind and the storms that are frequent in the Cordillera. Nature, preserved in its authenticity, attracts many scientists who can devote themselves to their studies here. - 1973

The Argentine Antarctic covers an area of 1,230,000 square kilometres, a world of ice and rocks that is still largely unexplored. Only a few have had the courage and endurance to venture into this inhospitable region, where dangers threaten and temperatures are extremely low. Already in certain sections of the Andes Cordillera, especially in the southernmost part, one feels this impression of solitude. You only have to make the trip to the Perito Moreno glacier to convince yourself of this. This magnificent glacier owes its name to an Argentinean naturalist. It is 17 kilometres long and at least three kilometres wide, with a front height of 70 metres. Here at the glacier break-off, blocks of ice are constantly breaking away and plummeting into the depths with a deafening roar. They then float as icebergs through Lake Argentino. The Perito Moreno glacier advances four metres a year - a consequence of the heavy precipitation on the peaks of the southernmost Andes. - 1973

An Indian woman from the province of Neuquén. She belongs to the Araucaniens, who live on both sides of the border between Argentina and Chile. The silver jewellery worn by the women of this ethnic group is remarkable. - 1973

Tobacco pouch made of ñandú leather (South American ostrich). This wild animal abounds in Patagonia; it is smaller than its African counterpart. The object has a length of 35 centimetres. It is decorated with small silver nails, which form symbolic designs (Museo de la Patagonia, Bariloche, Río Negro). - 1973

The nguillatun is the most important festival of the Araucan Indians. This photo was taken in San Martín de los Andes (province of Neuquén), without the knowledge of the natives for whom the festival has a sacred meaning. - 1973

Fitz Roy 3405 m), one of the most beautiful Argentinean Andean peaks, rises in the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz province). Because of the harsh weather that prevails in the mountains, it is dangerous to climb. - 1973

Fitz Roy (3375 m), one of the most beautiful Argentinean Andean peaks, rises in the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz province). Because of the harsh weather that prevails in the mountains, it is dangerous to climb. - 1973

Guanacos grazing on the pampas. The Fitz Roy massif in the background. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

On the Estancia Santa Margarita. In the background the Fitz Roy massif. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

San Carlos de Bariloche in the province of Río Negro is one of the most famous holiday resorts in Argentina, along with Mar del Plata. Even in neighbouring countries, in the United States and in Europe, people talk about it. An 1800-kilometre asphalt road provides the connection to Buenos Aires. The city was built on the shores of the famous Lake Nahuel Huapi. In summer and winter, thousands of tourists from all provinces of the country and from abroad crowd the streets. They have displaced the Araucanians, who were once the unchallenged masters of the whole area. San Carlos de Bariloche is something like a small capital in the mountains. There are picturesque little houses here, but also skyscrapers and ostentatious buildings, which contribute to the fact that the place is getting uglier and uglier. Diversions include fishing, sailing, swimming, golf and, in winter, skiing. Lake Nahuel Huapi lends its name to a huge national park where you can find plant species peculiar to the region and wildlife, including deer. - 1973

The cobbled main square of San Carlos de Bariloche. - Neuquén Province - 1973

El Chocón is the fourth of five dams on the Río Limay in the northwestern part of Patagonia in Argentina. The reservoir lies on the border of the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro and is the largest hydropower plant in Patagonia. It is used to monitor and control the flow of the Río Limay to the Río Negro. The water is also used for irrigation. - 1973

62 kilometres away from San Carlos de Bariloche, on the banks of the Limay River, lies Valle Encantado, a place with a special magic. Surrounded by mountains and rock formations that, letting the imagination run wild, come to life in the eyes of the beholder. - Neuquén Province - 1973

62 kilometres away from San Carlos de Bariloche, on the banks of the Limay River, lies Valle Encantado, a place with a special magic. Surrounded by mountains and rock formations that, letting the imagination run wild, come to life in the eyes of the beholder. . Neuquén Province - 1973

Lake Espejo is a lake of glacial tectonic origin located in the department of Los Lagos in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. It is near the town of Villa La Angostura and is part of the Seven Lakes Road. Its name is due to the fact that its calm and clean waters reflect the landscapes of its shores like a mirror. It is fed by the melt water from the surrounding mountains through several streams that flow into it. Its shores alternate volcanic sandy beaches, reed beds and steep rocky areas. - 1973

The estancia is a small town. It includes many different buildings. Sometimes there is even a school, which is attended by the children of the farm workers. This saves the pupils the trip to the next village, which is often dozens of kilometres away. A single teacher teaches the little ones and the big ones. Our picture was taken during the break in the school of the estancia “Palitué” (Neuquén province). Little José Luis Jimenéz, son of a peon, drinks his cup of milk. - 1973

Gauchos from the Palitué estancia (province of Neuquén) go to the corral (cattle park) where all the domestic animals on the estate are kept. They will carry out a strict selection of them. They dedicate themselves to this work whenever they are not called upon to carry out other tasks. But, in one case as in others, the gauchos always travel on horseback, which is their favourite means of transport, very rarely setting foot on land. They carry with them the accessories they need to do their work. - 1973

Cows from the Palitué estancia (province of Neuquén), which have just given birth to their young, are gathered in the corral. The gauchos will soon make their appearance in order to carry out work of the utmost importance. It is a matter of separating the heifers from their mothers, which is not without its difficulties. Then the cows are taken back by the gauchos to their respective pastures where they will eventually gain the necessary weight. To achieve this, they need to be perfectly quiet, hence the cruel necessity to take their offspring away from them. The pastures are chosen for the quality of their grass. Finally, the cows are sent by truck to the slaughterhouses and the meat is kept in the capital's refrigerators. These measures are justified by the fact that Argentines have a predominantly meat diet. But it should also be pointed out that the production and sale of meat abroad is one of the main economic activities of the Argentine nation. - 1973

The gaucho's task is both arduous and dangerous. It is the result of a long tradition which dates back to the beginning of the colonisation of the pampas. It requires skill, patience, endurance and a great deal of security of movement. These essential qualities are put to good use especially when sorting the animals inside the corral. The constant coming and going of the animals is not made to facilitate the movement of the gaucho. In addition, the dust that rises from the corral floor forms clouds in which people and animals seem to get lost. But the gaucho and his horse are one and the same, because they have been used to this kind of exercise for a long time. This agreement also exists between the different gauchos who work in an estancia. The daily task involves a lot of discipline on the part of the men. These conditions must be observed every time the animals are grouped together, taken to the pasture or sorted out. - 1973

The great rivers that run through Patagonia have their source in the Andes. The gradient is gentle, and the watercourses take their time before pouring into the Atlantic Ocean. But in the rainy season, when the storms rage in the peaks of the Cordillera, the rivers swell. Then floods threaten people, animals and crops. The inhabitants of both banks use the many fords as river crossings. The photograph shows a scene that used to be characteristic of life in the pampas, but is becoming increasingly rare today as a result of Argentina's economic development: A herd of four hundred Hereford cattle is being driven through the Río Alumine (Neuquén province) and taken to the next estancia. These transports are increasingly carried out with the help of trucks, at least where bridges allow the rapid crossing of Patagonia's rivers and streams. - 1973

This horse-drawn cart has obviously not been used for a long time - Estancia Palitué - Neuquén Province - 1975

From one province of Argentina to another, the gauchos dress somewhat differently. However, there are essential elements in their clothing and in the accessories they carry with them that can be found everywhere. The photo shows us, seen from behind, a gaucho from the province of Buenos Aires. Tirador or rastra are two words that designate the belt. The belt is often decorated with medals and old coins. The facón (knife), slipped into the belt, is made of chased silver. In other parts of the pampas, however, it is a common kitchen knife. - 1973

Here we are in the estancia known as Villa Maria. This large estate belongs to the province of Buenos Aires. It is the day of the remate, an important event in the life of the Argentinean pampas. The owners of the estancias sell some of their best cattle at public auction. Each participant will then be invited to a big meal. The preparation of this meal is not a simple task, due to the large number of guests who arrive at lunchtime. Meat is included in every meal, both in the country and in the city. A soup was offered to the participants. The empty plates form an impressive heap on the grass of the meadow. Beef quarters were attached to long metal stakes and placed in front of the embers of the fireplace. It is the asado, a typical dish of Argentinean cuisine, which delights tourists as much as the locals. This asado will be accompanied, as it should be, by delicious wines produced in the country. - 1973

The remate is in full swing in the Villa Maria estancia (Buenos Aires province). The event takes place inside a circular enclosure around which all the participants have gathered. The participants did not hesitate to travel several hundred kilometres to get to the remate. Most of them took a small plane to facilitate their travel. The large estates of Patagonia and the pampas are equipped with an airfield. Private planes allow fast connections between the estancias. They also make direct connections possible between the most remote estancias and the nation's capital. During the remate, the horned beasts are sold at public auction. The owners take their animals around the enclosure several times under the critical eye of the participants. The auctioneer leads the sale. He too is a great cattle connoisseur. Bulls are sold by piece or in pairs. In other cases, the owner gets rid of a whole lot of animals. Each remate is a feast, which is accompanied by a meal offered to the guests. - 1973

A Jesuit who came from Chile introduced the vine to Argentina in 1556. However, it was not until the 19th century that winegrowing took off considerably and became one of the country's most important food industries. The provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, Córdoba, Río Negro, San Luis and Salta are the wine-growing regions par excellence in Argentina. The total area covered by vineyards is almost 300,000 hectares. The annual wine production for all the provinces mentioned amounts to approximately 30 million hectolitres. Argentina is the fourth largest wine producer in the world. The most modern facilities are located in Mendoza, where winemaking has developed in a truly spectacular way. For the whole country, the grape harvest takes place during the month of March, at the end of the southern summer. A festive atmosphere prevails in all the localities concerned. The wine is put into wooden or cement fermentation vats. The alcohol content of Argentinean wine is 12.5 degrees. The old man in the photo is a connoisseur of the new wine. It illustrates the friendly fondness that Argentines have for a drink that is found at every meal. - 1973

Wine barrels at Barbita Abdala's 'Bodega El Recreo' in Cafayate - Salta Province - 1973

The famous Andean train connects Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile. It passes over high passes and through wilderness areas. Such is the case of Puente del Inca and Las Cuevas (Mendoza province). In winter, snowfalls are frequent and the train is sometimes blocked for several days. The railway runs along a track once used by the Incas. - 1973

Cemetery on the top of the pass at ‘Puente del Inca’ between Mendoza and Santiago - 1973

The Andes Cordillera is the backbone of the South American continent, forming at certain points an impassable barrier. It establishes the natural border between the eastern, low-lying areas and the Pacific coastline, which extends westwards for thousands of kilometres. The Aconcagua (approx. 7,000 metres), dear to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is the highest peak in the Andes mountain range. It rises majestically between Argentina and Chile. It is usually covered with clouds. Its ascent has tempted many andinists - the name given to mountaineers. However, it presents serious dangers. - 1973

The construction of the imposing cathedral on Plaza San Martin in the Argentine city of Córdoba began in the 16th century. Its completion took over 200 years (until 1782) and went through several architectural eras, which are reflected in the different styles of the monumental cathedral. Like other monumental buildings from the colonial era that are well worth seeing, the Roman Catholic church is located directly on the central square of Córdoba, Plaza San Martin. The square is truly the center of the city, because all of Córdoba's house numbers are counted from its northwest corner. - 1973

The construction of the imposing cathedral on Plaza San Martin in the Argentine city of Córdoba began in the 16th century. Its completion took over 200 years (until 1782) and went through several architectural eras, which are reflected in the different styles of the monumental cathedral. Like other monumental buildings from the colonial era that are well worth seeing, the Roman Catholic church is located directly on the central square of Cordoba, Plaza San Martin. The square is truly the center of the city, because all of Cordoba's house numbers are counted from its northwest corner. - 1973

Ox cart at the Secundo Nazario Hacienda, Villa Aberastain - San Juan Province - 1973

Argentina has a road network which in many provinces is in good condition. It allows for relatively fast travel, which is particularly appreciated as the distances between cities are enormous. Some roads extend as far as the southern regions. Others cross the pampas. Still others run along the Andes or set out to conquer the formidable mountain range. One of the latter links Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile, via passes at an altitude of over 4,000 metres. Very often these roads are not asphalted. Terrible natural obstacles hamper their maintenance. The National Road No. 40 follows the eastern flank of the Andes mountain range. It is the busiest road between Río Gallegos (province of Santa Cruz) and La Quiaca (province of Jujuy). It covers a distance of almost 4,500 kilometres. Avalanches and landslides interrupt this road. The landscape in the Calchaquies valley is desert-like. The rocks are reminiscent of backwash, hence the name of Corte el Ventisquero, given to this area of Salta. - 1973

A mine train brings the ore to the smelting plant in San Antonio de los Cobres - Province of Salta - 1975

The landscape between Cachi and Molinos (province of Salta) is characteristic. There is a plain where vegetation is scarce. The famous candelabra cactus (Saguaro) are among the best-represented species in the area. - 1975

The landscape between Cachi and Molinos (province of Salta) is characteristic. There is a plain where vegetation is scarce. The famous candelabra cactus (Saguaro) are among the best-represented species in the area. - 1973

A gaucho from the Campo Alegre estancia approaches us. He crosses the grassy plain of the province of Salta. The lasso and the guardamontes are made of leather. These last pieces protect the rider's legs from the thorny bushes that grow in this desert region of Argentina. His red woollen poncho shows a black band that was added by the weavers as a sign of mourning at the death of the caudillo Martin Miguel de Güemes, a native of the province of Salta. The bolas are hardly used today because of the accidents they caused, but they are present in the gaucho's saddle. - 1973

The landscape between Cachi and Molinos (province of Salta) is characteristic. There is a plain where vegetation is scarce. The famous candelabra cactus (Saguaro) are among the best-represented species in the area. - 1973

Young girl from Abra Pampa (province of Jujuy). In this place, the Andean Indian type dominates. - 1973

The church in the village of Humahuaca (province of Jujuy) is of colonial type. It is an ancient place, already frequented in pre-Columbian times, as evidenced by the partially restored ruins of Tilcara. - 1973

View of the small village of Catua in the province of Jujuy on the way over the Huaitiquina Pass to Antofagasta. - 1975

Archaeological discoveries have been numerous in the northwestern provinces of Argentina. The picture shows a female figure in terracotta, 31 centimetres high. This object belongs to the Condorhuasi culture (Museo Calchaquí, Catamarca). - 1973

The object shown here is a polished, red clay vase with black decorations and a vertical handle. Its diameter is 13 centimetres. It belongs to the Inca Paya culture (Museo arqueológico de Cachi, province of Salta). - 1973

Many pre-Columbian objects have been discovered in tombs, hence their religious character. This ritual bronze bell, decorated with anthropomorphic figures, is from the Santa Maria culture (Catamarca). The object is 22.5 centimetres high (Museo de Cachi, Province of Salta). - 1973

Among the traditional pieces collected from pre-Columbian burials, we should mention this grey stone mask with red decorations on the cheeks. It belongs to the Selen culture (Catamarca). It is 29.5 centimetres high (Museo Calchaqui, Catamarca province). - 1973

Tired of the long hike, you can relax comfortably, even if you are an obstacle on the road to Jujuy. - 1973

Small church near San Fernando in the Catamarca valley. - 1973

Bells of a small church near San Fernando in the Catamarca Valley. - 1973

Landscape near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujui Province. - 1973

Landscape near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujuy Province. - 1973

Landscape with llamas near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujui Province. - 1973

These horse-drawn vehicles will probably no longer exist today; they will have replaced them long ago. - Tucumán Province - 1973

Sugar cane is grown in the region of Villa Belgrano in the province of Tucumán. - 1973

'Pucará de Tilcara' is one of the most important archaeological sites in Northern Argentina, created from the site of an old Indian defensive village of the Tilcara Indians. It is located at an extremely good strategic point above the 'Quebrada de Humahuaca' canyon, where the Inca Road crosses. It is located at an altitude of 2450 m, one kilometer south of the city of Tilcara on a hill 80 m above the Río Grande in the province of Jujuy. - 1973

Maimara Cemetery ("Star that falls" in the omaguaca language), located in the department of Tilcara in the province of Jujuy. Its geographical environment belongs to the Humahuaca ravine, and its main characteristic is the polychromy of its hills. The Río Grande runs a few meters from there. - 1973

The historical monument Posta de la Angostura is a post dating from colonial times, located in the middle of Quebrada de Humahuaca, within the department of Tilcara, in the province of Jujuy. - 1973

Humahuaca in the north of the Jujuy Province - the boy Juanito is sitting on a Coca Cola box and selling his pottery. - 1973

On June 24th there is an alms harvest for San Juan in Jujuy. - 1973

During the conquest of South America, the Spaniards brought with them plant species that the Indians of the continent did not know yet: wheat, rye, barley, etc. The introduction of these plants went hand in hand with the introduction of new working methods. In the large estancias, the machine made its appearance. On the other hand, everywhere else, the farmers still used old techniques, which is why we have some very beautiful scenes, on a human scale. Peasants fanning porrotos (white beans) growing in the Sierra de Zapata (Catamarca). - 1973

The looms of pre-Columbian times consisted of four stakes planted in the ground. The Spaniards introduced the voluminous pedal loom, which was immediately adopted by the natives. It was mainly used to make fabrics of certain dimensions and a single colour. Beautiful red wool ponchos are woven in Molinos (Salta). They are worn by the locals or sold to tourists. - 1973

The folk music of the north-western provinces of Argentina is of remarkable diversity. Its origins date back to pre-Columbian times, but the influences of Western music are also clearly visible. This folklore has its followers among the foreigners as well as the natives. This Indian beats a small drum and sings, surrounded by colleagues and spectators. It is the eve of the Salta city festival in memory of the hero of the wars of independence, Martin Miguel de Güemes, a famous son of this province. - 1973

The city of Salta was founded by the Spanish in 1582. It lies at an altitude of 1187 m above sea level. The Church of San Francisco shows Spanish colonial style. - 1973

June 17th is a big day in the city of Salta. A popular festival celebrates the memory of an almost legendary figure, the popular leader Martin Miguel de Güemes, who died in 1821. Thousands of gauchos parade through the streets of the provincial capital. - 1973

The gauchos of Salta wear a flat hat reminiscent of the headgear of the Andalusians. - 1973

Girl from a family of zafreros living in the region of Tucumán. Sugar cane is the agricultural wealth of this province. But Tucumán is also considered the garden of the country. Rainfall is high, so a rich flora thrives. However, with its 22,524 square kilometres, Tucumán is the smallest province in the country. Sugar production reaches more than one million tonnes annually. The cañeros work on their own account. The zafra (harvest) takes place between June and September. - 1973

Hornos fijos (ovens) of the coalmen of Chaco. These constructions have a diameter of about 10 metres and a height of 4 metres. They can be found in the monte, the dense forest of the province. The hornos fijos are used to make charcoal. - 1973

In the monte, in the north of Santa Fe province, the locals beat the quebracho colourado. This is a tree about 25 metres high and with an average diameter of one and a half metres. The heartwood is rich in tannin, which is used in industry. - 1973

This horse-drawn vehicle will probably no longer exist today either; it will have replaced trucks a long time ago. - Between Goya and Esquina - Corrientes Province - 1973

The landscape in the north of Argentina exerts a great fascination on all travellers who pass through this area. Here they will also find a natural wonder: the world-famous lguassú Falls in the heart of the jungle, in the extreme north of the province of Misiones. They plunge 70 metres in no less than two hundred and seventy-five waterfalls forming a three-kilometre-long arc. The source of the lguassú is in Brazil. - 1973

The water network in Argentina is widely ramified. Large rivers run through the country. Most of them have their source in the Andes Cordillera. At times they flood, especially during the southern summer, when the rain pours down almost incessantly on the heights of the Sierra. From the eastern foot of the Andes to the coastal strip of the Atlantic Ocean stretches a wide plain with a very slight gradient. Here, the watercourses meander lazily before pouring into the sea. On its banks, humans found a home and could devote himself to agriculture. These conditions apply primarily to the southern provinces. In the north, on the other hand, the climate is characterised by frequent rainfall, which causes rivers and streams to swell. Many waterways are navigable and play a not insignificant role in transport. The vegetation is tropical, with an endless variety of plants, some of which are used industrially. The landscape exerts a great fascination on all travellers who pass through this area. Here they will also find a natural wonder: the world-famous lguassú Falls in the heart of the jungle, in the extreme north of the province of Misiones. They plunge 70 metres in no less than two hundred and seventy-five waterfalls forming a three-kilometre-long arc. The source of the lguassú is in Brazil. - 1973

Fabien Romero, called Chavi, is an old hunter and used to be an Indian slayer. He lives on the estancia “Miraflores” (Santa Fe province) and is said to be 112 to 115 years old. Like all Argentines, he likes to sip his mate tea. - 1973

A lumberjack from the north of the Santa Fe province enjoys his earned mate. - 1973

Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is the “green gold” of the province of Misiones, which has a tropical climate. The plantations of hierba mate cover an area of 200,000 hectares and yield an annual production of 95,000 tonnes. The zones where this shrub thrives are called hierbales. It takes four years for the plant to reach maturity. Each bush yields thirty kilos of green leaves, which results in ten kilos of dried leaves. It can be used for fifty years. The herb is used to brew the national drink, a refreshing, stimulating tea. - 1973

A hierbal near EI Dorado (Misiones province), whose current owners are from Switzerland. These two men, the tareferos, fill a raido with mate branches. One such bale - the jute fabric is called ponchada - weighs a hundred kilos. - 1973

In the 17th century, the Jesuits settled in the province of Misiones and founded reservations for the Indians. The crumbling church of San Ignacio Miní dates from that time. - 1973

In the 17th century, the Jesuits settled in the province of Misiones and founded reservations for the Indians. The crumbling church of San Ignacio Miní dates from that time. A strangler fig clings to a wall. - 1973

In the 17th century, the Jesuits settled in the province of Misiones and founded reservations for the Indians. The portal of the crumbling church of San Ignacio Mini dates from that time. - 1973

The majority of Paraguay's Indians are Guaranis. You also meet them in the Argentinean province of Misiones. This indigenous woman is sitting outside her house, weaving a basket. - 1973

The majority of Paraguay's Indians are Guaranis. You also meet them in the Argentinean province of Misiones. This indigenous man is sitting outside her house, weaving a basket. - 1973

A Guarani girl at the mission station of Padre José Marx SVD in San Ignacio - Province of Missiones - 1973

A Guarani boy at the mission station of Padre José Marx SVD in San Ignacio - Province of Missiones - 1973

The province of Corrientes is one of the most agriculturally fertile in Argentina. This is thanks to a climate whose temperatures always remain within pleasant limits and a rainfall that reaches 1800 millimetres in certain years. This zone in the north of the country also includes the province of Misiones. There are many population centres there. The inhabitants plant tobacco, rice, coffee, tropical fruits and hierba mate. But they also engage in cattle breeding. The large rivers allow some of the transport to be done by water. One only has to think of the Uruguay, which is 1812 kilometres long and twelve kilometres wide at its mouth. The abundance of rain has created numerous swamps and marshes, which have become a paradise for countless species of water birds and wild animals, an Eldorado for every nature lover. Horses can also be found here, going out to pasture. - 1973

The Río Paraná near the city of San Ignacio, known for the ruins of the Jesuit reduction of San Ignacio Miní, the remains of which are among the best preserved from this historical period. - Misiones province - 1973

Palm grove between Goya and Esquina - Corrientes province - 1973

The Puente General Manuel Belgrano is a road bridge over the Río Paraná that connects the Argentine cities of Resistencia in the province of Chaco and Corrientes in the province of the same name. Construction of the bridge 1968-1973. - 1973

On this chair, a gaucho has laid out his indispensable daily utensils: the chambergo (hat), the bolas, the leather lasso, the riding whip, the facón (knife), the tirador (belt), the stirrups, the bombilla and the mate. - 1973

A capataz of the estancia “La Amalia” (Entre Ríos province) with one of his children. The number of gauchos on the estates is quite large. They are placed under the orders of a supervisor, the capataz, who enjoys the confidence of the owner. - 1973

Night slowly descends on the estancia “La Mimosa” (Entre Ríos province). The moment has come to round up the cows that were separated from their calves a few months earlier. This segregation was done by the cattle farmers to ensure a quiet life for the cows on preferential pastures. The task is difficult, and many gauchos are involved. The same scenes take place on every estancia in the pampas. They show stages in a cycle of important work on which a large part of the national economy depends. - 1973

Hundreds of cattle have been brought by the gauchos from their pastures to the estancia. They are then loaded onto trucks bound for Liniers in Buenos Aires. Cows from almost all Argentine provinces can be seen at this assembly point. The herds pass in front of the experts in dense rows. You can recognise representatives of the Hereford, Shorthorn, Aberdeen Angus, Holando and Cruza breeds. An estimated 15 000 to 18 000 head of cattle are sold every day. - 1973

The first cold stores were built in Argentina in 1883. This technical advance had a considerable impact on the country's economy, because the freezing plants allowed meat to be preserved in a country that was already almost entirely oriented towards meat production at that time. As early as 1878, refrigerated ships facilitated the export of meat to many parts of the world. The capital's freezers are equipped with modern facilities. Strict hygiene is the top priority. - 1973

Argentines are increasingly drawn to sports like football. Sunday after Sunday, thousands of aficionados (fans) flock to the stadiums of the capital and the provincial cities. Incidentally, they share this predilection with other South Americans. Nevertheless, the horse has not been forgotten. The old gaucho tradition exerts an irresistible spell on Argentines. This explains why a sport like polo could achieve great importance in this country. Polo, invented by the English as colonial masters in India, is played in Argentina by the wealthy class. - 1973

Folk festival of the doma at the headquarters of the Palermo agricultural cooperative (Buenos Aires). On Saturdays and Sundays, gauchos from the province and nearby areas come to produce in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The doma is a kind of rodeo. The rider wants to stay in the saddle as long as possible. The horse is blindfolded until the moment it is released. It makes every effort to throw the rider off. - 1973

Alberto Biocca, president of the Grupo tradicionalista of Ayacucho in the province of Buenos Aires, is a master of the lasso. - 1976

Gaucho from the Salta region, taken on 17 June 1973 during the celebrations for the anniversary of the death of Martin Miguel de Güemes.

Criollos not yet broken in, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Estancia Do Tigre. - 1976

Aberdeen-Angus cattle, Estancia El Cardal, Ayacucho, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. - 1975

Separating the calves from their mothers. Tomorrow the «yerra» begins. Estancia de Palitué, Neuquén Province, Argentina. - 1975

A new galpón (shelter) is built on the Estancia La Teresa, Neuquén Province. – 1973

The red-hot branding irons are ready for marking the calves. - Estancia Santa Julia, Province Neuquén - 1976

The red-hot branding irons are ready for marking the calves. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén - 1975

The "volteadores" throw the calves to the ground and hold them under the bite of the glowing metal. - Estancia La Mimosa, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

The "volteadores" throw the calves to the ground and hold them under the bite of the glowing metal. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1975

The «volteadores» throw the calf to the ground and hold it while the emerging horns are removed and the young animal is marked.- Estancia La Amalia, Province Entre Ríos - 1973

The "descornador" spends a day on his knees in the dust to remove the emerging horns of the calves with a chisel and hammer. The kid leather leggings are not asking too much ... the branding is done at the same time. While the irons are red-hot in a makeshift brazier, the "volteadores" throw the calves to the ground and hold them under the bite of the red-hot metal. Young bulls that are not intended for breeding are castrated in the same operation. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén - 1975

Instead of branding, the veterinarian applies an ear tag. - Estancia La Amalia, Province Entre Ríos - 1973

The "descornador" spends a day on his knees in the dust, using a chisel and hammer to remove the calves' emerging horns. Young bulls that are not intended for breeding are castrated in the same operation. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1975

The "descornador" spends a day on his knees in the dust to remove the emerging horns of the calves with a chisel and hammer. The kid leather leggings are not asking too much ... - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

It took hours of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - Province Neuquén. - 1975

It took hours of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - Province Neuquén. - 1973

It took hours of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - 1973

It took hours of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - Provinzce Neuquén - 1973

It took hours of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - Province Neuquén. - 1973

It takes a lot of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle out of the pampas into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - Province Neuquén - 1975

It takes a lot of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle out of the pampas into the corral of the Estanzia of Palitué. - Province Neuquén. - 1975

Clear, bay or chestnut, Argentinian horses are generally of the "Criolla" breed, descendants of horses of Berber origin, which the first Spanish conquerors brought with them and which pushed into the wild in the vastness of the pampas. “Found” in Patagonia by Emilio Solanet, they are now raised as pure as possible on his Estancia EI Cardal. - Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Clear, bay or chestnut, Argentinian horses are generally of the "Criolla" breed, descendants of horses of Berber origin, which the first Spanish conquerors brought with them and which pushed into the wild in the vastness of the pampas. “Found” in Patagonia by Emilio Solanet, they are now raised as pure as possible on his Estancia EI Cardal. - 1976

Clear, bay or chestnut, Argentinian horses are generally of the "Criolla" breed, descendants of horses of Berber origin, which the first Spanish conquerors brought with them and which pushed into the wild in the vastness of the pampas. “Found” in Patagonia by Emilio Solanet, they are now raised as pure as possible on his Estancia EI Cardal. - Estancia Do Tigre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

In Salta in northwest Argentina, the Spanish colonial style is still omnipresent, even though one of the decisive movements of the Argentine War of Liberation, the Gaucho Uprising, broke out here around 1810. Martin Miguel de Güemes, the leader of the rebellious gauchos, lives on in all hearts here, and the anniversary of his death (17 June 1821) sees all the gauchos of the surrounding area in red poncho (with the black ribbon of mourning), adventurously deformed sombrero and sweeping guardamontes. - 1973

In Salta in northwest Argentina, the Spanish colonial style is still omnipresent, even though one of the decisive movements of the Argentine War of Liberation, the Gaucho Uprising, broke out here around 1810. Martin Miguel de Güemes, the leader of the rebellious gauchos, lives on in all hearts here, and the anniversary of his death (17 June 1821) sees all the gauchos of the surrounding area in red poncho (with the black ribbon of mourning), adventurously deformed sombrero and sweeping guardamontes. The applause is sure to go to the one who looks most like the beloved liberator. - 1973

Only a few of the huge single-axle vehicles that were used to conquer the expanses of the pampas little more than a century ago are still in working order today. - Near Chicligasta, Tucumán Province. - 1973

The troperos, who spent weeks driving the herds to the slaughterhouses on the coast, had to give way to more intensive cattle breeding, but every gaucho still knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. - Estancia Do Tigre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén - 1975

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia El Cardal, Ayacucho, Buenos Aires Province. - 1976

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia Palitué, Neuquén. - 1975

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1975

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén - 1975

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1975

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1976

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia El Dorado, Province Corrientes - 1976

Every gaucho knows how to master the lasso, even if today's methods no longer require it. Incidentally, these traditional skills also determine the somewhat self-evident hierarchy on the estancias. - Estancia El Dorado, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1976

No gaucho without a horse. He deserves his greatest attention, as a saddlecloth that is put on incorrectly can impair the endurance and willingness of your faithful companion. - Estancia Santa Ercilia, Palomas, Salto, Uruguay - 1975

Reason, determination, good nature, violence and tenderness … the whole breadth of human possibilities is reflected in the faces of this people. The racial differences are just as diverse: The gaucho from Salta clearly shows that the gaucho's first wife was an Indian. - 1973

Reason, determination, good nature, violence and tenderness ... the whole breadth of human possibilities is reflected in the faces of this people. The racial differences are just as diverse: Here a gaucho from the Salta region. - 1973

Reason, determination, good nature, violence and tenderness ... the whole breadth of human possibilities is reflected in the faces of this people. The racial differences are just as diverse: the gaucho from southern Brazil testifies to the assimilating power of this melting pot of three skin colors. - 1976

Reason, determination, good nature, violence and tenderness ... the whole breadth of human possibilities is reflected in the faces of this people. The racial differences are just as diverse: The gaucho from Uruguay could also be a Spanish winegrower. - Estancia Santa Ercilia, Palomas, Province Salto, Uruguay - 1975

Not Charles Bronson, but a real gaucho. - Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

Reason, determination, good nature, violence and tenderness ... the whole breadth of human possibilities is reflected in the faces of this people. The racial differences are just as diverse: Here a gaucho from the Salta region. - 1973

Reason, determination, good nature, violence and tenderness ... the whole breadth of human possibilities is reflected in the faces of this people. The racial differences are just as diverse: Here a capataz of the Estancia “La Amalia” (Entre Ríos province). - 1973

Reason, determination, good nature, violence and tenderness ... the whole breadth of human possibilities is reflected in the faces of this people. The racial differences are just as diverse: Chacho Royo, a gaucho from the Salta region. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

The tradition of the gaucho begins in his youth. - Molinos, Salta Province - 1973

The young women also wear traditional clothing, taken on June 17, 1973 during the celebrations for the anniversary of the death of Martín Miguel de Güemes.

The time of conquests, when new, free and uninhabited plains opened up behind every hill, is over ... - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

The 20th century gaucho has settled down and usually returns to the estancia in the evening, even if his daily work still involves adventure and danger. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1973

The boleadoras were the gaucho's first weapon with which he infallibly forced an ostrich (Ñandú) or a bull to the ground within thirty meters. - Estancia La Mimosa, Province Buenos Aires. - 1976

The boleadoras were the gaucho's first weapon with which he infallibly forced a bull to the ground within thirty yards. Although they are still part of the equipment today and maintain their place in custom, they have long since had to give way to the lasso and barbed wire and are hardly used for hunting either. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1975

The boleadoras were the gaucho's first weapon with which he infallibly forced a bull to the ground within thirty yards. Although they are still part of the equipment today and maintain their place in custom, they have long since had to give way to the lasso and barbed wire and are hardly used for hunting either. - Estancia Santa Ercilia, Palomas, Province Salto, Uruguay - 1975

Except for the animals intended for breeding, all young stallions are castrated, as geldings are more tolerable, calmer and more persistent. The gauchos are only too happy to leave the painful operation to the vet, as they have a much closer relationship with horses than they do with cattle. - Estancia La Catalina, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires. - 1975

Except for the animals intended for breeding, all young stallions are castrated, as geldings are more tolerable, calmer and more persistent. The gauchos are only too happy to leave the painful operation to the vet, as they have a much closer relationship with horses than they do with cattle. - Estancia Amancay, Esquel, Province Chubut - 1973

If the gaucho has more than the bare necessities, he soon becomes the head of a large family. Far from all the comforts of civilisation, the gaucho is also a naïve painter. He leaves the cooking, the cleaning, the weaving to his wife. - Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

If the gaucho has more than the bare necessities, he soon becomes the head of a large family. Far from all the comforts of civilisation, the gaucho is also a naïve painter. He leaves the cooking, the cleaning, the weaving to his wife. - Gobernador Gregores (?), Province Santa Cruz - 1976

If the gaucho has more than the bare necessities, he soon becomes the head of a large family. Far from all the comforts of civilisation, the gaucho is also a naïve painter. He leaves the cooking, the cleaning, the weaving to his wife. - Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1976

If the gaucho has more than the bare necessities, he is soon the head of a large family. Far from all the comforts of civilisation, a gaucho's wife takes care of the kitchen and household and weaves the necessary fabrics herself. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1973

If the gaucho has more than the bare necessities, he is soon the head of a large family. Far from all the comforts of civilisation, the gaucho is also a naïve painter and schoolmaster at the same time. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1973

Although the first ray of sunshine usually sees him at work, the gaucho still finds time for socialising in the evening. Prepared and enjoyed with a "sacred" ritual, the bitter, slightly caffeinated mate makes you forget fatigue and pain. - Estancia La Mimosa, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1976

Metallic skeletons on the endless pampas, the "mills" tame the wind to pump essential water for the herds, sometimes from considerable depths. - Estancia Las Toscas, Province Santa Cruz, Patagonia - 1976

Metallic skeletons on the endless pampas, the "mills" tame the wind to pump essential water for the herds, sometimes from considerable depths. - At the Ruta 3, Province Santa Cruz, Patagonia - 1975

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Near Estancia Los Luises, Santa Cruz Province - 1973

On the map, the north of Tierra del Fuego is the natural continuation of the Argentine Patagonia. Here, too, the vast plains can be found, where thousands of domestic animals graze on the thin grasslands. Here, rainfall also increases, allowing lush vegetation to develop. - 1973

Two gauchos on the way to their estancia in the Calafate region. The Andes mountain range in the background. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

A lonely gaucho on his way to his estancia El Zurdo on the border with Chile. - Between Río Gallegos and El Turbio, Santa Cruz Province - 1973

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Torres del Paine NP, Chile - 1976

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - 1976

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Estancia Las Toscas, Province Santa Cruz, Patagonia - 1976

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1973

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Estancia La Luciana, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Maté, the daily and almost ritual drink of the gaucho ... - Estancia La Luciana, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Mastering his horse in any situation brings the gaucho "glory and honour", and so he puts his skill to the test again and again in the most diverse games and competitions. The rules of these competitions vary depending on the region, and for the huasos, as the gauchos are called in Chile, style counts as much as the result. - Doma in Buenos Aires - 1973

Mastering his horse in any situation brings the gaucho "glory and honour", and so he puts his skill to the test again and again in the most diverse games and competitions. The rules of these competitions vary depending on the region, and for the huasos, as the gauchos are called in Chile, style counts as much as the result. - Rodeo in Osorno, Chile - 1975

Mastering his horse in any situation brings the gaucho "glory and honour", and so he puts his skill to the test again and again in the most diverse games and competitions. The rules of these competitions vary depending on the region, and for the huasos, as the gauchos are called in Chile, style counts as much as the result. - San Rafael, Province Talca - 1975

Mastering his horse in any situation brings the gaucho "glory and honour", and so he puts his skill to the test again and again in the most diverse games and competitions. The rules of these competitions vary depending on the region, and for the huasos, as the gauchos are called in Chile, style counts as much as the result. Although the competition arena is reminiscent of the Spanish bullfighting arena, the aim here is only to manoeuvre the bovine against the board wall with the horse alone and "pin it down". The individual parts of the cow's body are divided into point values, with blocking the hindquarters earning the most. - 1975

Mastering his horse in any situation brings the gaucho "glory and honour", and so he puts his skill to the test again and again in the most diverse games and competitions. The rules of these competitions vary depending on the region, and for the huasos, as the gauchos are called in Chile, style counts as much as the result. - San Rafael, Province Talca - 1975

Mastering his horse in any situation brings the gaucho "glory and honour", and so he puts his skill to the test again and again in the most diverse games and competitions. The rules of these competitions vary depending on the region, and for the huasos, as the gauchos are called in Chile, style counts as much as the result. Although the competition arena is reminiscent of the Spanish bullfighting arena, the aim here is only to manoeuvre the bovine against the board wall with the horse alone and "pin it down". The individual parts of the cow's body are divided into point values, with blocking the hindquarters earning the most.- Rodeo in Osorno, Chile - 1975

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, at Bagé in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. - 1976

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. - Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasilien - 1976

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, at Bagé in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. - 1976

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. - Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - Ramos Otero, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, at Bagé in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. Older gauchos prefer these wild fights to exercises in skill and accuracy, such as holding a rope centimetres in front of them at full gallop. - 1976

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. - 1976

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. - Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasilien - 1976

Less formal, but even more daring, are the games in southern Brazil, in the Rio Grande do Sul, when an unruly wildling is to be ridden in a kind of rodeo, after which the blindfold is removed. The performance is commented on by fellow competitors and onlookers in a way that is as detailed as it is knowledgeable. - 1976

In San Antonio de Areco in the province of Buenos Aires, the big jineteadas (rodeos) on Tradition Day attract estancieros and gauchos from all over the province. The competitions are mainly attended by professional horsemen or domadores, who wear leather spurs and "botas de potro", boots made from the skin of the horse's foot. The movements of horse and rider are as acrobatic as they are elegant; falls are frequent and shrewd horses throw themselves to the ground as soon as they mount (picture). The most dangerous game is forbidden today: It involved jumping down from the crossbar of a corral gate onto an unsaddled wild horse, the lead animal of a herd that was being chased through the gate at a gallop. Those who missed were lucky to escape with a few broken bones. - 1975

In San Antonio de Areco in the province of Buenos Aires, the big jineteadas (rodeos) on Tradition Day attract estancieros and gauchos from all over the province. The competitions are mainly attended by professional horsemen or domadores, who wear leather spurs and "botas de potro", boots made from the skin of the horse's foot. The movements of horse and rider are as acrobatic as they are elegant (picture); falls are frequent, and shrewd horses throw themselves to the ground as soon as they mount. The most dangerous game is forbidden today: It involved jumping down from the crossbar of a corral gate onto an unsaddled wild horse, the lead animal of a herd that was being chased through the gate at a gallop. Those who missed were lucky to escape with a few broken bones. - 1975

The ‘carrera de sortijas’, the "ring stabbing". While galloping, the rider has to "take" a ring of about two centimetres in diameter with a small stick. - Estancia Santa María, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - Villa María, Province Córdoba - 1973

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - Ramos Otero, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - Estancia La Amalia, Province Entre Ríos - 1973

"The meat is what is left over when you have nothing left." In the vastness of the pampas, this Argentine proverb still holds true today. Grilled outdoors, the asado is cut right at the mouth as you eat, and the best pieces belong to the guest as a matter of course, whether they are invited or happen to be there. - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires. - 1975

"The meat is what is left over when you have nothing left." In the vastness of the pampas, this Argentine proverb still holds true today. Grilled outdoors, the asado is cut right at the mouth as you eat, and the best pieces belong to the guest as a matter of course, whether they are invited or happen to be there. - Estancia Palitué, Province Neuquén. - 1975

"The meat is what is left over when you have nothing left." In the vastness of the pampas, this Argentine proverb still holds true today. Grilled outdoors, the asado is cut right at the mouth as you eat, and the best pieces belong to the guest as a matter of course, whether they are invited or happen to be there. - Estancia Santa María, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

"The meat is what is left over when you have nothing left." In the vastness of the pampas, this Argentine proverb still holds true today. Grilled outdoors, the asado is cut right at the mouth as you eat, and the best pieces belong to the guest as a matter of course, whether they are invited or happen to be there. - Estancia Las Toscas, Villa María, Province Córdoba - 1973

"The meat is what is left over when you have nothing left." In the vastness of the pampas, this Argentine proverb still holds true today. Grilled outdoors, the asado is cut right at the mouth as you eat, and the best pieces belong to the guest as a matter of course, whether they are invited or happen to be there. - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires. - 1975

The “Payador” has to be just as much a poet as a musician and sing about the realities of everyday life in quickly improvised verses ... love, violence, loneliness. - Estancia Santa María, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

The gaucho's wife hardly shows up, except at some village festivals or when going to church on Sundays. - Wedding, Estancia Santa María, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

The gaucho's wife hardly shows up, except at some village festivals or when going to church on Sundays. - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires. - 1975

The gaucho's wife hardly shows up, except at some village festivals or when going to church on Sundays. The gaucho, accustomed to evenings under the moon and to smoky “pulperias”, has learned to dance the zapateada and the malambo, variants of flamenco, on his own. - San Antonio de Areco, Province Buenos Aires. - 1975

No gaucho who does not know how to strum the guitar and improvise, in verse, a tender or perfidious "payada". - Estancia Santa María, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Alberto Biocca, President of the Grupo traditionalista of Ayacucho in the province of Buenos Aires, in his Sunday best, with silver-decorated saddle and bridle and gaucho poncho, also knows how to handle the lasso masterfully. - 1976

Luxury harness. - Estancia La Luciana, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires. - 1975

Luxury harness. - Estancia El Ombú, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Luxuriously harnessed, the gaucho's horse carries on its saddle something to face the elements: knife (“facón”), “boleadoras”, hobbel straps, lasso. The spurs can be wood, leather or chiseled silver.- Estancia on the Huemul peninsula, Neuquén province. - 1975

Luxuriously harnessed, the gaucho's horse carries on its saddle something to face the elements: knife (“facón”), “boleadoras”, hobbel straps, lasso. The spurs can be wood, leather or chiseled silver. - Estancia Santa María, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Luxuriously harnessed, the gaucho's horse carries on its saddle something to face the elements: knife (“facón”), “boleadoras”, hobbel straps, lasso. The spurs can be wood, leather or chiseled silver.- Estancia La Luciana, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Luxuriously harnessed, the gaucho's horse carries on its saddle something to face the elements: knife (“facón”), “boleadoras”, hobbel straps, lasso. The spurs can be wood, leather or chiseled silver. - Criadero Helvecia, Chile - 1975

Luxuriously harnessed, the gaucho's horse carries on its saddle something to face the elements: knife (“facón”), “boleadoras”, hobbel straps, lasso. The spurs can be wood, leather or chiseled silver. - Cachi, Salta - 1973

Luxuriously harnessed, the gaucho's horse carries on its saddle something to face the elements: knife (“facón”), “boleadoras”, hobbel straps, lasso. The spurs can be wood, leather or chiseled silver. - Estancia Santa María, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

The game is an indispensable part of everyday life for the gaucho. Although certainly more spectacular, riding a young bull is significantly less risky than a game of Truco. The inconspicuous tokens, pebbles or corn kernels amount to the wages of weeks of work. - Estancia El Dorado, Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1976

The pampas are never completely deserted. At one or the other crossroads, there is always a pulpería or carnicería, where you can quench your thirst and find out the latest gossip and the date of the next festival from the pulpero.- Paso de la Laguna, Province Entre Ríos - 1973

The Pulpería is a tavern, grocer and stage for born comedians all in one and, in these infinite widths, has made a decisive contribution to the development of an independent gaucho consciousness. - Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

The cattle are the wealth of the pampas. There are buyers who travel by plane from one remate (auction) to another. The cows are traded as lots, bulls as heads. - Remate in Temuco, Chile - 1975

The cattle are the wealth of the pampas. There are buyers who travel by plane from one remate (auction) to another. The cows are traded as lots, bulls as heads. - Villa María, Province Córdoba - 1973

The cattle are the wealth of the pampas. There are buyers who travel by plane from one remate (auction) to another. The cows are traded as lots, bulls as heads. - Remate in Villa María, Province Córdoba. - 1973

Troperos bring a herd intended for sale across the Alumine River in the Andean foothills. - Province Neuquén. - 1973

Troperos bring a herd intended for sale across the Alumine River in the Andean foothills. - Province Neuquén - 1973

The ritual of the asado and the mate is repeated with each stage. - Estancia Santa Ercilia, Palomas, Province Salto, Uruguay - 1975

The ritual of the asado and the mate is repeated with each stage. - Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

The ritual of the asado and the mate is repeated with each stage. - 1973

At the Huaitiquina Pass (in the background the Laskar volcano) between northern Argentina and Chile, the crossing fails only too often because of the Viento Blanco, the dreaded Andean snow storms. - 1975

Arturo Fernandez has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Salta - 1975

Arturo Fernandez has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Salta - 1973

Chacho Royo, a skilled rider with mighty guardamontes on either side, is seventy-five years old, fifteen of whom lie in mysterious darkness. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Salta. - 1975

Arturo Fernandez, with mighty guardamontes on either side, has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1973

Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta Two generations, one friendship. Arturo Fernandez has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. Chacho Royo, a skilled rider with mighty guardamontes on either side, is seventy-five years old, fifteen of whom lie in mysterious darkness. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Arturo Fernandez, with mighty guardamontes on either side, has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1973

Chacho Royo is one of the best gauchos in the Salta area and could demonstrate a lot of the younger ones in the campo. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Arturo Fernandez, with mighty guardamontes on either side, has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Arturo Fernandez has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

As a gaucho matrero, as a fugitive, Chacho Royo hid himself from the arm of the law in the Andes for fifteen years in his youth. Today he processes leather into bridles and saddles in his small estate, which he sells or gives to his friend Arturo. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Salta. - 1973

As a gaucho matrero, as a fugitive, Chacho Royo hid himself from the arm of the law in the Andes for fifteen years in his youth. Today he processes leather into bridles and saddles in his small estate, which he sells or gives to his friend Arturo. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Salta. - 1975

Dance of the "pañuelo" and vigil in the barn of Arturo Fernandez, in La Caldera. Father Requena, gaucho parish priest and rector of the University of Salta, joined the Chacho and Arturo. But, at sunrise, it's back to the pampas ... - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Arturo Fernandez and his wife during the mate ritual. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Vigil in the barn of Arturo Fernandez, in La Caldera. Father Requena, gaucho parish priest and rector of the University of Salta, joined the Chacho and Arturo. But, at sunrise, it's back to the pampas ... - Estancia Campo Alegre, Salta. - 1975

Vigil in the barn of Arturo Fernandez, in La Caldera. Father Requena, gaucho parish priest and rector of the University of Salta, joined the Chacho and Arturo. But, at sunrise, it's back to the pampas ... - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Chacho Royo during the Mate ritual. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

In the morning it goes out to the herd again ... - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1973

Arturo Fernandez, with mighty guardamontes on either side, has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Arturo Fernandez, has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1973

Arturo Fernandez has a finca near Salta where he tries to keep the traditional things alive. - 1973

Various items that accompany the life of a gaucho, including a guitar and bombo. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Various items that accompany the life of a gaucho. - Museo José Hernández, Mar del Plata - 1975

Chacho Royo cuts strips of leather that he uses to make bridles and leather straps. - Estancia Campo Alegre, Province Salta - 1975

Ramón Bandera from Estancia El Hervidero is a master at making leather straps. - Province Salto, Uruguay - 1975

The farrier Delphin Rodríguez from Bahía Bustamante (Chubut province) at work. - 1973

After a hard day's work there is Asado and Mate.- Estancia La Teresa, Province Neuquén. - 1973

In the province of Buenos Aires, the Troperos drive cows and calves to the Estancia La Mimosa. - 1975

In the province of Buenos Aires, the Troperos drive cows and calves to the Estancia La Mimosa. - 1973

Aberdeen Angus cattle on Estancia El Ombú, Ayacucho, Buenos Aires Province - 1975

At Don Emilio Solanet's Estancia «El Cardal», Ayacucho, Province of Buenos Aires - 1975

Sheep are herded early in the morning. Estancia Las Toscas, Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia. - 1973

Access to the Estancia " Rincón de los Morros", near El Turbio, Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia - 1973

Signpost to the Estancia Carro Roto on route 3 - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

Road sign at route 3, it takes 120 km to get to Estancia Silvita! - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

On the estancia “La Margarita” at Lake Viedma, in the province of Santa Cruz, the gauchos set off for the sheep pastures. On horseback, they cover great distances across the steppes of Patagonia. In the background the Fitz Roy massif. - 1973

Gauchos from the Salta region, taken on 17 June 1973 during the celebrations for the anniversary of the death of Martin Miguel de Güemes.

The Monument to Martín Miguel de Güemes is a 25 m high construction in the city of Salta. - 1973

Gauchos from the Salta region, taken on 17 June 1973 during the celebrations for the anniversary of the death of Martin Miguel de Güemes.

Horse tamer at the Estancia Amancay, Chubut Province, Patagonia. - 1973

Fiesta Gaucha in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. - 1976

Fiesta Gaucha in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - 1976

The cattle are the wealth of the pampas. Remate (auction) in Villa María, Córdoba. The cows are traded as lots, bulls as heads. - 1973

These gauchos are participating in a remate (auction) in Villa María, Córdoba. - 1973

View over the Plaza San Martin towards the Cerro San Cristóbal. - Perú - Lima - 1969

View from Edificio Washington to Av. Arequipa and Av. Wilson (today Av. Garcilaso de la Vega). In the background the former Hotel Crillón. - Perú - Lima - 1969

The impressive presidential palace stands on the banks of the Rimac River. Here is the view from the Plaza de Armas. The palace was completed in 1938. - The changing of the guard takes place every day at exactly 12.00 noon. - Perú - Lima - 1969

The statue of Pizarro in Lima was unveiled on 18 January 1935 on the occasion of the celebration of the 4th centenary of the founding of the city. The monument was installed in the atrium of the Cathedral of Lima. In 1952 it was moved to the Plaza Pizarro, on the left side of the Government Palace (in the photo). Finally, in 2004, it was relocated to the Parque de la Muralla. - Peru - Lima - 1969

The Archbishop's Palace of Lima is located on the east side of the Plaza de Armas. The façade is in the neo-colonial style, with characteristic baroque elements and made entirely of reused stone. Above the main entrance, which is in neoplateresque style, there are two large balconies in neo-baroque style, carved from cedar wood and reflecting the sensualism of Andalusia. - Peru - Lima - 1969

The monumental complex of the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco de Lima is located in the historic center of Lima. The facade of the basilica is in the baroque style of Lima, it is graceful, coarse and monumental. - Peru - Lima - 1969

The Church of San Agustin is located in the historic centre of Lima and a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor of the capital. The front is an architectural work of Churrigueresque baroque style, overloaded with ornaments, carved in stone, which was finished in 1710. In the niches of the façade there are ten sculptures in addition to the image of San Agustín in the centre. - Peru - Lima - 1969

Grau Square is a square located in the centre of the city of Lima, capital of Peru. It is named after Miguel Grau Seminario, commander of the monitor Huáscar during the War of the Pacific. In the centre stands the monument, which is a beautiful granite and bronze ensemble. It reaches a height of 21 metres. - In the background is the Anglo Peruvian Building. - Peru - Lima - 1969

At the junction of Avenida Paseo de la República (Zanjón) and Avenida Canaval y Moreyra, a policeman directs traffic. Back or chest always means stop! - Peru - Lima - 1969

The lively cityscape of Lima is characterised by numerous street vendors. A broom seller is travelling with his wife and his tricycle, which is packed with brooms, sweepers and brushes, door mats and tin tubs. - The picture was taken at the intersection of Avenida Paseo de la República (Zanjón) and Avenida Canaval y Moreyra. - Peru - Lima - 1969

Near a market in the Rimac neighbourhood of Lima, a shoemaker sits on a crooked wooden chair waiting for his customers. The sewing machine in front of him may be ancient, but this mechanical monster can still stitch leather together with powerful stitches. - Peru - Lima - 1969

In the slums, everyone tries to improve their living conditions as best they can. The precarious buildings can be found right up to the edge of the gorge-like course of the Río Rimac - Peru - Lima - 1969

In the slums, everyone tries to improve their living conditions as best they can. - At the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal - Rimac neighbourhood - Peru - Lima - 1969

The tower of the «Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez» in Lima. The airport was opened in 1960 and has been modernised since 2001. At the end of 2024, the completely new airport will go into operation. - Peru - Lima/Callao - 1969

Colombia is the only country in South America that borders two oceans. However, the strategic importance of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts differs greatly. The hard-to-reach Pacific alluvial plain, lined with mangrove forests, contrasts with the rocky Caribbean coast, which is dotted with bays (picture). The major longitudinal valleys that separate Colombia’s Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras also open out onto this coastline. The Magdalena Valley was one of the main gateways for the Spanish conquerors. To the east, the river delta is bounded by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, whose northern flank—indented by bays, peninsulas and islands—is constantly eroded by the surf. - Book: Picture 13 – Colombia - 1977

Colombia is the only country in South America that borders two oceans. However, the strategic importance of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts differs greatly. The hard-to-reach Pacific alluvial plain, lined with mangrove forests, contrasts with the rocky Caribbean coast, which is dotted with bays (picture). The major longitudinal valleys that separate Colombia’s Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras also open out onto this coastline. The Magdalena Valley was one of the main gateways for the Spanish conquerors. To the east, the river delta is bounded by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, whose northern flank—indented by bays, peninsulas and islands—is constantly eroded by the surf. - Colombia - 1977

The historic church and monastery of San Pedro Claver in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with traditional buses in the foreground. The sanctuary is situated in the historic centre of Cartagena’s walled old town. The complex was built in the 17th century by the Jesuit Order and is characterised by its imposing stone façade, portico and striking dome. – 1972

This building is the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas in Cartagena, Colombia. The imposing fortress was built from 1536 onwards during the Spanish colonial period. It is regarded as one of the most significant and largest fortifications ever built by the Spanish in their colonies. Together with the historic old town of Cartagena, which is surrounded by city walls, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. – Colombia – 1972

The Magdalena Valley rift lies in the lee of the Colombian Eastern and Central Cordilleras and is therefore relatively dry. Open grassland, interspersed here and there with thorny shrubs and cacti, as seen here in the Neiva area, covers the broad valley floor. - Book: Picture 25 - Colombia - 1977

The Río Patía is the longest river in Colombia’s Pacific region and forms part of one of the most impressive landscapes along the famous Pan-American Highway between Popayán and Pasto. – Colombia – 1977

At the Pasta junction (Nudo), the three Colombian mountain ranges converge to form a high-mountain landscape that is difficult to classify. The rugged, deeply incised mountain flanks contrast with basins filled with volcanic ash and gently sloping foothills, which support the maize fields of the indigenous farmers. - Book: Picture 24 - Colombia - 1977

The Sierra Nevada de Mérida, approximately 500 kilometres long, forms the continuation of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera into Venezuelan territory. In its central sections, it consists of gneiss and granite, with young sedimentary rocks overlying both flanks. As a result of significant Tertiary uplift, the central mountain block reaches extraordinary heights. It culminates in the 5,003-metre-high Pico Bolívar, but the peaks of Pico Humboldt (4,942 m) and Pico Bonpland (4,883 m), visible on the right of the picture, are only slightly lower. - Book: Picture 9 - Venezuela - 1977

As the name suggests, five of the peaks in the Sierra Nevada de Mérida are covered in perpetual snow. Depending on the aspect, the snow line lies between 4,650 and 4,750 metres. A small glacier tongue extends down from the large, firn-filled cirque of Pico Bolívar (5,003 m), from which the people of Mérida used to cut blocks of ice to cool food and drink. To the right is Pico Abanico (4,900 m). - Book: Picture 21 - Venezuela - 1977

The Sierra Nevada de Mérida, approximately 500 kilometres long, forms the continuation of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera within Venezuelan territory. In its central sections, it consists of gneiss and granite, with young stratified rocks overlying both flanks. As a result of significant Tertiary uplift, the central mountain block reaches extraordinary heights. View from Pico Espejo towards the summits of Pico Humboldt (4,942 m) and Pico Bonpland (4,883 m). – Venezuela – 1977

Separated from the Central Cordillera by the alluvial plains of the Rio Magdalena and the Rio Cauca, the isolated mountain range of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rises in the far north of Colombia. It reaches a height of 5,776 metres at Pico Cristóbal Colón. Dense tropical mountain and cloud forest covers the slopes up to over 3,000 metres; the snow line lies between 4,700 and 5,100 metres. - Book: Picture 14 - Colombia - 1977

Another view of the Andes! In the Tierra Templada – the climatic zone of the Northern Andes ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 metres – the lowland rainforest gives way to the tropical mountain forest. Thickets of bamboo, tree ferns and a lush undergrowth of leafy plants make it impenetrable without a machete. Added to this is the abundance of epiphytes and orchids growing on all the trees. The Cattleya, which comes in numerous species, is considered one of the most beautiful. The photograph was taken near San Agustín, where a rich culture flourished at the turn of the millennium. - Book: Picture 4 - Colombia - 1973

Another orchid of the genus Cattleya, which grows epiphytically on the bark of a tree. It prefers airy, light to semi-shaded locations. – Colombia, San Agustín – 1977

The photograph shows a traditional settlement of the Kogi indigenous community, with its characteristic conical huts, in the mountainous region of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. The typical roofs are made of natural materials such as straw or grass, adapted to the warm and humid to cool mountain climate of the Cordillera. – Colombia – 1977

The Kogi Indians live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. In the picture, the elongated building on the right is the men’s house, where the men live whilst they are in the village. The round houses, which are also thatched, serve as accommodation for the women and children. The Kogi meet only at certain times, about twice a month, for ceremonial celebrations in the villages; the rest of the time they spend – living separately by gender in two huts – in their fields, where they grow maize, cassava, bananas, pumpkins, sugar cane and beans. Whatever they cannot produce themselves, they exchange for chickens, pigs and other produce. - Book: Picture 15 - Colombia - 1977

A boy from the Kogi indigenous people, who live largely in isolation and preserve their centuries-old traditions. Traditionally, the Kogi make their own clothes on looms using natural fibres or cotton, as can be seen in this portrait. – Colombia – 1977

The entire life of the Kogi is governed by fertility rites and the strict separation of the male and female principles. This picture shows a Kogi man with the poporo, a gourd filled with powdered shell. The gourd is regarded as female, and the stick used to ‘fish out’ the lime powder is regarded as male. Over the years, the Kogi symbolically perform the act of fertilisation by using the stick to remove powder from the gourd and rubbing it onto the bowl, which, over time, develops a thick layer of lime. Gold figurines featuring similar calabash gourds, the lime from which was chewed together with coca leaves, have been preserved from the Quimbaya culture of the central Cauca Valley (11th–15th centuries). - Book: Picture 16 - Colombia - 1977

The traditional clothing of the Kogi is characterised by distinctive features. The woven tunic is made from hand-woven, natural fabric. Whilst adult Kogi traditionally wear entirely pure white clothing as a symbol of the purity of nature and the ‘Great Mother’, children’s garments often still feature coloured stripes (such as the earthy shades of red, yellow and black shown in the picture). A wide, robustly woven strap from a traditional shoulder bag (mochila) runs across the shoulder. – Colombia – 1997

A young Kogi mother wearing her jewellery. The Kogi are an indigenous community who live a secluded life in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. The heavy, multi-layered necklaces made of colourful glass and natural beads, as well as the simple, white clothing made from hand-woven cotton, are deeply characteristic of their culture. - Book: Image 17 – Colombia – 1977

A boy from the Kogi tribe. The Kogi regard themselves as the ‘elder brothers’ of humanity. They see it as their sacred duty to preserve the ecological and spiritual balance of the Earth. They refer to the rest of modern humanity as the ‘younger brothers’ who are destroying the planet. - Book: Image 18 – Colombia – 1977

The Kogi Indians’ suspension bridge: liana loops hold together a structure made of tree trunks and other lianas, which is built without a single nail. - Book: Picture 19 - Colombia - 1977

A fisherman skilfully casts a circular cast net into the river in the shallow waters of the Río Anchique. – This river in the Department of Tolima forms part of the wider catchment area of the Río Magdalena. – Colombia – 1977

The floor of the Cauca Rift Valley, situated at an altitude of 800 to 1,100 metres, rises gradually towards the south, reaching an altitude of 1,760 metres at Popayán and continuing through the increasingly narrow Paria Rift Valley as far as the border with Ecuador. The picture shows the rift zone south-west of Popayán. - Book: Picture 34 - Colombia - 1977

A dense cloud forest in the Puracé National Natural Park, a spectacular nature reserve in the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes, located mainly in the department of Cauca and, to a small extent, in the department of Huila. The name comes from the Quechua language and means ‘Fire Mountain’, which is a direct reference to the volcanic activity in the area. Colombia – 1977

Deforestation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. – 1977

Landscape near Cuesta Boba, a well-known, striking stretch of mountain terrain in the Colombian department of Santander. The area is situated in the High Andes within the municipal boundaries of Tona, near the village of Berlín and on the major road between Bucaramanga and Cúcuta. Altitude 3,200 m – 1977

Agricultural area near Pasto, Colombia. - 1977

Landscape near Cuesta Boba, a well-known, striking stretch of mountain terrain in the Colombian department of Santander. The area is situated in the High Andes within the municipal boundaries of Tona, near the village of Berlín and on the major road between Bucaramanga and Cúcuta. Altitude 3,200 m – 1977

The natural regrowth of the slopes of the Eastern Cordillera in northern Colombia, which have been devastated by overexploitation, is hampered by the dry season, which lasts several months each year. The ravaged mountainous region, through which the Río Sube flows into the Río Sogamoso, is largely of no economic value and almost completely uninhabited. - Book: Picture 22 - Colombia - 1977

The impressive ‘Cascada La Candelaria’ is a spectacular waterfall over 150 metres high, which plunges down a steep rock face densely covered in moss and jungle vegetation. It is situated very close to the small village of Santa Leticia in the department of Cauca in Colombia. – 1977

In pre-Columbian times, the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia was densely forested up to altitudes of at least 3,000 metres. Spanish colonists and land-hungry mestizos cleared the forests and cultivated the steep slopes with maize and cassava. Rain washed the fertile humus layer down into the valleys until the bare gneiss was exposed over a wide area. Today, vast masses of scree fill the valleys, where rivers meander between gravel banks, as is the case here with the Rio Chicamocha in the department of Santander. - Book: Picture 20 - Colombia - 1977

The photograph shows the picturesque ‘Salto del Bedón’ (Cascada del Río Bedón), a mighty waterfall in the ‘Parque Nacional Natural Puracé’ in the Department of Cauca in the Colombian Andes. It is surrounded by typical páramo vegetation, including the striking large leaves of Asteropeia plants (also known as ‘giant frailjones’) and sparse grasses. – 1977

The photograph shows a section of the Río Magdalena in the department of Huila in Colombia. In this area, the still-young river emerges from the narrow rocky gorges near its source at San Agustín and flows through a deeper valley flanked by the foothills of the Andes. The photograph captures the landscape in the region between Pitalito and Garzón. – 1977

The Río Cauca in the Caramanta region (in the south-west of the department of Antioquia) forms one of Colombia’s most impressive river landscapes. Here, the country’s second-longest river winds its way through a deep canyon between the Central and Western Andean Cordilleras. Typical of this altitude are the striking palm trees that rise sporadically from the grass-covered slopes. – Colombia – 1972

Like the volcanoes Huila (5,750 m), Ruiz (5,400 m) and Tolima (5,215 m), the ice-capped Santa Isabel (5,100 m) also towers over the vast, moraine-covered plateaus of the Colombian Central Cordillera. - Book: Picture 23 - Colombia - 1977

Children and teenagers washing pans and clay pots on the Río Galíndez. The river is situated in the department of Cauca in south-western Colombia. – 1977

A Sunday outing by lorry in the Colombian province of Huila. In the Andes, lorries largely replace buses. - Book: Picture 40 - Colombia - 1977

In Santa Leticia, in the municipality of Puracé in the department of Cauca, right on the border with Huila, these ‘chiva’ buses are the main means of transport and the lifeblood of the entire region. Santa Leticia lies in the rugged mountainous regions of the Central Cordillera at an altitude of over 2,100 metres. These sturdy buses are often the only vehicles capable of negotiating the unpaved roads and mountain tracks. The buses travel fully laden with sacks of food, crates and crops on the roof. – Colombia – 1977

In the rugged Andean regions around Popayán (such as the nearby Tierradentro region or Puracé National Park), chivas are often the only means of transport capable of negotiating the unpaved gravel tracks. – Colombia – Cauca Department – 1977

A view of a slum in Bucaramanga, the capital of the department of Santander in Colombia, which is also known as ‘La Ciudad Bonita’ (The Beautiful City) or ‘City of Parks’. – 1977

Bogotá, whose full name is Bogotá de Santa Fe, is the most contrasting of the Andean capitals. Modern skyscrapers are increasingly rivalling the colonial stately buildings. From 1932 onwards, but particularly after the Second World War, economic development set in, leading to the formation of new industrial and residential districts, but also of vast slums. Whilst the city had not yet reached half a million inhabitants in 1945, this figure has since risen to over seven million. Bogotá was deliberately built by the Spanish conquistador Jiménez de Quesada right in the heart of the former Chibcha Empire; for a long time, it was therefore dependent on steamboat transport on the River Magdalena. Today, thanks to the railway, it is connected to both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, whilst passenger transport is predominantly by air. - Book: Picture 166 - Colombia - 1976

A view of the city centre of Bogotá in Colombia, featuring the striking Torres de Fenicia. These are two high-rise towers, each around 100 metres high, which stand out clearly against the historic and densely built-up cityscape. The residential complex was built in 1970. – 1977

The Edificio Aseguradora del Valle is a striking 20-storey office block in the international centre of Bogotá, Colombia, which opened in 1972 and is renowned for its curved, staircase-like façade design. The building stands at a height of around 74.4 metres and is characterised by staggered, curved concrete bands that lend it a distinctive visual dynamism. – 1977

The Edificio Avianca is a historic high-rise building situated in Parque Santander in the historic centre of Bogotá, Colombia. Completed in 1969, it stands at a height of around 161 metres. At the time of its opening, it was the tallest building in Latin America and Colombia’s first skyscraper to break the 150-metre mark. – 1977

This historic street in the La Candelaria old town district of Bogotá, Colombia, offers a view eastwards towards the steep slopes of the Andes. It is characterised by whitewashed façades, traditional wooden balconies and tiled roofs. La Candelaria is the historic heart of Bogotá, with its numerous narrow alleyways, museums and colonial churches. – 1977

A golden breast ornament from the Tolima culture, Colombia, depicting a bird-human hybrid with an openwork central section and an anchor-like base (10.5 x 19.2 cm, 184 g). Museo del Oro, Bogotá, Colombia. - Book: Picture 63 - Colombia - 1973

‘Tierradentro’ (land that lies within) forms part of the area now inhabited by the Paez people. Links are thought to exist between the cultures of San Agustín and Tierradentro; in any case, similar guardian figures are found at both sites. Tierradentro, however, occupies a special place amongst pre-Columbian cultures because of its burial chambers: caverns carved out of chalk sandstone, measuring up to 70 square metres, which are entirely painted with geometric patterns. The predominant colour of red serves as a reminder that in Mexico, too, the colour of the dead is red. - Book: Picture 60 - Colombia - 1977

"Tierradentro" (land that lies inside) belongs to the present settlement area of the Páez Indians. It is assumed that there is a connection between the cultures of San Agustín and Tierradentro, but in any case similar guardian figures can be found in both places. Tierradentro occupies a special place among the pre-Columbian cultures, however, because of its burial chambers: caverns of up to 70 square metres, hewn in chalk sandstone and completely painted with geometric ornaments. The predominant red colour reminds us that the colour of the dead is red in Mexico too. - Detail of burial chamber 10. - 1977

"Tierradentro" (land that lies inside) belongs to the present settlement area of the Páez Indians. It is assumed that there is a connection between the cultures of San Agustín and Tierradentro, but in any case similar guardian figures can be found in both places. Tierradentro occupies a special place among the pre-Columbian cultures, however, because of its burial chambers: caverns of up to 70 square metres, hewn in chalk sandstone and completely painted with geometric ornaments. The predominant red colour reminds us that the colour of the dead is red in Mexico too. - Detail of burial chamber 1. - 1977

This famous boulder is situated in the municipality of Aipe in the department of Huila, Colombia. It is known locally as the ‘Piedra Pintada’ (Painted Stone). The engravings, carved deep into the rock, were created hundreds of years ago by the pre-Columbian indigenous peoples of the region – presumably from the Pijao and Paez (Nasa) groups. Historians believe that this massive volcanic rock served as an important trading and meeting place for the exchange of goods (such as salt, gold and crops) between the tribes of the lowlands and the highlands. – Colombia – 1977

Monolithic statue from the ‘archaeological park’ of San Agustín (Huila Department, Colombia). The frequent depiction of human figures with big cat teeth bears witness to the jaguar cult that once prevailed here and, in conjunction with the child, suggests cannibalistic rites. The heyday of this culture is thought to have been around the time of Christ’s birth: by the time the Spanish arrived, it had long since died out. - Book: Picture 56 - Colombia - 1973

This statue is thought to depict a sun god holding two mazas (ceremonial staffs) in his hands and wearing the symbol of the tree of life on his headband. The various styles demonstrate that San Agustín served as a place of worship for centuries. Luis Duque Gomez, who has been looking after the ‘Parque’ for 25 years, distinguishes three phases. It remains a mystery why this culture did not spread to its wider surroundings, as other cultures in South America did. - Book: Picture 59 - Colombia - 1973

Monolithic statues from the "archaeological park" of San Agustín (Huila department, Colombia). The heyday of this culture is assumed to be around the birth of Christ: when the Spaniards arrived, it had long since ceased to exist. - 1977

Monolithic statues from the "archaeological park" of San Agustín (Huila department, Colombia). The heyday of this culture is assumed t to be around the birth of Christ: when the Spaniards arrived, it had long since ceased to exist. - Tumulus B - height of the figure 1.85 m. - 1977

The statue known as ‘EI Tablón’ was interpreted as a moon goddess by the German archaeologist K. Th. Preuß, who worked in San Agustín in 1913–1914: today, the prevailing view is that it depicts a dignitary bearing the insignia of his power. The variety of styles attests to the fact that San Agustín served as a place of worship for centuries. Luis Duque Gomez, who has been looking after the ‘Parque’ for 25 years, distinguishes three phases. It remains a mystery why this culture did not spread to its wider surroundings, as other cultures in South America did. - Book: Picture 58 - Colombia - 1977

Monolithic statues from the "archaeological park" of San Agustín (Huila department, Colombia). The heyday of this culture is assumed to be around the birth of Christ. - "El tablón" - coffin lid. - 1977

San Agustín culture, Colombia. A monolithic statue of a man with the ‘Second Self’, photographed at the Alto de las Piedras. - Book: Picture 43 - Colombia - 1977

Monolithic statues from the "archaeological park" of San Agustín (Huila department, Colombia). The heyday of this culture is assumed to be around the birth of Christ: when the Spaniards arrived, it had long since ceased to exist. - Tumulus 8 - The figure is 60 cm high, holding two fish in her hands. - 1977

Monolithic statues from the "archaeological park" of San Agustín (Huila department, Colombia). The heyday of this culture is assumed to be around the birth of Christ. - Tumulus B - The crocodile measures 2.40 m x 0.96 m - 1977

Monolithic statues from the "archaeological park" of San Agustín (Huila department, Colombia). The heyday of this culture is assumed to be around the birth of Christ. - Statue with a vessel in his hands. - 1977

Chimborazo rises as a mighty landmark, 6,272 metres high, on the western edge of the Ecuadorian basin range. Alexander von Humboldt had climbed the heavily glaciated volcano – which was considered the highest mountain on Earth in the 19th century – almost to the summit on 23 June 1802. He had not yet seen the eucalyptus forests in the foreground. This Australian tree was not introduced until around 1850. - Book: Picture 28 - Ecuador - 1977

At 5,790 metres, the Cayambe volcano is the third-highest mountain in Ecuador. On its slopes, at 4,690 metres, lies the highest point on Earth crossed by the equator. However, due to glacial retreat in recent decades, there is no longer an icy point on the equator. During the rainy season, however, the southern slope is often covered in snow, making it the only point along the entire equator where snow falls regularly. The photograph shows the volcano from a south-westerly direction. In the foreground, one can see the characteristic agricultural hills and farmland of Pichincha Province surrounding the town of Cayambe. – Ecuador – 1972

Another view of the 5,790-metre-high Cayambe volcano from the surrounding agricultural highlands of Pichincha Province, where the indigenous people (the Kayambi) have traditionally practised agriculture and livestock farming. – Ecuador – 1972

Cotopaxi (5,897 m) in Ecuador’s Eastern Cordillera is the highest active volcano on Earth. Although it has not erupted since 1928, the column of smoke rising above its smooth summit on cool days proves that it is by no means extinct. - Book: Picture 33 - Ecuador - 1973

The Tungurahua volcano rises to a height of 5,016 metres, 140 kilometres south of Quito. Its most recent eruptions took place in the last century. The Los Baños thermal spa, situated at its foot, is Ecuador’s most visited health resort. - Book: Picture 32 - Ecuador - 1977

The alpine meadows above the tree line have their counterpart in the humid tropical Northern Andes in the páramos: vast grasslands dotted with tussocks of stem-forming composite plants. The silvery-grey, downy leaves and the stems of the espeletias (frailejones), scorched by willow fires, present a ghostly sight, particularly when the mist rolls in (Páramo de Purace, Central Cordillera of Colombia). - Book: Picture 35 - Ecuador - 1977

These cone-shaped huts are made entirely of páramo straw (ichu grass). They are a direct legacy of the Puruhá culture. They are actively maintained in communities around Cajabamba in the canton of Colta (Chimborazo province). The people wear traditional dress, which includes felt hats with short brims and thick woollen ponchos. These provide protection against the extreme cold of the Ecuadorian Andes. – Ecuador – 1977

Washing clothes by hand directly in the river and then spreading the colourful laundry out to dry on the neighbouring grassy areas is a very long-standing tradition in the Andes. It is still practised in this way by some locals today. – Scene on the Río Tomebamba in Cuenca, Ecuador – 1977

The Chota Valley is an inter-Andean valley in northern Ecuador, stretching along the border between the provinces of Imbabura and Carchi. In contrast to Ecuador’s generally humid and lush Andean highlands, the Chota Valley has a semi-arid microclimate. It is hot and dry all year round. The valley is one of the most important settlement areas for the Afro-Ecuadorian community in the Andes. The inhabitants are descendants of African slaves who were brought to the region by Jesuits during the colonial era to work on sugar cane plantations. – 1977

The Chota Valley is a region steeped in tradition in the north of Ecuador. The region is best known for its Afro-Ecuadorian community, which has preserved a culture that is unique within Ecuador. The population is descended from enslaved Africans, who were brought to the region by Jesuits in the 17th century. The ‘Bomba del Chota’ is the region’s best-known style of music and dance. It is characterised by the bomba drums. Traditionally, women dance to this rhythm with great skill whilst balancing a bottle perfectly on their heads. – 1972

The striking Mitad del Mundo monument (Centre of the World) in San Antonio de Pichincha, near Quito, Ecuador, is a stone monolith approximately 30 metres high, crowned by a large globe, which marks the equator. The monument stands about 23 kilometres north of Quito and commemorates the historic French geodetic expedition of 1736 led by Charles Marie de La Condamine. – 1977

The Mitad del Mundo monument. The trapezium-shaped tower, built of hewn stone, has its sides pointing exactly in the four cardinal directions, whilst the sphere mounted on top is encircled by a metal equatorial ring. Recent precise GPS measurements have shown that the actual equator lies some 240 metres further south. – 1977

An indigenous Kichwa woman from the Salasaka community in the province of Tungurahua, Ecuador. The distinctive light-coloured hat (muchiku) with a round brim is traditionally made from sheep’s wool. The elaborate, multi-strand necklaces (walkas) are traditionally made from fine beads and coral. They symbolise ethnic identity, cultural heritage, and the prestige and strength of indigenous women in the Andes. The woman is wearing a dark shawl (Chal or Fachalina), which is typically fastened at the front with a large, decorative silver pin or brooch (Tupu). – 1977

A girl from the Salasaka community (Tungurahua Province, Ecuador). The white hat is traditionally made from pressed sheep’s wool. It is a key symbol of identity during festivals. The hand-woven woollen shawl (Lishta) is often patterned with fine stripes. It is crossed over the chest and fastened with a silver brooch (tupu). Wearing walkas (multi-strand necklaces made of red coral or beads) is a typical form of jewellery for women and girls. – 1977

A young girl from the indigenous Kichwa community in the Otavalo region of the Ecuadorian highlands, dressed in traditional attire consisting of a blue poncho, a headdress and multiple layers of gold bead necklaces. – 1977

One of the most famous indigenous markets in the Andes takes place every Saturday in Otavalo (Imbabura Province, Ecuador). The Otavaleños enjoy an excellent reputation as trading partners and merchants; they can be found everywhere on the roads of the Andes, carrying their wares on their backs. Their market has become a major tourist attraction, featuring cockfights in the afternoon and bullfights in June. Alongside their own products, they sell the Salasacas’ cloths and rugs here. - Book: Picture 27 - Ecuador - 1977

A scene from the Sunday market in Riobamba, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador. - Book: Picture 30 - Ecuador - 1977

A craftswoman weaving a traditional toquilla straw hat (often mistakenly referred to as a ‘Panama hat’). Cuenca in Ecuador is regarded worldwide as the most important centre for the production and export of these famous toquilla straw hats. They are painstakingly hand-woven from the fine fibres of the toquilla palm. Whilst the weaving of the rough forms often takes place in the surrounding villages of the province of Azuay, the hats are washed, bleached, moulded into shape and finished in the workshops and factories in Cuenca itself. The traditional weaving of these straw hats in Ecuador has been officially inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. – 1977

Cuenca in Ecuador is regarded as the global centre for the processing and export of genuine toquilla straw hats. Whilst the fine straw is harvested on the coast and is often woven by hand in rural areas, the hats are finished in Cuenca’s renowned workshops. The hat blanks are cleaned to preserve their characteristic light colour. The protruding straw strands visible in the photograph are carefully trimmed by hand. The hat is shaped into its typical form using either traditional or modern hydraulic presses and heat. Finally, the inner sweatband and the classic black outer band are sewn on. – 1977

A Salasaca man in traditional dress – a black poncho, white trousers and a white shirt – at the loom. The barren soil of the central Ecuadorian province of Tungurahua, around the town of Ambato, has forced the Salasacas, a tribe of around two thousand indigenous people, to pursue a second source of income alongside farming. Their rugs, featuring bird and animal motifs, are famous far and wide. The Otavaleños usually handle the distribution of the textiles. - Book: Picture 26 - Ecuador - 1977

Sunday market in Cajabamba, west of Riobamba. Two hundred varieties of potato, ranging from small white tubers to huge red sweet potatoes, a dozen varieties of maize, quinoa (‘Peruvian rice’), pulses, as well as animal feed and, occasionally, modern fertilisers and colourings are on offer at these markets. - Book: Picture 31 - Ecuador - 1976

A Salasaca indigenous man weaving a wide belt, known as a ‘faja’. Traditional patterns include birds, deer, cats and other stylised animals. - Book: Picture 139 - Ecuador - 1976

Lunch at the Sunday market in Cajabamba, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador. - Book: Picture 137 - Ecuador - 1976

Riobamba is the economic and administrative centre of the Ecuadorian province of Chimborazo. The photograph shows the old, historic coach station (Terminal Terrestre) and an adjacent market square in the 1970s. Riobamba links the coastal region with the Andean highlands. The buses in the background display the nearby destinations of Guamote and Colta, two historically significant indigenous communities in the immediate vicinity. – 1977

A scene from the Sunday market in Riobamba, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador. - Book: Picture 29 - Ecuador - 1977

An indigenous woman from Riobamba in her traditional dress, carrying her child on her back in a sling. The brown felt hat is typical of the indigenous population (mostly Kichwa) of Chimborazo Province around Riobamba; it is a distinctive symbol of indigenous identity and belonging in this region. The child is carried safely on her back in a traditionally woven sling. The poncho provides reliable protection against the cold in the cool high altitudes of the Andes. – 1977

A Salasaca girl from the town of Ambato, Tungurahua province - Ecuador - 1976

The Saraguros are known for their elegant and traditional black national dress. The women often wear distinctive white hats with black patterns on the brim (or black felt hats), dark shawls (reboso), colourful embroidered blouses and elaborate beaded jewellery (collares). The photograph shows a traditional gathering after Sunday mass, held directly in front of the church in the main town of Saraguro in southern Ecuador (Loja Province). Those present are carrying floral arrangements and wreaths, which is typical of religious or community celebrations within the context of syncretism (the fusion of the Christian faith and the Andean cosmovision). – Ecuador – 1977

Saraguro in the province of Loja, Ecuador. A particularly beautiful custom of the Saraguros is the flower offerings: every year, during the Christmas midnight mass, the ‘muñidoras’ are chosen. These women are then responsible for the flower offerings throughout the year. Using garden flowers, they create small arrangements in which tiny figurines, crosses and stars are hidden, and place these in the various churches every Sunday morning. Unmarried women arrange the flowers in specific round shapes; only elderly women or widows are permitted to create arrangements in the shape of branches. - Book: Picture 39 - Ecuador - 1976

Saraguro in the province of Loja, Ecuador. A particularly beautiful custom of the Saraguros is the offering of flowers: every year, during the Christmas Midnight Mass, the ‘muñidoras’ are chosen. These women are then responsible for the floral offerings throughout the year. Using garden flowers, they create small arrangements in which tiny figurines, crosses and stars are hidden, and place these in the various churches every Sunday morning. Unmarried women arrange the flowers into specific circular shapes; only elderly women or widows are permitted to create branch-shaped arrangements. - Book: Picture 36 - Ecuador - 1976

The Saraguro in the province of Loja, Ecuador. A particularly beautiful custom of the Saraguros is the offering of flowers: every year, during the Christmas midnight mass, the ‘muñidoras’ are chosen. These women are then responsible for the floral offerings throughout the year. Using garden flowers, they create small arrangements in which tiny figurines, crosses and stars are hidden, and place these in the various churches every Sunday morning. Unmarried women arrange the flowers in specific round shapes; only elderly women or widows are permitted to create branch-shaped arrangements. - Book: Picture 38 - Ecuador - 1976

An indigenous woman from the Saraguro culture in the province of Loja, Ecuador, recognisable by her traditional clothing and distinctive white felt hat. The woman is wearing striking silver earrings and traditional beaded necklaces. A silver brooch (‘Topo’, a traditional garment pin) holds her dark cloak in place over a red blouse. – Ecuador – 1977

The Saraguro in the province of Loja, Ecuador. The topos – the pins used by Saraguro women to fasten their ponchos – are unique to this tribe in that they feature a sun-shaped head. In Peru, they are spoon-shaped. - Book: Picture 37 - Ecuador - 1977

Quito. Page from Poma de Ayala’s *Nueva Crónica*. - Book: Picture 165 - Ecuador - 1976

The Virgin of Guadalupe (oil on wood, 26 x 37 cm). This miniature is by an unknown 17th-century artist and is attributed to the Quito School, which, from its foundation in the 16th century, had a decisive influence on artistic production in the Andean countries. Many of its pupils, however, remained anonymous. Miguel de Santiago (1655–1706) is regarded as the most significant painter of this school; like the leading sculptor Gaspicara (Scarred Face), he was an Indio. Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, Quito. - Book: Picture 134 - Ecuador - 1977

Foot bowl from the Tuncahuán-Carchi culture with a bird motif (diameter 21 cm, height 8.5 cm). Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, Ouito. - Book: Picture 51 - Ecuador - 1977

Bowl with monkeys - Tuncahuan culture - 500 BC to 500 AD - negative painting of beeswax and honey - diameter 19cm, height 8.5cm - Museo Banco Central Quito, Ecuador - 1977

Vase from the Panzaleo culture with negative ornamentation (top diameter 13.5 cm, height 19 cm). The Panzaleo culture flourished in the provinces of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi between 500 BC and 500 AD. Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, Ouito. - Book: Picture 52 - Ecuador - 1977

Cañari ‘horseman-shaped’ vessel, Cañar and Azuay provinces, Ecuador (height 16 cm). Period of Integration, 500 to 1400 AD. Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, Quito. - Book: Picture 69 - Ecuador - 1977

Ceramics of the culture Tacalshapa in the provinces of Azuay and Cañar, Ecuador - Integration period from 500 to 1400 A.D. - Height 16 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1977

Ceramics of the culture Tacalshapa in the provinces of Azuay and Cañar, Ecuador - Integration period from 500 to 1400 A.D. - Height 23 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1977

‘The Coca Chewer’. Clay figurine (height 32 cm) from the Carchi culture, Imbabura and Carchi provinces, Ecuador. Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, Quito. - Book: Picture 75 - Ecuador - 1977

Vase in the shape of a nursing woman (height 24.5 cm) from the Carchi culture, Ecuador. Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, Quito. - Book: Picture 77 - Ecuador - 1977

Pre-Columbian pottery - Ceramics Jama-Coaque culture (coast) - Height 39,5cm - Museo Banco Central del Ecuador, Quito - 1977

Pre-Columbian pottery - Ceramics Bahia culture - Manabi province - Height 64cm - Museo Banco Central del Ecuador, Quito - 1977

The Andes
Part 2: The Central Andes Peru – Bolivia
The book was published in 1977 by C.J. Bucher, Lucerne and Frankfurt am Main.
ISBN 3-7658 0250 6

Map of the Central Andes.
The numbers refer to the photographs in the book. They are indicated alongside the relevant photographs.
The photographs were taken between 1969 and 1977.
1969: Trip 10 – Peru
1972–73: Trip 16 – Pan-American Highway
1976–77: Trip 20 – South America – from Argentina to Venezuela

The valley of the Río Jequetepeque, a major river in northern Peru. The striking, columnar and heavily ribbed cacti in the foreground are candelabra cacti (Neoraimondia arequipensis), typical of the western slopes and coastal valleys of Peru. The photograph shows the striking contrast between the barren, stony desert and mountain landscape with its xerophytic vegetation and the artificially irrigated, green farmland in the valley, which is intensively used for the cultivation of rice, sugar cane and fruit. – Peru – 1969

The Jequetepeque Valley is one of the most important and historically significant agricultural regions on the Peruvian Pacific coast. This area is regarded as one of Peru’s largest rice-growing regions. As the coastal climate there is extremely dry (desert climate), intensive wet rice cultivation is made possible by a sophisticated, millennia-old system of canals and by water from the river. Peru – 1969

The photograph shows the typical landscape of the fertile Jequetepeque Valley, which is one of the most important centres for wet rice cultivation in Peru. – Peru – 1976

The rivers flowing down from the Western Cordillera cross the Peruvian coastal desert on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Around forty box-shaped valleys with broad floors and steep sides are carved into the desert plateau, which slopes gently down towards the sea. With their vineyards, lucerne fields and vegetable plots lined with rows of trees, they form green oases in a barren landscape. The rice fields recently established along the Río Jequetepeque, where indigenous people plough with teams of oxen, are reminiscent of their Asian counterparts. - Book: Picture 89 - Peru - 1976

In Cajamarca, situated at an altitude of 2,960 metres, Francisco Pizarro lured the Inca Atahualpa into an ambush and took him prisoner. To this day, the ‘Camara de rescate’ is on display – the room that Atahualpa had filled with gold. However, the ransom did not save him from a violent death. Cajamarca has largely retained its colonial character to this day, and with its 30,000 inhabitants, it is a bustling market town: smallholders queuing outside the agricultural co-operative to collect their milk money. - Book: Picture 87 - Peru - 1976

In Cajamarca, situated at an altitude of 2,960 metres, Francisco Pizarro lured the Inca Atahualpa into an ambush and took him prisoner. To this day, the ‘Camara de rescate’ is on display – the room that Atahualpa had filled with gold. However, the ransom did not save him from a violent death. Cajamarca has largely retained its colonial character to this day, and with its 30,000 inhabitants, it is a bustling market town: Cajamarca’s traditional hats are made from toquilla straw (plant fibre). - Book: Picture 85 - Peru - 1976

In Cajamarca, situated at an altitude of 2,960 metres, Francisco Pizarro lured the Inca Atahualpa into an ambush and took him prisoner. To this day, the ‘Camara de rescate’ is on display – the room that Atahualpa had filled with gold. However, the ransom did not save him from a violent death. Cajamarca has largely retained its colonial character to this day, and with its 30,000 inhabitants, it is a bustling market town: a market vendor spins her wool as she walks. - Book: Picture 84 - Peru - 1976

In Cajamarca, situated at an altitude of 2,960 metres, Francisco Pizarro lured the Inca Atahualpa into an ambush and took him prisoner. To this day, the ‘Camara de rescate’ – the room that Atahualpa had filled with gold – is on display. However, the ransom did not save him from a violent death. Cajamarca has largely retained its colonial character to this day, and with its 30,000 inhabitants, it is a bustling market town: a market vendor carries her new hat home on top of her old one. - Book: Picture 86 - Peru - 1976

Cumbemayo, 19 km south-east of Cajamarca in Peru, at an altitude of around 3,500 metres. The aqueduct is approximately 850 metres long, hewn from rocky volcanic rock, and forms part of an 8-kilometre-long canal. It was built around 1500 BC. The precisely carved zigzag angles served to reduce the flow velocity of the water and prevent soil erosion. The name Cumbemayo may have its roots in the Quechua expression ‘kumpi mayu’, literally ‘well-built water channel’. There are petroglyphs on the aqueduct and in the surrounding caves. – Peru – 1976

The Windows of Otuzco (Ventanillas de Otuzco) are a significant archaeological necropolis dating from the pre-Inca period (Cajamarca culture, c. 200–800 AD). They are situated approximately 8 km north-east of the city of Cajamarca at an altitude of around 2,850 metres. Hundreds of window-like, rectangular burial niches are carved deep into a steep cliff face of volcanic rock. The individual niches served as separate burial sites, arranged one above the other, in which the region’s ancestors laid their dead to rest. – Northern Peru – 1976

An old lorry loaded to the brim with freshly harvested sugar cane. The scene is typical of sugar cane transport in the agricultural regions along the Pan-American Highway in northern Peru. – Northern Peru – 1976

The Panamericana crosses many desert stretches of the peruvian coast. In places it is blown with sand by the strong winds, as here near San Pedro de Lloc in the province of Pacasmayo in the department of La Libertad. - 1969

Huanchaco is the beach of Trujillo in the department of La Libertad. As hundreds of years ago, fishermen still go out to sea with their balsa boats. - 1972

Chan Chan was the capital of the pre-Columbian Chimú Empire. Best preserved is the Tschudi area, named after the Swiss researcher Tschudi. The palace is now known as Palacio Nik-An. This area is being restored and is open to tourists. Here you can still see some of the banqueting halls with their magnificent decorations. - 1969

The "Huaca del Dragon", or as it is also called, rainbow temple, is located outside the city of Trujillo near Chan Chan. It is a large religious monument, ceremonial and administrative centre made of mud bricks, whose murals are decorated with relief friezes depicting anthropomorphic figures and depicting the rainbow in stylised form. - 1969

El interior dañado de las ruinas históricas del Convento de San Agustín (convento e iglesia de San Agustín) en Zaña, un importante yacimiento colonial situado en la provincia de Chiclayo, región de Lambayeque, al norte de Perú. Este templo, fundado en 1584 por los padres agustinos y terminado a principios del siglo XVII, sufrió graves daños a causa del devastador terremoto de 1619, así como, sobre todo, por las catastróficas inundaciones provocadas por el fenómeno de El Niño en 1720, que destruyeron la floreciente ciudad colonial. Los restos del complejo sacro presentan estructuras macizas de ladrillo y arcilla, así como bóvedas y arcos de medio punto conservados, que dan testimonio de la antigua grandeza de la arquitectura colonial. – Norte de Perú – 1976

Golden Chimú death mask (width 31 cm). Private collection, Switzerland. - Book: Picture 50 - Peru - 1969

A golden figurine known as the ‘Ídolo de Frías’ – so named because it is crafted in the Frías style – but which is attributed to the Vicús culture on the northern Peruvian coast. It was hammered and soldered from 16-carat gold (height 15.5 cm, weight 60 g). Brüning Archaeological Museum, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 64 - Peru - 1977

Vase in the shape of a kneeling figure from the Vicús culture, northern Peru. Vicús is regarded as a phase of experimentation, chronologically classified as a late phase of the Formative Period, as a wide variety of forms and technical solutions appear in pottery. Private collection, Lima, Peru. - Book: Picture 76 - Peru - 1969

Moche jug depicting a man and a house on a cubic body. The Mochica culture, sometimes also referred to as Proto-Chimú, flourished on the coast of northern Peru, around Trujillo, at roughly the same time as the Nazca culture in the south. Mochica pottery is effectively an ethnological record, as it depicts every detail of daily life. Private collection, Switzerland. - Private collection, Switzerland. – Book: Image 70 – Peru – 1969

Copper death mask from the Chimú culture, Peru (height 22 cm). The Chimú were regarded as the most outstanding gold and silversmiths of the pre-Inca and Inca periods. Following the subjugation of the Chimú, the Incas brought the finest artists to Cuzco. Museo Arqueológico Brüning, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 72 - Peru - 1977

Ceramic statue of Naymlaps, the mythical founder of the Chimú Empire (height 18 cm). Brüning Archaeological Museum, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 49 - Peru - 1976

The 180-kilometre-long Cordillera Blanca rises to its highest point at Huascarán, Peru’s highest mountain at 6,768 metres. Snowfields and glaciers also cover the neighbouring peaks, which are scarcely less imposing. Rockfalls and mudslides pose a constant threat to the settlements in the valley. In the foreground are the boulders from a rockfall that occurred in 1970. - Book: Picture 83 - Peru - 1976

This photograph has a deeply tragic and historic background: it shows the mighty Nevado Huascarán (6,757 m), taken from Campo Santo in Yungay. The group of people in the foreground, carrying a coffin together, are standing exactly where, on 31 May 1970, the old town of Yungay was completely buried as a result of a severe earthquake and the subsequent massive mud and ice avalanche. In this natural disaster – the worst in Peru’s history – over 20,000 people in the town lost their lives. Today, the site is a national memorial designated as the Campo Santo (holy field) and also serves as a vast cemetery. – Peru – 1976

The photograph shows the landscape of rubble and debris below the glaciated Nevado Huascarán in the Cordillera Blanca in Peru, which was shaped by the massive avalanches and debris flows that followed the 1970 earthquake. In the background rise the snow-capped twin peaks of Huascarán, Peru’s highest mountain (6,768 m). In the foreground and on the plain, large boulders, masses of debris and sparse, low vegetation can be seen. – Peru – 1976

The photograph shows the picturesque Laguna Chinancocha (one of the Llanganuco Lakes) in Huascarán National Park in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca. The lake lies at an altitude of around 3,850 metres in the Áncash region, not far from the town of Huaraz. It is characterised by its intense, bright turquoise-green colour, fed by glacial meltwater and framed by steep mountain slopes and typical Andean flora (such as the gnarled queñua trees). – Peru – 1976

High above the small town of Yungay, which was buried by an ice avalanche in 1970, the Llanganuco high valley opens up in the Cordillera Blanca, featuring a lake dammed by a wall of rock and moraine. Towards the outside – towards the Callejón de Huaylas or Santatal – it transitions into a vast trough-shaped valley. - Book: Picture 99 - Peru - 1976

A weaver with her spindle makes yarn from sheep's wool. Mancos in the Callejón de Huaylas, Department of Ancash. - 1969

A weaver with her spindle makes yarn from sheep's wool. Cajamarca Region in North Peru. - 1969

Bas-relief of a human figure (height 25 cm) from the Recuay culture in the Santa Valley, Peru, dating from the Classical period. Museo Regional de Ancash, Huaraz, Peru. - Book: Picture 73 - Peru - 1976

Relief of a warrior with a head trophy and shield (height 32 cm). Recuay culture. Museo Regional de Ancash, Huaraz, Peru. - Book: Picture 74 - Peru - 1976

A vase-shaped ‘rumba ball’ filled with grains, featuring an anthropomorphic neck and two small monkeys perched on top. Santa pottery from the Huari period (height 21 cm). Museo Regional de Ancash, Huaraz, Peru. - Book: Picture 67 - Peru - 1976

The area around Patarcocha, in the Chacas district (Ancash region), within the famous Huascarán National Park, is world-renowned for having the densest populations of Puya raimondii. This rare plant belongs to the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae) and is native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia; it is also known as the Queen of the Andes. It grows at extreme altitudes of between 3,500 and 4,500 metres in barren, sunny mountain steppes. The plant often lives for over 80 to 100 years, flowers only once in its lifetime with a gigantic inflorescence up to 10 metres high, and then dies. – Peru – 1977

The most striking plant of the humid Puna regions of Peru and Bolivia is the Puya raimondii, a giant bromeliad. This plant, which flowers only once before dying, develops a spike of bright green flowers up to eight metres high, pollinated by hummingbirds. This photograph of the plant, which has now become rare, was taken at an altitude of 4,200 metres in the area of Laguna de Patarccocha, Ancash Department, Peru. - Book: Picture 98 - Peru - 1976

Highland landscape (Puna) featuring the striking, snow-capped massif of Nevado Huantsán (6,395 m) in the southern part of the Cordillera Blanca in the Peruvian Andes, situated in the Áncash region. The barren plateau in the foreground, characterised by ichu grass, is typical of the Puna altitude zone between 3,800 and 4,000 metres. – Peru – 1976

Although the Shaqsha, at 5703 metres, is more than a thousand metres lower than Huascarán, it is nevertheless one of the most striking peaks of the ‘White Cordillera’ and poses the greatest challenges for mountaineers. - Book: Picture 97 - Peru - 1976

Sheep and goats cross the Río Mosna via a traditional, simple bridge made of tree trunks; the river flows right past the famous archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar. Chavín is one of Peru’s most important pre-Columbian cultures. – 1976

Chavín Culture, Peru. The huge temple complex near the village of Chavín de Huántar behind the Cordillera Blanca gave its name to a culture whose influence around 1000 BC can be traced over a wide area and in later cultural forms, so that it can be called with some justification the mother culture. Recurring motifs are the jaguar or a mixture of predator, snake and condor and warriors with predator teeth, condor claws and snake hair or hair with condor heads. Here the main portal to the temple complex with the large ceremonial square in the foreground. - 1976

The Portada de las Falcónidas (also known as the Black-and-White Portal) at the archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar in the Ancash region of Peru. It is the magnificent main entrance to the New Temple of the pre-Inca Chavín culture, which flourished between approximately 1500 and 300 BC. The portal is supported by two cylindrical stone columns engraved with complex mythological reliefs (falcon-like or bird-of-prey creatures). The name derives from the differently coloured stone blocks (black limestone and white granite) used in the architecture of this ceremonial area. – Peru – 1969

The heads of nails (Cabezas clavas) are a series of sculptures representing heads of cats, snakes and birds, combined with human features. They owe this name to the fact that they end like a nail in an extension, which meant that they could easily be embedded into the façade of the temple at symmetrical intervals. One theory assumes that they were the guardians of the temple. They were carved in sandstone of different consistency, quartzite and granite. Unfortunately, of the 56 who were there, only one is still on site. The others have disappeared or are kept in museums. - 1976

Chavín culture, Peru. The immense temple complex near the village of Chavín de Huántar, behind the Cordillera Blanca, where these relief slabs are found, gave its name to a culture whose influence can be traced over a wide area and in later cultural forms, so that it may, with some justification, be described as a ‘mother culture’. Recurring motifs include the jaguar or hybrid creatures combining big cats, snakes and condors, as well as warriors with predator’s teeth, condor’s talons and snake’s hair (this image) or hair adorned with condor heads. - Book: Picture 45 - Peru - 1976

Chavín culture, Peru. The immense temple complex near the village of Chavín de Huántar, behind the Cordillera Blanca, in which these relief slabs are found, gave its name to a culture whose influence can be traced over a wide area and in later cultural forms, so that it may, with some justification, be described as a ‘mother culture’. Recurring motifs include the jaguar (this image) or hybrid creatures combining a big cat, a snake and a condor, as well as warriors with predator’s teeth, condor’s talons and snake’s hair, or hair with condor’s heads. - Book: Picture 44 - Peru - 1976

The Raimondi Stele is a 1.95-metre-high, finely carved granite monolith from the pre-Columbian Chavín culture of Peru (c. 900–550 BC), which is now housed in the National Museum in Lima. It depicts the so-called ‘Staff God’ – an anthropomorphic, feline deity holding a staff or sceptre in each hand. The relief is designed in such a way that, when viewed from the opposite perspective (upside down), completely different figurative faces and symbols can be discerned. It is named after the Italian scholar Antonio Raimondi, who discovered it in the 19th century at the archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar. – Peru – 1976

Chavín culture, Peru – Detail of the lower part of the Raimondi stele. Considered a masterpiece of this culture, the stele is 74 centimetres wide, 195 centimetres high and 17 centimetres thick. First described by A. Raimondi at the end of the 19th century, the stele served as a table for a farmer for many years; fortunately, it was turned upside down, meaning that the engravings are exceptionally well preserved and were also spared by the landslides that repeatedly buried the Chavín site. The figure in this detail is sometimes interpreted as a human with big cat attributes, and at other times as a feathered cat god. When turned upside down, a second face appears, formed from the mouth and chin of the upright figure. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima, Peru. - 1976

One of the few, if not the only, textiles to have survived from the Chavín culture: painted cotton, once again featuring the familiar motifs of fangs, feathered serpents and condor talons. Museo Amano, Lima, Peru. - Book: Picture 62 - Peru - 1976

A huaco, or stirrup-shaped vessel, from the coastal Chavín culture, Chiclayo Valley, Peru (height 23 cm). A chameleon or cat-like creature in the black pottery characteristic of Chavín. Brüning Archaeological Museum, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 65 - Peru - 1976

As you drive from the coast towards Huaraz, this view of Caullaraju (5,682 m) rising above the vast pampa is the first major picture-postcard view of the Cordillera Blanca, a high mountain range in the Andes. Further to the right lies Laguna Conococha (from the Quechua words quñuq, meaning ‘warm’, and qucha, meaning ‘lake’ or ‘lagoon’, hence ‘warm lake’), which is considered the official source of the Río Santa. This river is one of the most water-rich and important rivers on the Peruvian Pacific coast. – Peru – 1969

Detail from the temple complex of Cerro Sechín in the Casmatal on the Peruvian Pacific coast. The complex of around ninety monolithic slabs, some of which are enormous, is attributed to the coastal Chavín style, although the reliefs have little in common with other ancient Peruvian stonework and show more similarities with the Mexican Monte Albán culture. The figures in profile all look towards the main entrance of the temple. - 1976

Detail from the temple complex at Cerro Sechín in the Casma Valley on the Peruvian Pacific coast. The complex, comprising around ninety monolithic slabs—some of them enormous—is attributed to the Coastal Chavín style, although the reliefs bear little resemblance to other ancient Peruvian stone carvings and show greater similarities to the Mexican Monte Albán culture. The figures, depicted in profile, all face the main entrance to the temple. - Book: Picture 46 - Peru - 1976

Detail from the temple complex of Cerro Sechín in the Valley of Casma on the Peruvian Pacific coast. The complex of around ninety monolithic slabs, some of them enormous, is attributed to the coastal Chavín style, although the reliefs have little in common with other ancient Peruvian stonework and show more similarities with the Mexican Monte Albán culture. - 1976

The Archbishop’s Palace of Lima (Palacio Arzobispal de Lima) on the Plaza Mayor in the historic centre is the official residence of the Archbishop of Lima. The building is an outstanding example of neo-colonial architecture in the Baroque style. Inaugurated in December 1924, the building features a richly decorated stone façade with imposing neo-Baroque elements. Particularly striking are the large, dark-brown wooden balconies made of carved cedar in the traditional Liman style with Moorish influences. The palace is situated right next to Lima Cathedral. – 1969

Street photographer in the Plaza de Armas in Lima. Wherever the Spanish founded a town, they also created a ‘parade ground’, around which the most important public buildings were grouped. - Book: Picture 183 - Peru - 1969

Around Peru’s capital, Lima, the pueblos jóvenes – the new neighbourhoods, also known as barriadas and which are nothing but slums – are springing up. Given the dire social situation and stagnating agriculture in the Andean valleys, the city is the main destination for a massive exodus from the countryside. - Book: Picture 187 - Peru - 1976

This historical illustration is taken from the chronicle *Nueva Corónica y Buen Gobierno* (c. 1615) by the indigenous Peruvian chronicler Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala and depicts the meeting between the Inca ruler Atahualpa and the Spanish conquistadors. It depicts the Inca Atahualpa on his throne (usno) in Cajamarca, to whom the Dominican friar Vicente de Valverde is handing the Bible, accompanied by the interpreter Felipillo and Spanish soldiers such as Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro. The drawing illustrates the momentous first contact and the so-called ‘Requerimiento’ in 1532, which led directly to Atahualpa’s capture and the collapse of the Inca Empire.

Lima – Ciudad de los Reyes. The City of Kings, so named because Francisco Pizarro founded it in 1535 on the Feast of the Epiphany. This illustration is taken from the book *Nueva Crónica y Buen Gobierno* by Felipe Huamán Poma de Ayala. His work contains hundreds of illustrations and was produced between 1583 and 1613. Given the scarcity of contemporary visual records, it holds a unique place; however, it must be borne in mind that the Conquista had already taken place fifty to seventy years earlier by the time Poma de Ayala set about depicting it, which is why his illustrations can only claim limited documentary value.

Portrait of the South American independence fighter Simón Bolívar, painted by the Peruvian artist José Gil de Castro around 1823. Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), also known as ‘El Libertador’, was a Venezuelan statesman and military leader who played a key role in liberating several South American countries from Spanish rule. The original of this oil painting is housed in the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) in Peru. – 1977

The document that crowned the struggle for independence! Following the defeat at Ayacucho, the Spaniard José Canterac signed the terms of surrender on 9 December 1824. On behalf of the opposing side, the liberator General Antonio José de Sucre – after whom Bolivia’s nominal capital is named – signed the document. - Book: Picture 190 - Peru - 1976

A detail of a pre-Inca textile from Puruchuco in the Rímac Valley, featuring a bird motif in a geometric style characteristic of the cultures of the central Peruvian Pacific coast, as frequently seen particularly in works of the Chancay culture. – 1977

In the dazzling light of the waves, Inti, the Inca sun god, sinks into the waters of the Pacific … – 1969

The Paracas Candelabra (El Candelabro). The figure is around 180 metres high and was carved about half a metre into the hard sandy ground. Alongside the Candelabra, other, smaller lines have also been carved into the ground. It can be seen from the sea at a distance of around 20 km. Radiocarbon dating has placed its creation around 200 BC. Who created this mysterious symbol from the pre-Inca period and what purpose it served remains unclear to this day. – Peru – 1977

The Andean Railway, which runs from Lima on the Pacific coast to Huancavelica in the Sierra, crosses the Río Rimac. Fifty kilometres further on, it reaches the world’s highest ‘railway point’ at the Paso del Ticlio (4,818 m). - Book: Picture 179 - Peru - 1969

La Oroya, situated at an altitude of 3,726 metres in the Peruvian department of Junín, is a major railway junction. The most important ore processing plants and smelters are located here. These smelters are all the more important given that, in the past, almost all mining products were shipped in the form of ore and refined abroad. – In 2012, operations at the smelting plants were ceased. - Book: Picture 168 - Peru - 1969

The Peruvian town of Cerro de Pasco, situated at an altitude of 4,350 metres and now home to 30,000 inhabitants, has been an important mining centre since colonial times. Gold, silver, copper and zinc are partly mined in mines situated 5,000 metres above sea level. The coal, however, comes from the deeply incised Goyallarisquisga Canyon, which is nonetheless the highest coal mine on earth. - Book: Picture 172 - Peru - 1969

The Morococha mine produces silver, zinc, copper and lead. It is located at 4,540 m in the central Andes, near the Ticlio Pass, which connects Lima with the eastern parts of the country. - 1969

A miner from the Caudalosa mine in the department of Huancavelica, Peru. - Book: Picture 167 - Peru - 1976

Workers’ settlement at the Ricas mine in the department of Huancavelica, Peru. The ore from this mine contains silver, lead, zinc and copper, as well as various minerals that are separated during smelting. - Book: Picture 173 - Peru - 1976

Miners in front of the entrance to the Ricas mine in the department of Huancavelica, Peru. - Book: Picture 174 - Peru - 1976

Bus stop near the village of Conchamarca in the department of Huánuco, Peru. - Book: Picture 181 - Peru - 1976

In autumn, the predominant color of the cultivated fields in the Sierra is brown. Near Huancayo, Junín Department. - 1969

Nothing illustrates the economic and social diversity as well as farming methods. Whilst tractors are used in some areas, indigenous people on their smallholdings still cultivate their fields in a way that has not changed since Inca times. - Book: Picture 91 - Peru - 1969

Corn on the cob hangs to dry on the wall of the house. Acomayo in the Huánuco region in central Peru. - 1969

Traditional Peruvian carving: The picture shows intricately engraved and fired pumpkins, known as ‘Mates Burilados’. This craft originates from the Peruvian Andes (particularly regions such as Junín) and often depicts scenes from everyday life, historical events or nature. The intricate patterns are carved into the dried pumpkin shell using a burin and are sometimes highlighted with smoke or paint. – Huancayo – Peru – 1969

One of the most attractive forms of Peruvian crafts is the decoration of dried gourds. The artist from the «Centro Artesanal de Huancayo» uses a sharp piece to draw scenes from everyday life. - 1969

A scene from the famous Feria Dominical de Huancayo (Huancayo Sunday Market) in Peru, one of the historically most significant and largest markets in the South American Andes. This weekly market attracts traders and craftspeople from across the Mantaro Valley. The artworks visible in the foreground are dried calabash gourds. Artisans from the nearby villages of Cochas Chico and Cochas Grande use fine chisels (buriles) to carve extremely detailed stories, village chronicles and festive scenes into the shells. The characteristic brown and black contrasts are created using firing techniques. Hand-woven blankets and traditional textiles hang in the background. The women’s clothing – in particular the distinctive white hats with black ribbons and the embroidered waistcoats – is typical of the indigenous people of the Mantaro Valley. – 1969

Detail of a carved and charred gourd from the Huancayo area, Peru, depicting a village festival. Depending on their shape, bottle gourds are cut in half to be used as bowls and plates, or left whole to be used as bottles. - Book: Picture 142 - Peru - 1977

This historical photograph shows the bustling Calle Real, the main thoroughfare and central street of the Peruvian Andean town of Huancayo (Junín Region), characterised by typical car models of the 1960s and the striking, round Inca Kola neon sign in the background. – 1969

The indigenous potters have never used a potter’s wheel, but they produce very beautiful functional and decorative items, which can be bought at one or other of the local markets in the Cordillera. – Quinua, near Ayacucho. – 1969

The Río Mantaro, seen here near Izcuchaca in the Huancavelica region. At this point, the river has carved its way deep into the Andes, forming imposing, steep gorges (canyons). – Peru – 1969

Potato harvest near the village of Jerónimo in the department of Apurímac, Peru. The tradition of communal farming dates back to pre-Inca times, creating a solid foundation for agricultural collectives and cooperatives. - Book: Picture 177 - Peru - 1969

Although the scene in the photograph is visually very reminiscent of the Mongolian steppe, the terraced slopes used for farming in the background, as well as the rider’s clothing (a typical Andean hat and poncho), clearly point to the highland Pampas regions of the Peruvian Andes. The photograph was taken 20 km from Andahuaylas. – Peru – 1969

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) in flight. It has dark plumage with a distinctive white ruff and pale stripes on its wings. It belongs to the family of New World vultures and, with a wingspan of up to three metres, is considered one of the largest flight-capable bird species in the world. Although the Andean condor is mostly associated with the high peaks of the Andes (such as the famous Colca Canyon), it actually descends regularly to the Peruvian Pacific coast. This photograph was taken on the Paracas Peninsula. In the Paracas National Reserve and along the nearby cliff-lined coast, the condors make use of the strong sea winds and updrafts along the steep cliffs to glide for kilometres without expending much energy. They are drawn there for one reason above all: the availability of food. On the coast, they feed on the carrion of beached marine mammals (such as sea lions) or the remains of seabird colonies. – 1977

The river valley of the Río Pisco forms a lush, green strip in the midst of one of the driest coastal deserts on Earth. Thanks to meltwater and rainwater from the Andes, oasis farming has been practised here successfully for thousands of years. Whilst the river’s course in its upper reaches carves deep, narrow gorges into the barren Andes mountains, the valley widens towards the coast into a broad, fertile plain before the river flows into the Pacific Ocean north of the port city of Pisco. At the various altitudes within the valley, maize, pulses, fodder crops (such as alfalfa) and fruit are grown, and livestock is reared. – 1977

The famous Nazca Lines in the Peruvian coastal desert are huge prehistoric geoglyphs depicting geometric shapes and animal figures. The picture shows the famous figure of the condor (or hummingbird) with a large wingspan and lines stretching across the ground. The lines were created between 500 BC and 500 AD by the ancient Nazca culture by removing dark stones to reveal the lighter soil beneath. They have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994; their exact purpose (astronomical, religious or social) remains a subject of research to this day. – 1969

The photograph shows the foot of the gigantic condor geoglyph, which is around 135 metres long. (see previous photo) – Peru – Nazca – 1969

The Toro Muerto petroglyphs in the Majes Valley in the Arequipa region comprise thousands of volcanic boulders bearing prehistoric rock carvings. The site is situated in the desert in the district of Uraca, in the province of Castilla, some 150 km north-west of the city of Arequipa. Over 5,000 to 6,000 engraved boulders depict zoomorphic, anthropomorphic and geometric motifs such as animals, dancers and symbols. The most densely concentrated core area, where most of the engraved boulders are found, covers approximately 5 square kilometres. Within this main area, the finds extend over a length of approximately 3.8 kilometres and a width of about 250 metres. – Peru – 1976

The petroglyphs of Toro Muerto in the Majes Valley in the Arequipa region are among the largest and most significant sites of prehistoric fish and rock art in the world. They date mainly from the Wari period and the late Intermediate Period (c. 500 to 1440 AD). The site covers several square kilometres of barren desert landscape and is regarded as an important testament to the early ritual and cosmological expressions of Andean cultures. Peru – 1976

Rock paintings from Toquepala, Moquegua Department, Peru. Traces of human settlement were found in the caves of Toquepala, which have been dated to around 10,000 years ago using the radiocarbon method. However, this does not prove that the paintings – some of which overlap – are equally old. Although they may well be attributed stylistically to a Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer population, they could also have been created by later peoples, given that various tribes in Patagonia and southern Chile remained at a comparable cultural level right up to modern times. - Book: Picture 57 - Peru - 1976

The Toquepala mine in the Tacna region is one of the five largest copper mines in the world in terms of reserves. It is operated by Southern Copper Corporation (a subsidiary of Grupo México). The railway line shown in the picture forms part of the private industrial rail network known as the Ferrocarril Ilo-Toquepala-Cuajone. The line was built around 1959–1960 to transport the mined copper concentrate directly from the deep open-cast mine over the Andean passes to the smelter and the export port at Ilo. – Peru – 1976

The photograph shows the mine railway within the Toquepala copper mine in Peru. The mines’ entire rail network comprises intricate hairpin bends along the mining terraces and a tunnel system over 27 kilometres long, designed to cope with the extreme differences in altitude in the mountainous region. Although transport within the vast pit is now mainly carried out using gigantic dump trucks (haul trucks), the railway link to the coast remains the main logistical artery of the mining operation. Peru – 1977

The city of Arequipa, founded by the Spanish as early as 1540 at an altitude of 2,370 metres, now has a population of around two hundred thousand and lies in a narrow high-altitude basin where agriculture is only possible thanks to artificial irrigation. It owes its nickname, ‘the White City’, to the white tuff used as a building material. Arequipa is dominated by the 5,842-metre-high Misti, one of Peru’s few active volcanoes. Only during the summer rainy season is its smooth cone covered by a cap of snow. - Book: Picture 7 - Peru - 1976

The green agricultural landscape, with its traditional terraced fields (campiña) in the foreground, is dominated by the striking, snow-capped volcano El Misti. The stratovolcanic cone of El Misti rises majestically to over 5,820 metres in southern Peru and dominates the panorama of Arequipa. – Peru – 1976

The valley of the Río Vitor near Arequipa in southern Peru. The river feeds the agricultural oases and fields in the midst of this extremely arid landscape of deserts and canyons. On the horizon towers the imposing, snow-capped Chachani volcanic complex. At an altitude of approximately 6,057 metres, it is one of the defining mountains that frame the basin around Arequipa. This panorama illustrates the stark contrast between the barren Andean plateau, the snow-capped volcanic giants and the fertile river valleys on Peru’s Pacific coast. – 1976

The rivers flowing down from the Western Cordillera cross the Peruvian coastal desert on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Around forty box-shaped valleys with broad floors and steep sides are carved into the desert plateau, which slopes gently down towards the sea. With their vineyards, lucerne fields and vegetable plots lined with rows of trees, they form green oases in a barren landscape. When travelling along the Carretera Panamericana and passing through these valleys, such as that of the Rio Vítor, one is constantly surprised by the sight of the fertile strips of cultivated land that criss-cross the desert. - Book: Picture 88 - Peru - 1976

The Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa is a cloistered complex founded in 1579, laid out like a small colonial-era town. The buildings and arcades were largely constructed from white, porous volcanic stone (sillar), which is characteristic of Arequipa’s historic city centre. The deep ochre and orange tones of the walls in the cloisters form a striking contrast to the light-coloured stone buildings and the blue sky. The walled complex contains labyrinthine alleyways, squares, the nuns’ living quarters and beautiful courtyards. Peru – 1976

The Monastery of Santa Catalina (Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena) in Arequipa is a sprawling cloistered complex founded in 1579, which resembles a colourful citadel or a ‘city within a city’. The complex captivates visitors with its walls painted in vibrant blue and deep red, narrow alleyways (such as Calle Sevilla, visible here) and courtyards made of volcanic sillar stone. For almost four centuries, nuns lived here in complete seclusion from the outside world before the historic part was opened to the public as a museum in 1970. The convent is regarded as one of Peru’s most significant colonial buildings and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the historic city centre of Arequipa. – 1976

A picturesque alleyway with white archways and red flowers at the famous Monasterio de Santa Catalina (Monastery of St Catherine) in Arequipa. The complex consists of buildings made of sillar (volcanic tuff) painted in bright white and deep red. Founded in the 16th century, this cloistered convent resembles a small, self-contained town within the city of Arequipa. Its narrow alleyways, courtyards and flower beds make it one of Peru’s most important sights. – 1976

A young lottery ticket seller in Arequipa, which, with a population of 200,000, is Peru’s third-largest city and the most important economic centre in the south of the country. - Book: Picture 184 - Peru - 1969

A herd of alpacas and llamas grazing at Laguna de Salinas in the “Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca”, at an altitude of over 4,200 metres in the Arequipa region. The volcano in the background is Mount Ubinas. It stands at 5,672 metres and is considered Peru’s most active volcano. – Peru – 1969

The Peruvian Puna is a land of tranquillity and solitude. Behind this herd of grazing llamas, the Ubinas volcano rises to a height of 5,632 metres on the border between the departments of Moquegua and Arequipa. - Book: Picture 102 - Peru - 1976

The photograph shows a herd of llamas and alpacas, led by a herder pushing a bicycle. The vast, bright plain in the background is the Laguna de Salinas (also known as the Salar de Salinas), and the striking, snow-capped peak in the background is the highly active stratovolcano Ubinas (5,672 m). This landscape forms part of the southern section of the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, which stretches across the regions of Arequipa and Moquegua in southern Peru. – 1976

Sunset on the road from Nazca to Puquio, Abancay and Cusco. These giant candelabra cacti are a common sight on the arid slopes of this region. – 1972

The Yareta (Azorella compacta) is an extremely long-lived cushion plant from the umbellifer family, which grows in the high Andes of South America. It thrives at altitudes of between 3,000 and 5,000 metres in the barren, rocky regions of the Puna. The plant forms dense, hard, cushion-like mats of tiny leaves, which grow extremely slowly and can live for several millennia. Thanks to its compact form and resin-rich structure, it is perfectly adapted to extreme cold, drought and intense sunlight. - In the background, the Yucamana volcano (5,508 m) in the province of Tacna. – Peru – 1976

The Yareta (Azorella compacta) is an extremely long-lived cushion plant from the umbellifer family, which grows in the high Andes of South America. It thrives at altitudes of between 3,000 and 5,000 metres in the barren, rocky regions of the Puna. The plant forms dense, hard, cushion-like mats of tiny leaves, which grow extremely slowly and can live for several millennia. Thanks to its compact form and resin-rich structure, it is perfectly adapted to extreme cold, drought and intense sunlight. - Province of Tacna. – Peru – 1976

These majestic vicuñas graze on the vast plateaus of the ‘Reserva Nacional Pampa Galeras Bárbara D’Achille’ in the Ayacucho region of Peru. The road from Nazca to Abancay runs straight through the reserve, which lies at an extreme altitude of over 4,100 metres. It was established in 1967 and successfully saved the species from extinction caused by poaching. Today, an estimated 17,000 animals live in the wild across the plateau. – Vicuña wool is considered the most expensive and exclusive legal wool in the world. The Incas reverently called the animals’ fine fleece ‘the gold of the gods’. The fibre has a diameter of 8 to 13 micrometres. This makes it significantly finer than cashmere (approx. 15–19 micrometres) and about eight times thinner than a human hair. – Peru – 1972

This wayside cross, decorated with flowers and cloths, stands on the scenic main road between Abancay and Cusco in the Peruvian Andes. The crosses often mark sites that were already regarded as sacred places (huacas) or dedicated to the guardian spirits of the mountains (apus) in Inca times. The placement of Christian crosses led to the fusion of Spanish Catholic traditions with Andean animism. The elaborate decoration with bright strips of fabric and floral arrangements is typical of regional festivals such as the widespread ‘Cruz Velacuy’ (Festival of the Veneration of the Cross) in May, during which the crosses are carried down from the hills into the villages, festively decorated and blessed. – Peru – 1969

A traditional Andean farm in a barren Puna landscape at an altitude of over 4,000 metres, on the road between Puquio and Chalhuanca. The stone walls are used to keep alpacas and llamas together overnight and to protect them from predators and the wind. The small stone structures with conical roofs made of local ichu grass serve as temporary accommodation or camps for the herders during the grazing season. – Peru – 1972

A farmstead in the Limatambo Valley, surrounded by farmland and typical eucalyptus trees against a backdrop of massive, barren mountains. Although these trees were originally introduced from Australia, they now characterise the landscape throughout the valleys near human settlements. The farmstead lies at an altitude of around 2,500 metres, between the Anta plateau and the deep canyon of the Río Apurímac. – Peru – 1972

In the department of Huancavelica, Peru, an indigenous weaver sits in his corral just as he would have done in Inca times: the warp beam tied to the fence, the heddle board fastened around his waist. - Book: Picture 100 - Peru - 1976

A herd of domesticated llamas (Lama glama) in the mountain village of Licapa in the province of Cangallo, in the Ayacucho region. During major religious festivals – such as the famous Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Ayacucho – the herders decorate their finest pack animals with red and pink woollen tassels and ribbons on their ears. In the Andean regions, these ear decorations are often used by owners to mark their animals or to identify them during festivals and hunts. – Peru – 1976

Vicuñas grazing at 4,200 metres above sea level. Alongside the guanaco, the vicuña is the second and smaller wild species of the genus Lama. Its range is now restricted to the Andean highlands between 4,000 and 5,500 metres in altitude, where it grazes on barely visible low-growing vegetation. In adaptation to this diet, it is the only ungulate to have constantly regrowing lower incisors. Because of its wool, which is considered the finest and most precious in the world, it was almost wiped out during the colonial era. Bolívar had already enacted protective laws for this reason, similar to those that had existed under the Incas, who herded the animals into pens for shearing and then released them again. - Book: Picture 94 - Peru - 1976

A shepherdess with llamas and alpacas on the Altiplano, on the road from Abancay to Puquio. - Book: Picture 96 - Peru - 1976

Photo taken in the Peruvian Altiplano in winter. A herd of llamas near Pampamarca on the road from Abancay to Puquio. Ayacucho Department. - Book: Picture 92 - Peru - 1976

The route between Puquio and Abancay crosses several mountain passes reaching altitudes of over 4,000 metres. In these areas, the weather changes rapidly, so that even outside the winter months, sudden cold snaps and heavy snowfall can blanket the entire Puna vegetation in white. – Peru – 1976

The Apurímac is a water-rich river in southern and central Peru, known for having the most distant source of the Amazon. It rises on the slopes of the snow-capped Mismi at 5,597 m in the department of Arequipa and flows through deep gorges (pictured) until it joins the Mantaro to form the Ene. The name is derived from the Quechua words ‘Apu’ (god or lord) and ‘Rimaq’ (the one who speaks), which, due to the loud roar of its rapids, can be translated as ‘the speaking god’ or ‘the great oracle’. – 1972

Nevado Salcantay, the ‘wild’ mountain, is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba Cordillera at 6,264 metres. Machu Picchu lies behind it. Clearly visible here are the famous agricultural patterns on the slopes in front of it, which are typical of traditional Andean agriculture in this region. One can see an artistic ‘coat of arms’ created by the plough, on which the totemic symbols of the puma and the condor are recognisable. – Above Saywite, near the top of the pass, before the descent to Abancay. – Peru – 1976

A panoramic view of the city of Cusco, taken from the hills near the Sacsayhuamán fortress. The name Cusco means ‘Navel of the World’. According to Inca mythology, the sun god Inti sent his children, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, down to Earth. They were to found a city wherever a golden staff sank effortlessly into the ground – this happened in the fertile valley of Cusco. In the 15th century, the ninth Inca ruler, Pachacútec Yupanqui, radically transformed the city. He expanded Cusco in the monumental stone style and arranged the city plan in the shape of a puma – the symbol of power and strength. The head of the puma was the zigzag fortress of Sacsayhuamán. – 1969

Cuzco, situated at 3,500 metres above sea level and known as the ‘Navel of the World’, was founded by the Incas around 1100 AD. In 1536, the conquistadors destroyed the city and rebuilt it in the Spanish style, making use of many Inca foundations. Thus, the buildings themselves clearly illustrate the coexistence and simultaneity of two peoples and cultures, as is evident in the colourful street scene. The vast majority of the 120,000 inhabitants, however, are still indigenous people. Cuzco is the starting point for visits to most of the major Inca sites such as Pisac, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuamán, but it also boasts magnificent examples of Spanish colonial architecture: the cathedral, the Jesuit church of La Merced, the churches of Santo Domingo – built on the site of the ancient Inca sun temple – and Belén de los Reyes. During the reconstruction following the 1950 earthquake, efforts were made to restore the churches to their original appearance from before 1650. - Book: Picture 80 - Peru - 1969

Cuzco, the sacred "navel" of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, is today the archaeological capital of South America: Inca, colonial and republican at the same time. In front of the Plaza de Armas, the old ceremonial Huacaypata, stands the baroque church of La Compañía de Jesús where the Amarucancha de Huayna Capac once stood. - 1969

The historic Hatun Rumiyoq alley in Cusco features a masterfully constructed Inca wall made of massive, perfectly hewn blocks of green diorite. These blocks originate from the original palace of the Inca ruler Inka Roca. The stones were fitted together so precisely, without any mortar, that not even a knife blade can fit between them. Following the Spanish conquest, the conquistadors erected their own buildings on top of the extremely earthquake-resistant Inca foundations. The white façade in the upper section belongs to what is now the Archbishop’s Palace. Roughly in the middle of this wall lies the world-famous "Piedra de los 12 ángulos". This single stone has exactly twelve corners, which fit seamlessly into the surrounding wall. – Peru – 1969

Alpacas and llamas graze in front of the impressive zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán, a monumental archaeological site of the Inca civilisation situated directly above the city of Cusco. The fortress was built in the 15th century under the Inca ruler Pachacútec Yupanqui. The heaviest stones in the complex weigh over 100 tonnes. The blocks were hewn with such precision and fitted together without mortar that often not even a sheet of paper can fit between them. The historic city plan of Cusco was laid out by the Incas in the shape of a puma – the symbol of the earthly world. Sacsayhuamán formed the head of the puma, whilst the zigzag-shaped walls represented the animal’s teeth (or the lightning bolts of the thunder god Illapa). The entire complex served primarily as a ceremonial and religious centre. Today, only around 20% to 40% of the original structure remains. The Spanish removed the smaller stones to build colonial churches and houses in Cusco; however, the gigantic megaliths forming the foundations remained firmly in place. – 1969

At 3500 meters above sea level, the cyclopean fortress of Sacsayhuamán dominates the city of Cuzco. With its three monolithic ramparts in the shape of saw teeth, this “Maginot Line” of the Incas “overshadows the pyramids on the Nile ...” (Tirso de Molina, 1583-1648). Some of these blocks of this giant puzzle, set like gemstones by unknown and great jewelers, are 9 meters high, 4 meters thick and weigh more than 350 tons! - 1969

This young indigenous woman is taking part in the traditional Inca ceremony Inti Raymi (the Festival of the Sun), which is celebrated annually on 24 June. Her clothing and headdress have symbolic significance. She is wearing an ornate crown made from dried agave leaves (maguey) and decorated with small sea snails. Her body is wrapped in a long robe made of natural moss. Beneath it, a traditionally colourful, patterned woven fabric can be seen. – 1969

A re-enactment of the Inti Raymi (‘Festival of the Sun’), a traditional ceremony from the Inca period honouring the sun god Inti. Originally established by Inca Pachacútec around 1430, the festival marks the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and the Inca New Year. The event takes place every year without fail on 24 June. The photograph shows people dressed as Inca rulers, wearing traditional headdresses, colourful robes and carrying ritual vessels. – Cusco – Peru – 1976

Whilst the main ceremony of Inti Raymi (the Inca Festival of the Sun) traditionally takes place on the esplanade of the Sacsayhuamán fortress, the dances and musical accompaniment are often moved to Cusco Stadium to accommodate the crowds, as seen in this photograph, taken on 24 June 1976. The musicians play the traditional Peruvian Andean harp (Arpa andina) and violins to accompany the traditional dances (Danzas) from the various provinces, which are performed in honour of the sun. – Cusco – Peru – 1976

Musicians from the province of Paruro at the famous Inti Raymi festival (the Inca Festival of the Sun) in Cusco. They play a type of transverse flute, the flauta andina (Andean transverse flute), which is often referred to regionally as a pifano or pífano andino. It is traditionally made entirely from local bamboo (caña) or Andean wood. Such rustic bamboo flutes are typical of rural music groups (Bandas de Músicos Tradicionales) in the highlands of Cusco. They accompany festive dances and ceremonial processions at indigenous celebrations. – Peru – 1969

The picture shows traditional Peruvian Andean inhabitants holding so-called pututos (ceremonial wind instruments made from large sea shells) in their hands. The pututo is a prepared conch shell (often Lobatus galeatus) that has been used in the Andes since pre-Columbian times. The instrument produces a very loud, deep sound and was originally used to gather communities, send signals over long distances or initiate sacred rituals. The people are wearing typical, hand-woven Peruvian ponchos with fringes and traditional legwear. – Inti Raymi in Cusco – Peru – 1976

The photograph shows a large crowd sitting on the historic Inca stone walls of the Sacsayhuamán fortress in Cusco, watching the re-enactment of the ancient rituals and dances of the traditional Inti Raymi sun festival up close. – Peru – 1976

The Corpus Cristi festival, brought by the Spanish, acquires a special splendor every year in Cuzco. During the ceremony, the statues of twelve saints are shouldered around the Plaza de Armas. – 1969

At the market in Cusco. An open-air stall set up in front of a light-green building with signs for Pepsi and Fanta. Numerous stacked metal pots, cauldrons, buckets and aluminium bowls, as well as bagged goods and household items, are on sale. – Peru – 1976

A street food vendor in Cusco who prepares traditional anticuchos on a small metal grill; this is a traditional, very popular dish in Peru and Bolivia. The skewers consist of thinly sliced beef heart (anticuchos de corazón). The meat is very lean, has a firm texture and tastes juicy and spicy once grilled. It is marinated for hours in a mixture of ají panca (a Peruvian red chilli variety), garlic, vinegar, cumin and herbs. A typical side dish is usually a boiled potato or thick slices of Andean maize (choclo). – Book: Image 186 – Peru – 1969

The inner courtyard of the Santo Domingo Monastery in Cusco, Peru, showcases the harmonious blend of Spanish colonial architecture and the exposed walls of the ancient Inca sun temple, Qorikancha, lying beneath it. The Christian Dominican monastery was built in the 16th century directly on the foundations and walls of the Inca Empire’s most important religious centre. The precisely fitted Inca stones, laid without mortar, form the foundation for the arcades of the Spanish colonial period. In the background rises the Baroque tower of the Church of Santo Domingo, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the historic centre of Cusco. – Peru – 1976

Detail of a mummy shroud (manto) from the Paracas Necropolis culture, featuring human figures holding fans and ceremonial staffs. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima, Peru. - Book: Picture 71 - Peru - 1977

‘To the Liberator of Peru, Don Simón Bolívar’. Historical painting by Santiago Juárez, 1825. Museo Histórico Regional de Cuzco, Peru. - Book: Picture 136 - Peru - 1976

Vessel with a double spout and loop handles from the Nazca culture. This culture, which flourished during the Classical Period of pre-Columbian Peru between 100 and 800 AD in the coastal valleys of Ica, Pisco and Nazca, influenced both the surrounding areas and later cultures, right up to the Incas, with its outstanding pottery featuring vibrant colours. Museo Regional de Ica, Peru. - Book: Picture 68 - Peru - 1969

A kero, a wooden ritual cup from the early colonial period (height 19.5 cm). The colourful illustrations in the style of the chronicler Huamán Poma de Ayala depict the Inca on his golden throne holding keros – on this side, however, only two warriors with spears and shields can be seen. The graphic representations on the central ring are interpreted as tocapus or a form of writing. Museo de la Universidad Nacional de San Agustín, Arequipa, Peru. - Book: Picture 128 - Peru - 1976

A typical vessel of Inca culture, a so-called Type A aryballos (height 34 cm, mid-13th century) in the Coastal Inca style from the Ica Valley. The paintings vary depending on the region. Museo Regional de Ica, Peru - Book: Picture 123 - Peru - 1976

Virgin Mary (oil on wood, 37 x 54.5 cm). School of Cajamarca. Juan Reiser Collection, Lima, Peru. - Book: Picture 135 - Peru - 1976

The picture shows a quipu, a complex and enigmatic system of knotted cords that was used by the Incas and other earlier Andean cultures for data storage and administration. A quipu consists of a horizontal main cord from which numerous coloured subsidiary cords of varying lengths hang down. The type of knots, the colour and length of the cords, and the position of the knots were used to encode primarily numerical data (such as tax figures or stock levels), but possibly also narrative information and calendar dates. To this day, the exact codes of this ‘knotted script’ have not been fully deciphered, making it one of the most fascinating examples of pre-European writing and administrative history in South America. – Peru – 1976

The image shows how an Inca quipu (khipu) works – a system of knotted strings used to represent numbers in the decimal system. This specific example illustrates an addition problem. The horizontal dotted lines divide the strings into place values (from top to bottom: hundreds, tens, ones). String Ba: 1 hundred, 3 tens, 4 ones = 134 String Bb: 3 hundreds, 2 tens, 9 ones = 329 String Bc: 0 hundreds, 7 tens, 1 unit = 71 String C (total): 5 hundreds, 3 tens, 4 units = 534 The mathematical equation is: 134 + 329 + 71 = 534

The Bolivian talisman, which embodies the power of Pachamama, symbolises the stages of life and fertility: on the left, a bearded old man; in the centre, a zampoña player; and on the right, a nursing woman (height 7 cm, Eva Bruggmann Collection, Yverdon). - Book: Picture 109 - Peru - 1977

A 3.700 m de altitud se alzan las cuatro terrazas de Tampu Machay, el «baño del Inca». Unos nichos trapezoidales adornan el «templo del agua» más elegante, que servía para la purificación ritual del monarca y su esposa, la Coya, con motivo de su unión ritual. – Cuzco – Perú – 1969

Three kilometres from Cuzco stands the huge rock of the Kenko sanctuary, which is covered with grooves, jagged edges, steps, altars and animal symbols. In the centre of the magnificent amphitheatre, surrounded in a fan-shaped arrangement by 19 niches or seats, stood a stone totem in the shape of a seated puma. – Peru – 1976

It was not only in the area around Cusco that the Incas made intensive use of the steep slopes for terraced farming (andenes) to secure food supplies for the surrounding settlements. These are stepped, flat terraces dug into the ground on steep mountain slopes and supported by stone walls, which thus prevent soil erosion during heavy rain. The stones of the walls store heat during the day and release it to the plants at night (protection against frost). – This photograph was taken south of Cusco on the road between Checacupe and Urcos, on the upper reaches of the Vilcanota River, which flows downstream to join the Urubamba River. Peru – 1976

The Urcos market is renowned for being a very authentic, local market where indigenous women traders and craftspeople from the surrounding mountain communities sell their wares – ranging from fresh produce to traditional pottery and textiles – directly on the ground or from simple stalls. The typical round hill hats (monteras) and hand-woven garments are characteristic of the indigenous people of this Andean region. – Cusco – Peru – 1976

Unlike the better-known markets in and around Cusco, the Sunday market in Urcos (Quispicanchi Province, Cusco Region) remains almost untouched by mass tourism. Locals from the surrounding villages arrive dressed in their finest traditional costumes to sell fresh produce and share a large glass of freshly fermented ‘chicha de jora’. This is a traditional, alcoholic maize beer from the Andes, with a history stretching back thousands of years in what is now Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. It is regarded as the ‘sacred drink of the Incas’ and was traditionally drunk during religious ceremonies in honour of the sun deities and the Earth Mother, Pachamama. – Peru – 1976

Checacupe is a traditional village in the district of Checacupe (Canchis Province, Cusco Region) in southern Peru. The region is renowned for its historical significance, the preservation of indigenous traditions and Andean craftsmanship. The large earthenware jugs are known as urpus (also called raquis), which are typically used for the fermentation and transport of chicha (traditional maize beer) or water. The jugs are wrapped in thick, hand-woven ropes (Qeswa or Ichu grass ropes) to secure them for transport on the back or on pack animals. The clothing and distinctive hats are typical of the Quechua people of Canchis Province in the Cusco Region. – 1969

Flute player in the pueblo of Checacupe (3,430 m above sea level), Cuzco Department. Unlike the indigenous wind instruments, which all have specific names (kena, pincullo, etc.), the flutes are simply called ‘flauta’, which suggests that they only came into being after the Conquista as replicas of the European instrument. - Book: Picture 116 - Peru - 1976

Two women in the traditional dress of the Cusco region. The textiles are characterised by their craftsmanship and symbolism. The women are wearing colourful, patterned woven shawls draped over their shoulders. These traditional shawls are used in everyday life both to protect against the cold and to carry objects or babies. The typical, loose-fitting skirts, usually dark in colour or with colourful trim, are characteristic of the Andean region. The woman on the left is wearing a light-coloured felt hat decorated with coloured ribbons. In Peru, the shape and colour of such hats often reveal the exact region of origin or village community of the person wearing them. – 1976

The picture shows the colonial church of Nuestra Señora de Monserrat in Chinchero. The village lies around 30 kilometres north-west of Cusco at an altitude of approximately 3,762 metres. The Spanish built the church in the early 17th century (around 1607) directly on the foundations and palace walls of the Inca ruler Túpac Yupanqui. – Every Sunday, the large square in front of the historic complex is transformed into a lively, colourful hub of Andean culture: the traditional Sunday market. The market is a real meeting place for the indigenous population. Families from the surrounding mountain communities travel there to trade crops such as potatoes, quinoa and broad beans directly, or to swap them amongst themselves. The women from Chinchero wear their traditional red and black costumes. They sell world-famous, hand-woven alpaca products and demonstrate how the wool is dyed using natural plants and insects (cochineal). – 1976

Sunday market in Chinchero, Cusco Department. Just as in Inca times, one can still recognise tribal or local affiliations today by the hats or the patterns on the ponchos. For example, the Cuzqueños wear a sort of doctoral cap; the hat from Pisac is gently curved, and those wearing the stiff white hats with coloured ribbons all come from the same area. - Book: Picture 112 - Peru - 1969

Sunday market in Chinchero, Cusco Department. The equivalent of a European sausage stall – an open-air kitchen. - Book: Picture 115 - Peru - 1976

Sunday market in Chinchero, Cusco Department. Chicha seller – maize beer was probably known soon after maize was first cultivated. - Book: Picture 113 - Peru - 1976

An indigenous woman from Chinchero wearing the hat typical of the Cuzco region. The borders on the top of the hat symbolise the Inca empire of Tahuantinsuyu, the empire of the four corners of the world with Cuzco at its centre. The delicate motifs on the manta are also characteristic of this region. - Book: Picture 101 - Peru - 1969

Using a traditional hand spindle (known as a ‘pushka’), this woman spins raw wool into yarn. The spindle consists of a wooden rod and a whorl, which acts as a flywheel to stabilise the rotation as the fibres are drawn out. This centuries-old technique is still practised today in the Peruvian Andes to produce fine yarns for handmade textiles. – Cusco – Peru – 1972

Fruit sellers at Cusco railway station. - Book: Picture 114 - Peru - 1973

The procession in honour of the ‘Señor de Choquekillka’, the principal patron saint of the Inca city of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This major local event is celebrated every year around the Christian feast of Pentecost in May or June. It combines Catholic traditions with ancient Andean customs to form a significant cultural syncretism and has been declared part of Peru’s national cultural heritage. The villagers carry the cross, richly adorned with flowers and white robes, from the main church through the streets of the town. The relic being carried is an ornate cross which, according to local legend, was found in the nearby Vilcanota River at the beginning of the 20th century. – Peru – 1969

The clothing, the hats and the playing of the pututo conch shell are deeply rooted in the vibrant culture of the Cusco region and are still proudly displayed there today at festivals and receptions. The pututo is a traditional wind instrument made from a large sea snail, which has been used in the Andes since Inca times for ceremonies, rituals and long-distance communication. – This photograph dates from 1969 and was taken in Ollantaytambo. The person behind the player is an alcalde (mayor) with his staff, the varayoc, which translates as ‘the lord of the staff’. – Peru – 1969

During the Whitsun festival in Ollantaytambo, this mask is worn by the dancers of the Ukuku troupe. These mythological figures represent beings that are half-human and half-bear. They act as humorous yet disciplined intermediaries between humans and the mountain gods (Apus). During the colourful processions through the Inca streets of Ollantaytambo, they maintain order, joke with the spectators and accompany the holy cross. – Peru – 1969

Indigenous people in the small church at Ollantaytambo in the Urubamba Valley, above Machu Picchu, in the Department of Cuzco. Under the zealous Spanish missionaries, the indigenous people were very quickly converted to Catholicism; yet, on closer inspection, the old customs and deities can still be found beneath the European veneer in all the rites. For example, St James, the patron saint of the Spaniards, is celebrated with great fervour on 25 July, yet at the same time this day marks the festival of the mountain god Taita Wamani, and Pachamama, the Mother Earth from pre-Inca times, is today identified in many places with the Virgin Mary. - Book: Picture 108 - Peru - 1969

Cereal harvest near Tiobamba in the Cusco region. In the background rises Nevado Chicón, a glaciated peak in the Urubamba Cordillera, some 5,530 metres high. – Peru – 1969

The colonial church of Tiobamba in the department of Cusco. In the background the Nevado Chicón, 5530m, from the Cordillera Urubamba. - 1969

The picture shows the impressive archaeological site of Moray, a historic Inca terraced complex in Peru. It is situated on a high plateau in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, around 50 kilometres north-west of Cusco. The funnel-shaped design creates a temperature difference of up to 15 °C between the top and bottom terraces. The Incas used these zones to gradually acclimatise and cultivate crops from other parts of the empire (such as the coast or the tropical lowlands) to the harsh high-altitude climate of the Andes. – Peru – 1969

According to legend, Ayar Cachi was locked away by his three brothers in a cave on Mount Tamputoco. Trapped in the darkness and deeply saddened by the bitter betrayal of his own family, Ayar Cachi began to weep inconsolably. His salty tears of anger and despair flowed out of the mountain in vast quantities. They gathered in the valley in thousands of tiny pools. Over time, the scorching Andean sun dried out these pools, leaving behind the white and pink salt that is still harvested today. Over 3,000 small, terraced basins are fed by an underground, highly saline thermal spring called Qoripujio. – The Maras salt flats in a side valley of the Sacred Valley of the Incas – 1969

The classic general view of the ruins of Machu Picchu. In the middle distance the dominant Huayna Picchu. - 1969

The famous Inca ruin city of Machu Picchu, photographed from the opposite peak of Huayna Picchu. On the left, on the hillside, you can see the winding road (Carretera Hiram Bingham) along which buses climb up from Aguas Calientes. The photograph looks south from the higher slopes of Huayna Picchu towards the ridge below, on which stands the citadel of Machu Picchu. The agricultural terraces and stone buildings of the historic Inca site lie at an altitude of around 2,430 metres. – 1976

Completely hidden from view from the bottom of the wild Urubamba Valley, the ‘lost city’ of Machu Picchu stands enthroned on an impregnable granite pedestal at a dizzying altitude of 2,500 metres, in the shadow of Huayna Picchu. It remained hidden for 400 years until the American explorer Hiram Bingham miraculously rediscovered it in 1911. – 1976

The Inca mountain fortress of Machu Picchu, situated at an altitude of 2,690 metres, set against the cone of Huayna Picchu. None of the Spanish conquistadors mention this city on the edge of the jungle, overlooking the River Urubamba (on the right), one of the headwaters of the Amazon. Like other pucaras (fortified settlements), Machu Picchu was self-sufficient in an emergency, but the terraced fields could feed no more than 500 people. This late Inca complex contains buildings of various styles, foremost among them the Royal Palace, constructed from beautifully hewn granite blocks with trapezoidal gateways and window openings. But there are also densely packed, simple stone huts and barrack-like quarters for the soldiers. An oval tower – the only one of its kind – has led to speculation that Machu Picchu was further expanded even after the arrival of the Spaniards. The city was not discovered until 1911 by an expedition searching for the legendary last Inca fortress, Vilcabamba. - Book: Picture 81 - Peru - 1976

The mountain fortress of Machu Picchu, Peru. Initially, it was believed that the various types of masonry found in Cuzco, Machu Picchu and other Inca structures dated from different periods. Today, it is thought that both the walls constructed from interlocking megalithic blocks and those made from smooth, uniformly sized stones, as well as the mortar-bonded fieldstone technique were all employed by the same master builders from the period after 1440, depending on their intended purpose: the megalithic construction method for retaining walls, smooth, evenly rounded ashlars for representative buildings, and mortar-bonded rubble stone walls – alongside adobe bricks – for functional buildings. In Machu Picchu, however, various elements, such as the oval Torreón, suggest that construction continued here even into the colonial period. Inca architecture otherwise features only rectangular or trapezoidal shapes, and vertical arches are completely absent, which, for example, imposed certain limitations on the construction of gates. - Book: Picture 125 - Peru - 1969

The Intihuatana, the ‘resting place of the sun’ or ‘stone to which the sun is tied’, at Machu Picchu. Depending on the shadow cast by this stone, the Inca priests determined the season and thus the time for sowing, an approaching rainy season, and so on. - Book: Picture 127 - Peru - 1976

Along the partly restored Barracas of the former farmers, 100 stairs with more than 3000 steps run down the slope. They connect 260 palaces, temples, sanctuaries, thermal baths, sacrificial altars, caves of mummies and "hanging gardens" and make Machu Picchu a "stone poem". . . a challenge of nature ... an unfathomable secret. - 1976

The imposing, snow-capped peak of Nevado Salcantay (6,271 m) lies directly to the south of the Inca citadel. It forms the geographical and spiritual centre of the region. For the Incas, Salcantay was one of the most important deities (apus), controlling the weather, the rain and the fertility of the region. Viewed from the central sundial rock (Intihuatana) in Machu Picchu, the Southern Cross stands directly above the summit of Salcantay at its highest point during the rainy season. On a clear day, the mountain’s white, ice-capped pyramid rises high in the south, towering far beyond the green ridges and ruins, lending the site a deeper sacred dimension. – Peru – 1976

The picture shows the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Spanish: Valle Sagrado de los Incas) in the Cusco region of Peru. The Urubamba River (also known as the Río Vilcanota) winds its way through the fertile valley. In the background and on the slopes, you can see the characteristic agricultural terraces (andenes) built by the Incas, as well as winding roads. – 1976

The Sacred Valley of the Incas (Valle Sagrado de los Incas) in the Cusco region of Peru. On the left in the background, the Urubamba River (Río Urubamba) flows through the flat valley floor. On the right-hand side, the characteristic, curved agricultural terraces of the Incas can be seen. These served to make steep mountain slopes cultivable, prevent erosion and create microclimates for various crops (primarily maize). The flat floor of the Urubamba Valley is divided into regular, chequerboard-like fields and is still used intensively for traditional farming today. A historic, highly sophisticated system of canals runs through the fields, channelling meltwater from the surrounding Andean glaciers directly onto the cultivated land. – 1969

The picture shows the archaeological complex of Písac, one of the most significant Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru. The site is perched on a ridge above the town of Písac and is renowned for its gigantic, stepped agricultural terraces (andenes). These terraces were masterfully integrated by the Incas into the steep mountain slopes to create microclimates for the cultivation of various crops (primarily maize) whilst preventing soil erosion. At the top of the cliff, the stone remains of Inca outposts and residential buildings can also be seen, which served to defend and monitor the valley. – 1969

In a widening of the deeply incised Urubamba Valley, which links Cuzco with Machu Picchu, lies the small town of Pisac, famous for its Sunday market. On the slopes above the town, artfully laid out agricultural terraces have stretched upwards since Inca times, transforming even the steepest mountain flanks into gigantic staircases that were used for growing potatoes, maize, oca and quinoa. - Book: Picture 126 - Peru - 1976

In the idyllic ‘Eden’ of the tropical sacred valley of the Incas, the great ruined city of Pisac, one of the ‘capitals’ of the empire, stands at an altitude of 3,100 metres. Around thirty residences of the finest architecture surround the elliptical Intihuatana, dedicated to the worship of the sun. – 1969

The impressive Inca ruins of Písac, situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the Cusco region of Peru. The archaeological site lies on a mountain ridge high above the village of Písac and the River Urubamba. It is famous for its sophisticated architecture, the extensive agricultural terraces (andenes) and its strategic and religious significance during the Inca Empire. In the foreground is the Q’alla Q’asa sector, which, according to researchers, probably served as a residential quarter for guards, soldiers or priests. The buildings are precisely constructed from stone and nestle perfectly against the steep terrain. In the centre lies a sacred rock – the ‘place where the sun is tied’ – which served as an astronomical calendar for the Incas to determine the solstices. – 1976

The central ceremonial area known as Intihuatana within the Parque Arqueológico de Písac in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru. The most striking feature in this area is the semi-circular, D-shaped wall in the top right-hand corner of the picture. It encloses the sacred Intihuatana stone. In Quechua, the term means ‘place where the sun is tied’. It is a pillar hewn from natural rock which served the Incas as a precise solar compass, an astronomical observatory and a ritual altar for determining solstices and harvest cycles. The precise stonemasonry (masonry of finely hewn pink granite without mortar) clearly distinguishes this royal and religious precinct from the simpler residential or military structures in the rest of the fortress. – 1976

On the way from Acomayo to Urcos in the Cusco region, you pass this waterfall. – Peru – 1976

The striking, rugged peak in the background is Cerro Antapunco in the province of Acomayo in the department of Cusco (4,824 m). The name comes from Quechua (anta meaning ‘copper’ and puncu meaning ‘gate’), which roughly translates as ‘Copper Gate’. In contrast to the heavily touristed Sacred Valley to the north of Cusco, this photograph shows the rugged, equally historic landscape to the south of the regional capital. The slopes in the foreground bear witness to the deeply rooted, traditional Andean farming practices that have adapted to the extreme high-altitude conditions. – 1976

Llamas have traditionally served as important pack animals for transporting goods in the Andes. – A plateau in the Acomayo region, south of Cusco. The striking, (still!) snow-capped peak in the background is Nevado Accoyac. – Peru – 1976

The village of Acomayo (at an altitude of 3,770 metres) in the department of Cuzco. The pueblo is a residential and productive community which, as an ayllu, dates back to pre-Inca times, although the Spanish determined the location and number of today’s pueblos. One third of a village community’s total land holdings is generally held in common and is also cultivated collectively, although the majority of the descendants of the Incas practise a purely subsistence economy. - Book: Picture 104 - Peru - 1976

The village of Acomayo (at an altitude of 3,770 metres) in the department of Cuzco. The pueblo is a residential and productive community which, as an ayllu, dates back to pre-Inca times, although the Spanish determined the location and number of today’s pueblos. One third of a village community’s total land holdings is generally held in common and is also cultivated collectively, although the majority of the descendants of the Incas practise a purely subsistence economy. - Book: Picture 107 - Peru - 1976

The village of Acomayo (at an altitude of 3,770 metres) in the department of Cuzco. The pueblo is a residential and productive community which, as an ayllu, dates back to pre-Inca times, although the Spanish determined the location and number of today’s pueblos. One third of a village community’s total land holdings is generally held in common and is also cultivated collectively, although the majority of the descendants of the Incas practise a purely subsistence economy. - Book: Picture 105 - Peru - 1976

The village of Acomayo (at an altitude of 3,770 metres) in the department of Cuzco. The pueblo is a residential and productive community which, as an ayllu, dates back to pre-Inca times, although the Spanish determined the location and number of today’s pueblos. One third of a village community’s total land holdings is generally held in common and is also cultivated collectively, although the majority of the descendants of the Incas practise a purely subsistence economy. - Book: Picture 106 - Peru - 1976

Detail of a cycle of frescoes in an old mill in Acomayo (Cuzco Department) by Tadeo Escalanda (1807–1832), a mestizo who claimed Inca ancestry and who became known primarily for his frescoes in the church at Huaro (near Urcos). The detail shows an Inca princess, accompanied – in keeping with the fashion of the time – by a hunchback carrying her parasol. - Book: Picture 129 - Peru - 1976

Virgin Mary (90x120cm). The painting is thought to date from around 1690; it clearly reveals Byzantine influence, yet is attributed to the Cuzco school, which, alongside that of Quito, was the most important centre of training for painting, sculpture and the arts and crafts in the Andean countries during the colonial period. Museo Histórico Regional de Cuzco (on loan from Vega-Centeno), Peru. - Book: Picture 130 - Peru - 1976

The nave of the church in Andahuaylillas, a small town with a population of around 3,900 near Cuzco. Built at the end of the 16th century on the foundations of an Inca palace, the church contains many colonial treasures, which is why it is often referred to in Peru – in an effort to rival the Old Continent – as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the Andes’. - Book: Picture 133 - Peru - 1976

An indigenous man in the Altiplano of Peru plays the zampoña with a dreamy expression; its sounds (perhaps a ‘Yaraví’ or a ‘Triste’?) seem to capture all the melancholy of the vast expanse and solitude. - Book: Picture 6 - Peru - 1976

A campesino from the village of San Antonio de Chuca, Arequipa Department, Peru. The ear-flapped hat, known as a ‘chullo’, protects against the often biting cold of the Altiplano. Occasionally, the indigenous people wear a hat over the chullo to shield themselves from the glaring sun. - Book: Picture 82 - Peru - 1969

A charango player in the department of Cuzco, Peru. Stringed instruments appear to have been unknown to pre-Columbian civilisations. The original charango is a small guitar whose soundbox is made from an armadillo shell. Its rather high-pitched sound is produced by five or six pairs of strings. - Book: Picture 143 - Peru - 1976

This photograph shows a ceremony for Pachamama, which was held at 4 am at -17 °C. The offerings consist of coca leaves, salt, brandy, chicha, cigarettes and food (Puno Department, Peru). - Book: Picture 111 - Peru - 1969

Nothing illustrates the economic and social diversity better than farming methods. Whilst tractors are used in some areas, the indigenous people on their small farms still work the fields in a way that has not changed since the time of the Incas. - This image shows the breaking up of the soil with the taclla, an agricultural tool originating in the Peruvian Andes. It is essentially a long-handled spade that the Incas have used since ancient times. Its shape allows it to be pushed with the foot into hard ground. - Book: Picture 90 - Peru - 1976

A woman and a child are riding on a horse across the vast, snow-covered plain near Chuquibambilla in the Peruvian department of Puno. The region is situated on the barren Andean plateau (the Altiplano) at an altitude of well over 3,900 metres. The photograph vividly illustrates the extreme weather conditions in the Peruvian highlands, where cold snaps and sudden snowfall in winter have a profound impact on the lives of the local herding communities. – 1976

The church of San Juan de Chuquibambilla near Ayaviri, in the department of Puno, at an altitude of approximately 3,900 metres. - Book: Picture 95 - Peru - 1976

In the Altiplano, near Chuquibambilla in the province of Melgar, close to Puno, at an altitude of almost 4,000 metres, winter nights can become bitterly cold when cold spells set in. Along the Río Santa Rosa, the Altiplano reveals its particular harshness and beauty. Amongst the ice-covered grasses, cows move slowly across the pasture, whilst the river winds its way through the cold landscape. In the morning, frost still lies on the ground. Only when the sun appears and climbs higher does the icy stillness gradually melt away. – 1976

Photo taken in the Peruvian Altiplano in winter. An indigenous woman with a child in the Department of Puno. She is collecting dried llama or cow dung to use as fuel. - Book: Picture 93 - Peru - 1976

An indigenous woman cooking with her child on her back. She uses dried llama or cow dung as fuel and stokes the embers with a blowpipe. Puno Department, Peru. - Book: Picture 117 - Peru - 1976

On the shores of the deep-blue Lake Titicaca, small piles of straw or grain (quinoa or barley harvest) are stacked up. Beyond them, on the horizon, rise the mighty, ice-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real. – Peru – 1969

A view of Lake Titicaca, the highest commercially navigable lake on Earth, situated at an altitude of 3,812 metres. Behind a traditional dry-stone wall in the foreground, traditional Andean farming with small plots of land can be seen along the shore. In the background, the Cordillera Real can only be glimpsed behind the low-hanging clouds. – Puno – Peru – 1972

The photograph shows a rural dwelling and farmland on the shores of Lake Titicaca in the Peruvian Altiplano. Small, simple stone houses with thatched roofs and fenced-in courtyards characterise the barren landscape. – Juli region – Peru – 1969

An indigenous couple return with their llamas from the market in Sicuani in the department of Cuzco. - Book: Picture 103 - Peru - 1973

Lake Titicaca, situated at an altitude of 3,812 metres and straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, is fifteen times the size of Lake Constance. It fills a tectonically formed highland depression, is divided into several sub-basins by peninsulas and dotted with islands (Amantani, Moon Island, Sun Island, etc.). Two species of rush thrive on its shores, from which the indigenous people build their boats as well as floating dwellings. - Book: Picture 3 - Peru - 1969

What could be more picturesque than a reed raft floating on Titicaca? For millennia, the Aymara people of the paradisiacal "Mediterranean" of the Andes have been fishing in their elegant reed boats in the sacred lake. The boats are made “by hand” by bundling the reeds with ichu strings. - 1969

On Lake Titicaca, near Puno, the Uros people live on artificial, floating islands made of dried totora reeds, which have to be renewed regularly. Both the huts and the traditional reed boats (balsas) are made entirely from the totora reeds that grow in the lake. – Peru – 1969

An indigenous woman in a reed boat on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. As the lake is only a few metres deep over large areas, the indigenous people use a long pole for poling as well as the reed sail. The striking resemblance of these reed boats to depictions of papyrus boats in ancient Egyptian tombs, together with certain parallels between Mesoamerican cultures (for example, the Maya pyramids) and the culture of the Nile Valley, has given rise to the most daring hypotheses. Thus, a few years ago, Thor Heyerdahl attempted to cross the Atlantic in a papyrus boat. However, this does not disprove the assumption that similar environmental conditions and the inherent properties of the available materials must lead to analogous solutions. - Book: Picture 145 - Peru - 1969

Traditional reed boats (made from totora reeds) of the indigenous Uros people on Lake Titicaca. The reeds, which grow in abundance on the lake’s shores, have served as their main building material for centuries, used to construct islands, houses and boats. – Puno – Peru – 1976

A woman of the "Uros" who lives on the floating islands on Lake Titicaca. She still grinds the wheat as it did hundreds of years ago. - 1969

These melon-shaped hats (often called ‘bombín’) are characteristic of the indigenous people of the Altiplano in Peru and Bolivia. The clothing in this region reflects the centuries-old traditions of the indigenous communities. – Puno – 1972

The village of Juli on the southwest bank of Lake Titicaca was a religious center during the colonial period. This is reminiscent of a number of churches, the rich interior of which testifies to the past glory. Here is an imposing portal in front of the Santa Cruz Church, over whose esplanade two boys lead their pigs. - 1969

A portal in the village of Juli on the south-western shore of Lake Titicaca, which was a religious centre during the colonial period. This is commemorated by a whole series of churches, whose rich interior decoration bears witness to their former splendour. - Book: Picture 132 - Peru - 1976

The photograph shows the richly carved stone gateway of the historically significant Casa de la Inquisición (also known as the Casa de Cuentas) on the Plaza de Armas in the town of Juli in the Puno region. The portal, in the colonial Andean style, is characterised by finely crafted reliefs, columns and an 18th-century coat of arms. Juli lies on the shores of Lake Titicaca and is renowned for its significant colonial-era religious and secular architecture. – Book: Image 132 – Peru – 1976

Very often, on the heights of the Collao Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, one finds those strange monolithic chullpas, mummy graves of high leaders and members of a mysterious race that existed "before the sun rose". In Sillustani, on the Umayo peninsula on the lake of the same name, there are twelve tomb towers, some of which have collapsed. - 1976

The archaeological site of Qelqatani (often also spelled Kalkatani or Quelcatani) is situated in the province of Chucuito in the department of Puno, not far from Mazo Cruz, at an altitude of over 4,000 metres. In contrast to the region’s better-known, purely figurative depictions of animals and hunting scenes (such as the typical guanaco and llama scenes), this particular panel features a dense, lattice-like arrangement of geometric diamonds, zigzag bands and abstract patterns. It is attributed to a later transitional phase (the Formative period), during which people became more settled and began to domesticate alpacas and llamas. – Peru – 1976

On the Bolivian plateau, the legendary creator god Kon Tiki Viracocha guards the secrets of a sunken world like a "sphinx". In the mask of a radiation-framed puma, he adorns the famous sun gate of Tiahuanaco, which consists of a single block of andesite, almost 3 m high and 4 m wide, weighing almost 10 tons. - 1976

The central figure of the Sun Gate at Tiahuanaco, Bolivia. As with the figure on the Raimondi Stele (Chavín culture), the head is almost as large as the body. In both hands, the Sun God holds sceptres that end in condor heads; his hair ends in snakes and jaguar heads. Tears, symbolising fertility and rain, stream down his face. He is surrounded by 148 winged figures facing him, which have been interpreted as symbols of movement and time. The Tiahuanaco culture had the most direct influence on the Inca civilisation. - Book: Picture 124 - Bolivia - 1976

View from the semi underground temple of Tiahuanaco to the monumental staircase with the six stone steps and the large restored entrance gate to the Kalasasaya. In the centre the "Ponce" stele of the Shrine of the Sun. - 1976

The Ponce Monolith is a well-preserved stele, carved from a single block of andesite, situated in the inner courtyard of the Kalasasaya Temple at the pre-Inca archaeological site of Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) in Bolivia. The statue features delicate, complex geometric and zoomorphic reliefs (such as sun, fish and condor motifs) as well as a mask-like facial form. The monolith is named after the Bolivian archaeologist Carlos Ponce Sanginés, who uncovered it in 1957. – Bolivia – 1976

The Patio Hundido ("sunken courtyard") of Tiahuanaco is an almost square complex with a side length of about 28 m and is surrounded by an enclosure wall about 2 m high and with stone heads. - 1976

This Cabeza clava is located in the Parque monolios in La Paz. - 1976

A ceramic incense burner in the shape of a big cat (20 cm high) from the Tiwanaku culture (4th period, 667 AD). The tail is shaped as a handle, and the smoke kindled in the back cavity escapes through the eyes. Instituto Nacional de Arqueología, La Paz, Bolivia. - Book: Picture 48 - Bolivia - 1976

Vessel for grave goods - Tiahuanaco culture - year 667 to 1000 - height 18 cm - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

Ceramic vase with modelled head of a figure from the 4th period of the Tiahuanaco culture - on the cheek a bulge due to the use of coca - the arrows represent the main organs of the person: the visor and the ear - height 14 cm - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

Vessel with a ceramic portrait of an anthropomorphic head of a figure from the 5th period of the Tiahuanaco culture - the arrows represent the main organs of the person: the sight and the ear - Height 11 cm - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

Grave vessel of the Tiahuanaco culture 5th period - year 1000 to 1100 - height 12 cm - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

Ceremonial vessel with a crowned snake - 4th period of the Tiahuanaco culture - years 667 to 1000 - height 8 cm - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

Large ceremonial kero - height 47.5 cm - the head is related to the sun gate of Tiahuanaco - 4th epoch - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

Wooden kero with anthropomorphic head - height 19 cm - Museo Nacional de Arqueología del Instituto Nacional de Arqueología - Bolivia - 1976

Vessel in Tiahuanaco style - Height 12 cm - Place of discovery: Pukará de Quitor (province Antofagasta) - Museum San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - 1976

Bolivian street scene: A boy in the small village of Tiahuanaco, not far from the massive pre-Inca ruin complex of the same name, does his homework on the stone steps in front of his house. - Book: Picture 148 - Bolivia - 1976

Isla del Sol (Sun Island) on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, with the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real in the background. In Inca mythology, the island is regarded as the birthplace of the sun and is home to numerous archaeological sites. In the foreground, typical historic terraced fields and ruins can be seen. – Bolivia – 1976

The hilly, terraced landscape of Isla del Sol, which is the largest island in Lake Titicaca. Some of the stone terraces date back to Inca times and are still used for farming today. Lake Titicaca has deep blue water and is the highest commercially navigable lake on Earth, at an altitude of around 3,812 metres. In the background, you can see the snow-capped Cordillera Real mountain range in Bolivia. Among the most striking mountains in this region, visible from the island, is the Ancohuma (Cerro Jankhouma), which rises to over 6,400 metres. - In Inca mythology, the island is regarded as a sacred place and the origin of the sun, as well as the birthplace of the founders of the Inca Empire (Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo). Today, it is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers, with no motorised vehicles permitted on the island. – Bolivia – 1976

The simple houses scattered across the picture, with their typical corrugated iron roofs, are characteristic of the rural communities in Bolivia’s Lake Titicaca region. The slopes reveal the millennia-old Inca and pre-Inca terraced structures for which the Incas’ sacred island is known throughout the world. – Presumably the area around Yumani on the ‘Island of the Sun’. – 1976

This is one of the unusual gateways featuring the stepped meanders of Iñakuyu, the palace and temple of the maidens on the Moon Island. 2,000 male and female servants of the moon goddess Quilla tended this silver-clad sanctuary and cultivated the terraced fields. The Inca vestal virgins spun their precious vicuña wool there and wove it together with hummingbird feathers and gold. – Bolivia – 1976

Relief depicting the four cardinal directions (40 x 60 cm) from the Chiripa culture of the Taraco Peninsula on Lake Titicaca, Bolivia (c. 300 to 1 CE). As the much later Incas called their empire Tahuantinsuyu, or ‘Empire of the Four Parts of the World’, it may be surmised that their world view already had parallels in this culture. Museo Nacional de Arqueología, La Paz, Bolivia. - Book: Picture 79 - Bolivia - 1976

On the boat trip from Moon Island back to the mainland. In the background, you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real. In Inca religion, Moon Island is regarded as a sacred place where, according to legend, the creator god Viracocha commanded the moon to rise into the sky. The island is home to the ruins of the Inca temple of Iñakuyu (Palace of the Sun Maidens), where selected women performed ritual duties. Bolivia – 1976

The Altiplano between the ruins of Tiahuanaco and La Paz, with the Cordillera Real and the 6,500-metre-high Huayana Potosí in the background. The indigenous woman in the foreground is tending sheep and pigs. - Book: Picture 0 - Bolivia - 1976

Against the backdrop of the majestic Nevado Illimani (6,438 metres), a shepherdess walks past with her sheep. – 1976

From the La Paz basin, the road climbs over 1,000 metres to the La Cumbre pass (picture) at an altitude of 4,643 metres, before descending into the Yungas via countless hairpin bends through a deeply incised U-shaped valley, with the Cordillera Real towering in the background. The treeless scrub and grassy vegetation of the Puna still covers the saddle here, where indigenous people are resting with a herd of llamas. A little further down the valley, scrub begins to appear, until finally a dense forest takes over. - Book: Picture 2 - Bolivia - 1976

The famous La Cumbre Pass in Bolivia links the city of La Paz with the tropical Yungas lowlands. Travellers traditionally leave offerings at this strategic and windswept spot. These offerings – often bottles of alcohol and coca leaves – are frequently addressed to the Andean guardian goddess Pachamama and to Christian saints, in order to pray for a safe journey along the notorious mountain roads. – Bolivia – 1976

A panoramic view of La Paz, the seat of government in Bolivia. The photograph was taken from the surrounding mountains and captures the city’s unique topography, which stretches across a vast valley basin in the Andes at an altitude of over 3,600 metres. The dense urban development, which extends from the valley floor up the steep slopes, is clearly visible. In the background lies the snow-capped Cordillera Real. The striking, towering peak on the right is the majestic Illimani (6,438 m), the city’s local mountain and its landmark. In the foreground are steep, rugged rock formations typical of the geological features surrounding the La Paz basin. – 1976

With an elevation ranging from 3,630 to 3,770 meters, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. It lies in a basin on the edge of the Altiplano, which shields the city from the high-altitude winds; the more affluent neighborhoods are therefore located as low as possible in the valley. Originally an Aymara settlement, the town was expanded by the Incas and conquered by the Spanish in 1535. With 800,000 residents, La Paz is home to about 14 percent of the country’s population, and 60 percent of Bolivia’s industrial production is concentrated in the greater La Paz area. - Book: Picture 149 - Bolivia - 1976

A panoramic view of La Paz, the seat of government in Bolivia, nestled in a deep canyon on the Altiplano. In the foreground, two local people sit in traditional Andean dress, looking out over the city. The dense urban landscape stretches across the steep slopes of the gorge. At the top left, the city merges seamlessly into the rapidly growing neighbouring city of El Alto, which lies on the flat plateau. In the background, the snow-capped Cordillera Real mountain range towers above. The most striking, gleaming white peak on the right is the majestic Illimani (6,439 metres), the unmistakable landmark and ‘guardian’ of La Paz. – 1976

The Cañón de Palca, about 25 kilometres south-east of La Paz. The photograph shows the striking view of the huge, eroded clay and sandstone walls that open up at the end of the gorge towards the small mountain village of Palca. They are made up of mud, clay and gravel left behind by prehistoric glaciers and shaped by the wind. – Bolivia – 1976

Surreal-looking, jagged rock formations and gorges, created by years of weathering of earth and clay. These striking clay towers and rock spires can be found in the Valle de las Ánimas (Valley of Souls) near La Paz. – Bolivia – 1976

The Basilica Menor de San Francisco in La Paz dates from 1743–1784. Its main façade, with its three portals, is regarded as an outstanding example of Mestizo art, a term coined to describe works that reflect both Iberian-European and Indigenous artistic sensibilities. However, the validity of this term is increasingly being called into question. - Book: Picture 131 - Bolivia - 1976

This photograph depicts an everyday scene of local women and men on the steps in front of the ornate wooden gate of the Basílica de San Francisco in La Paz, Bolivia. The backdrop is a prime example of what is known as Mestizo Baroque (also Barocco Mestizo). This architectural style blends European Catholic architectural traditions with indigenous motifs and symbols from the Andean region. The artistically carved stone columns on the left of the picture display these typical, intricately detailed reliefs from the colonial era. – Bolivia – 1976

EI Alto, the airport in La Paz on the Altiplano, is the highest jet airport in the world at 4,082 metres above sea level. Aircraft play a crucial role in opening up the Andes, as infrastructure remains one of the most pressing and unresolved problems. Not all roads on which buses operate are passable in all weather conditions - Book: Picture 180 - Bolivia - 1976

The Fiesta del Gran Poder, the Festival of Divine Power, in La Paz is arguably one of the largest and most colorful religious celebrations in Bolivia. The photo shows the characteristic Diablada dancer—the devil, who embodies evil and dances frenetically against the forces of good throughout the hours-long procession, only to be ultimately defeated by Divine Power. - Book: Picture 150 - Bolivia - 1976

The festival is officially known as the ‘Festividad del Señor Jesús del Gran Poder’. It is celebrated in honour of a representation of Jesus Christ and blends Andean beliefs closely with the Catholic faith. Although the Morenada is regarded as the dominant dance of this festival in La Paz, groups performing the Diablada (as pictured here) open and enrich the spectacle with great vigour and magnificent colours. The dancers belong to one of the traditional fraternities that parade through the streets of the capital every year in May or June. – This huge celebration has also been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. – Bolivia – 1976

The Fiesta del Gran Poder, the Festival of Divine Power, in La Paz is arguably one of Bolivia’s largest and most colorful religious celebrations. The photo shows the characteristic Diablada dancer—the devil, who embodies evil and dances frantically against the forces of good throughout the hours-long procession, only to be ultimately defeated by Divine Power. - Book: Picture 151 - Bolivia - 1976

The Fiesta del Gran Poder, the Festival of Divine Power, in La Paz is arguably one of Bolivia’s largest and most colorful religious celebrations. The female dancers may be inspired by the North American tradition of majorettes. - Book: Picture 152 - Bolivia - 1976

A traditional devil’s mask (Máscara de Diablada), typically worn at the Chilean festival ‘Fiesta de la Tirana’, at the ‘Festividad de la Virgen de la Candelaria’ in Puno, Peru, or at the Bolivian ‘Carnaval de Oruro’. – This dance symbolises the eternal struggle between good and evil. The dancers dress up as devils (Lucifer or demons), who are ultimately defeated by the Archangel Michael and submit to the Virgin Mary. A magnificent, colourful multi-headed dragon is mounted on the mask. In Andean iconography, European conceptions of the devil blend here with indigenous mythical creatures (such as the sacred snake Amaru) and Asian influences. The large, protruding eyes are intended to create a fixed, terrifying gaze. The mask features a wide-open mouth with pointed teeth and a protruding tongue, which emphasises the demon’s malice and ferocity. – La Paz – Bolivia – 1976

A dancer in a traditional, vibrantly coloured red devil’s costume from the Diablada dance troupe. The Diablada dance depicts the struggle between good and evil and forms the centrepiece of the various carnivals in the Andean region around Lake Titicaca. The ornate devil’s mask is adorned with horns, snakes and glittering embellishments. The dancer wears a red costume featuring embroidered aprons, metallic embellishments and distinctive boots. – La Paz – Bolivia – 1976

The Fiesta del Gran Poder, the Festival of Divine Power, in La Paz is arguably one of Bolivia’s largest and most colorful religious celebrations. - Book: Picture 153 - Bolivia - 1976

Wedding in the village of Toledo, Oruro Department, Bolivia. The entire village population takes part in the celebrations. The bride and groom lead the wedding guests in a dance around the village’s main square. Friends have hung banknotes around the groom’s neck as a morning gift. - Book: Picture 120 - Bolivia - 1976

All Saints’ Day at a cemetery near Oruro. Every year, the indigenous people visit their dead at the cemetery and pray for them, as well as for ancestors who died long ago. They then sit around the graves, eat the food they have brought with them and drink chicha. They also visit the graves of friends to emphasise the strong bonds that unite people even beyond death. - Book: Picture 122 - Bolivia - 1976

In the Bolivian Altiplano, between the towns of Toledo and Corque in the department of Oruro, there are numerous shallow, salt-rich waterholes scattered across this barren high-altitude desert landscape. They lie at an altitude of around 3,700 metres on the western side of the Lake Poopó basin, where shallow salt lakes and lagoons form periodically during the rainy season. This is an ideal habitat for the endangered Andean flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus) and James’s flamingos (Phoenicoparrus jamesi). – Bolivia – 1976

On the way from La Paz to the Takesi Inca Trail, you pass this historic cemetery chapel with its distinctive, slightly leaning adobe bell tower and the small, chapel-like burial structures in front of it. – Bolivia – 1976

The world-famous Takesi Trail (Camino Precolombino Takesi) in Bolivia, one of the best-preserved sections of the pre-Columbian Inca Trail within the historic road network. The perfectly laid, flat paving stones and drainage channels were originally constructed by the Tiwanaku and Inca cultures. They protect the steep mountainside from severe erosion caused by rainwater. The highest point of the Inca Trail is the windswept Apacheta Takesi Pass, which runs at a spectacular altitude of 4,640 metres right alongside the snow-capped flanks of Mount Mururata. The photograph shows the paved ascent to this mountain pass. – Bolivia – 1976

Three prospectors in the Bolivian Cordillera Real at an altitude of 4,640 metres. Together, these three treasure hunters mine easily accessible deposits of tungsten, tin and gold; they call their method ‘makipura’. - Book: Picture 175 - Bolivia - 1976

The ‘Cerro Rico’, the ‘rich mountain’ of Potosí in Bolivia. Potosí, with its silver mines, was the source of the wealth of the colonial Viceroyalty of Peru. The coat of arms of the city, whose economic importance came to an end in the late 18th century, bore the proud motto: ‘I am the rich Potosí, treasury of the world, king of the mountains; to kings I serve as pasture.’ - Book: Picture 170 - Bolivia - 1976

A mining town in the department of Potosí in Bolivia. In the foreground is a massive embankment that serves as a dam to contain fine-grained processing residues (known as tailings or slurry). These waste products are generated during the extraction of metals from ore. In the background lies the densely built-up mining town. The extreme proximity of industrial waste dumps to residential areas is typical of historic mining regions in the Bolivian Andes and poses significant environmental and safety risks to local residents. – Bolivia – 1976

Man carrying a coffin in Potosí, Bolivia. In funeral rites, ancient indigenous beliefs are intertwined with certain Catholic elements. For example, a wake (velorio) is held, during which provisions for the journey are placed around the body alongside candles. The soul of the deceased travels for eight days to all the places the deceased had visited during their lifetime. On the eighth day, it returns, whereupon the deceased’s clothes are burnt. - Book: Picture 121 - Bolivia - 1976

A scene from the streets of Bolivia: In Potosí, a street vendor waits for customers; she is wearing the hat characteristic of this region. - Book: Picture 147 - Bolivia - 1976

An indigenous man from Tarabuco in the Bolivian department of Chuquisaca. His cap is reminiscent of the shape of Spanish helmets from the time of the Conquista. - Book: Picture 144 - Bolivia - 1976

An indigenous man ploughing in Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia. Often, however, the soil is simply loosened using a narrow spade, the taclia (see Figure 90). - Book: Picture 118 - Bolivia - 1976

An indigenous woman pounding chuño. To make chuño, the potatoes are left for several days and nights, alternating between drying in the sun and freezing during night-time frosts. Pounding removes the skins. The dehydrated potatoes can be stored for considerably longer than raw tubers. Bolivia. La Paz Department. - Book: Picture 119 - Bolivia - 1976

A scene on the way to Oruro: an indigenous woman who has spread her freshly washed laundry out to dry on the stony ground and on small bushes. Laying the clothes out on the clean ground, warmed by the sun, or on bushes makes the most of the strong UV rays and heat of the high-altitude sun to dry the clothes quickly. – Bolivia – 1976

A scene from the streets of Bolivia: An indigenous woman with a child in Sucre, the nominal capital of Bolivia, named after the liberator General Antonio José de Sucre. - Book: Picture 146 - Bolivia - 1976

In southern Bolivia, in the transitional region between the barren foothills of the Andes and the wetter valleys of the Tariquía National Flora and Fauna Reserve. Smallholders on the slopes and in the valleys mainly grow maize, wheat and barley. The picture shows the traditional method of winnowing (separating the chaff from the wheat or grain) by hand. The farmers toss the threshed grain high into the air using pitchforks or shovels. The wind blows the light chaff (husk and straw remnants) to one side. The heavier grains fall straight down to the ground and are thus collected cleanly. This method has been used for thousands of years. It requires no machinery and relies solely on the power of the wind. – Bolivia – 1976

Near Huanuni in the department of Oruro. Having finished their day’s work, a farming couple are on their way home. Whilst the urban economy in Huanuni is dominated by Cerro Posokoni and the tin mine, small family farms in the surrounding countryside, at an altitude of just under 4,000 metres, ensure their basic subsistence by growing hardy, traditional crops such as potatoes, quinoa and cañahua. The region around Huanuni and the nearby Lake Poopó suffers greatly from the environmental consequences of centuries of mining, which is why traditional, nature-friendly farming methods without heavy machinery remain essential for the farmers. A team of two oxen (yunta) breaks up the dry, often stony soil. The donkey often carries the precious seeds for the upcoming sowing before the rainy season. – Bolivia – 1976

Arable farming in the high-altitude Andean region of the municipality of Yunchará in the department of Tarija, in southern Bolivia. In the higher elevations of the Altiplano, frost-resistant crops such as field beans (haba), barley and camomile are primarily grown. In this remote highland region of Bolivia, the use of draught animals to plough the small plots enclosed by dry stone walls remains the most important method of preparing the soil before sowing. – Bolivia – 1976

Winding its way along the slopes in long hairpin bends, mostly without any engineering structures, this Andean road runs through the department of Tarija in Bolivia. - Book: Picture 182 - Bolivia - 1976

The barren desert landscape with giant cacti of the species Echinopsis atacamensis (also known as Cardón) in the Department of Potosí in the southern Altiplano of Bolivia. The plateau is strongly characterised by the dry, cold Puna. Alongside the massive Cardón cacti, the area is home primarily to hardy Thola shrubs and the characteristic Ichu grass. – Near Tomola – Bolivia – 1976

The historic ‘Puente Antonio José de Sucre’ (also known as Puente Sucre or Puente Méndez). The suspension bridge spans the Río Pilcomayo and connects the two departments of Chuquisaca (Sucre) and Potosí. The structure was built at the end of the 19th century (between 1890 and 1910) and is characterised by its distinctive, almost medieval-looking brick towers. Today, the historic wooden structure serves exclusively as a footbridge. – Bolivia – 1976

A gravel track leads to the Salar de Empexa, a lesser-known yet fascinating salt lake (salar) in the South American Altiplano, situated in south-western Bolivia (Potosí Department) near the border with Chile. It lies to the west of the world-famous Salar de Uyuni and is a prime example of the unspoilt, rugged high-altitude desert landscape of the Andes. – Bolivia – 1976

The old Church of Santa Ana in Chipaya was built of adobe (air-dried mud bricks) and had a fragile thatched roof (paja). The photograph shows the roof being repaired (1976). Due to the extreme weather conditions in the highlands (strong winds, sandstorms and seasonal flooding from the River Lauca), the unprotected mud walls of the old structure crumbled over the decades after the roof was damaged. Rather than undertaking a costly restoration of the old, dilapidated adobe church, a new, modern church building was erected in the village centre. The historic, free-standing bell tower from the colonial era, which was deliberately built in isolation and completely separate from the main building, remained standing untouched as an important landmark and ritual focal point for the village community. – Chipaya (Oruro Department) – Bolivia – 1976

The Chipaya tribe in the Bolivian department of Oruro, which now numbers just under a thousand people, inhabits a particularly inhospitable region of the Andean high plateau on the Río Lauca, which flows into a salt lake. The Chipayas are the only highland indigenous people who obtain part of their food through hunting, as agriculture and livestock farming alone are unable to meet their needs due to the highly saline soil. At dawn, groups of hunters lie in wait on the lake shore for flamingos, ducks and Andean geese, which they catch using bolas – throwing balls attached to long straps. The word ‘Chipaya’ comes from the Aymara language and means ‘a mat of reed or straw woven with reed cords’. To protect themselves from the strong winds of the Altiplano, the Chipayas have, in fact, had to tie down the thatched layers of their roofs with cords since time immemorial. The belief that the Chipayas are the direct descendants of pre-Inca populations is supported by mummy finds in burial towers from that period, which, amongst other similarities, display the same hairstyles that the women spend hours and hours creating. - Book: Picture 155 - Bolivia - 1976

Children of the Chipaya culture in the barren Altiplano of Bolivia. The Chipaya are considered one of the oldest indigenous communities in the Andes. They live in a very salty and isolated region near the Lauca River and Lake Coipasa in the department of Oruro. The boys are wearing the typical, coarsely woven, sleeveless garment of the Chipaya people, known as an ‘ira’ or ‘tipoy’. The girls in the background usually wear the traditional, very fine braids (trenzados), which have a distinctly African appearance. The houses in the background are the famous round or rectangular huts (putucus), built from peat and grass sods (tepes) and thatched with straw. This construction method provides perfect protection against the region’s extremely icy winds. – Chipaya – Bolivia – 1976

The Chipaya tribe in the Bolivian department of Oruro, which now numbers just under a thousand people, inhabits a particularly inhospitable region of the Andean high plateau on the Río Lauca, which flows into a salt lake. The Chipayas are the only highland indigenous people who obtain part of their food through hunting, as agriculture and livestock farming alone are unable to meet their needs due to the highly saline soil. At dawn, groups of hunters lie in wait on the lake shore for flamingos, ducks and Andean geese, which they catch using bolas – throwing balls attached to long straps. The word ‘Chipaya’ comes from the Aymara language and means ‘a mat of reed or straw woven with reed cords’. To protect themselves from the strong winds of the Altiplano, the Chipayas have, in fact, had to tie down the thatched layers of their roofs with cords since time immemorial. The belief that the Chipayas are the direct descendants of pre-Inca populations is supported by mummy finds in burial towers from that period, which, amongst other similarities, display the same hairstyles that the women spend hours and hours creating. - Book: Picture 156 - Bolivia - 1976

The striking redness of this child’s cheeks is typical of the inhabitants of the Altiplano. It is caused by a combination of thin high-altitude air, intense UV radiation and an icy wind. The child is wearing a typical, thickly woven woollen tunic or poncho, which provides protection against the extreme temperatures and the cold at high altitudes. The dark felt hat (often known as a bombín or bowler hat) is a key cultural symbol of the indigenous people of the Bolivian Andes. – Escara in the Department of Oruro – Bolivia – 1976

The Chipaya tribe in the Bolivian department of Oruro, which now numbers just under a thousand people, inhabits a particularly inhospitable region of the Andean high plateau on the Río Lauca, which flows into a salt lake. The Chipayas are the only highland indigenous people who obtain part of their food through hunting, as agriculture and livestock farming alone are unable to meet their needs due to the highly saline soil. At dawn, groups of hunters lie in wait on the lake shore for flamingos, ducks and Andean geese, which they catch using bolas – throwing balls attached to long straps. The word ‘Chipaya’ comes from the Aymara language and means ‘a mat of reed or straw woven with reed cords’. To protect themselves from the strong winds of the Altiplano, the Chipaya people have, since time immemorial, had to tie down the straw thatch on their roofs with cords. The belief that the Chipaya are the direct descendants of pre-Inca populations is supported by mummy finds in burial towers from that period, which, amongst other similarities, display the same hairstyles that the women spend hours and hours creating. The picture shows a typical pre-colonial loom. - Book: Picture 154 - Bolivia - 1976

An indigenous woman from Chipaya in the Bolivian highlands. Typical of the traditional costume are multi-layered ponchos or capes made of heavy, warm fabric to protect against the harsh climate of the high mountains. The intricate braided hairstyle, featuring woven hair ornaments and pins, reflects the cultural identity and centuries-old traditions of the Andean people. – Chipaya – Bolivia – 1976

This man belongs to the Chipaya culture, which is one of the oldest surviving cultures on the American double continent. His traditional identity is clearly reflected in his clothing: the hat is an absolutely distinctive feature of the Chipaya people. It is traditionally handmade from pressed sheep’s or alpaca wool. It has a characteristic brim and often features a dark band. Underneath the hat, he wears the typical, colourfully patterned Andean cap with ear flaps, which protects against the extreme, icy winds of the Altiplano. – Chipaya – Bolivia – 1976

The picture shows people in the ‘Salar de Coipasa´ in Bolivia, which, at over 10,000 square kilometres, is the largest salt flat on Earth. In the foreground is a small makeshift hut – or rather an igloo – made of salt bricks, in front of which people are standing. In the background, the Andean volcanoes (such as the well-known Tunupa volcano) can be seen, surrounding the flat, white salt pan. – Bolivia – 1976

Workers engaged in traditional salt extraction on the bright salt crust of the Salar de Coipasa. They break off and stack blocks of salt from the crust using simple tools such as poles and shovels. Historically, these blocks were used as a durable building material for the famous salt hotels and other accommodation, as well as salt licks for livestock (llamas and alpacas). The people are wearing warm, protective clothing and hats, as the climate at these high altitudes is windy and cool. – Bolivia – 1976

The two large salt pans of the Bolivian Altiplano, the Salares of Coipasa (picture) and Uyuni, are the remnants of a vast Ice Age freshwater lake, Lago Minchin. Due to low rainfall, the absence of tributaries and the extreme dryness of the air, the former freshwater lakes have evaporated into shallow lagoons and salt pans, their shores lined with deposits of common salt. Cut into blocks, the snow-white salt – considered to be of exceptional purity – is transported by lorry to the areas where it is consumed. - Book: Picture 158 - Bolivia - 1976

Traditional salt mining in the Salar de Coipasa in the Bolivian Andean highlands. Workers use simple tools such as axes or poles to chisel solid blocks of salt from the crust. The scene is set against the glistening white salt crust, with a mountainous backdrop in the Altiplano at an altitude of around 3,600 to 3,800 metres. – Bolivia – 1976

The Río Lauca is an international river in the Andean highlands, some 225 kilometres long, which eventually flows into the Salar de Coipasa, Bolivia’s second-largest salt lake. The river is the lifeblood of the highlands’ extremely arid ecosystem. – Ice has formed on the river overnight, which melts again during the morning. – Near the Salar de Coipasa – Bolivia – 1976

A herd of llamas grazes by the shallow, mineral-rich waterholes on the edge of the Salar de Coipasa. During the rainy season, parts of this arid landscape are transformed into vast, mirror-like expanses of water. – Bolivia – 1976

A herd of llamas is moving near the little village of Villa Vitalina on the edge of the Salar de Coipasa. Houses can be seen in the background. – Bolivia – 1976

A small village, presumably on the edge of the Salar de Coipaso. – Bolivia – 1976

The small Chilean border town of Ollagüe lies at an altitude of around 3,700 metres in the Altiplano. It is best known for its location directly at the foot of the active Ollagüe volcano (5,868 m) and as an important hub for cross-border freight transport. The railway line shown in the photograph forms part of the historic FCAB (Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia) line. To this day, this line is mainly used to transport mining cargo (such as copper, lithium and sulphuric acid) from the Bolivian mines to Chilean Pacific ports such as Antofagasta. Trains from Bolivia arrive here at the Chilean border station. This is where the locomotives are swapped between the railway companies of the two countries. – Bolivia/Chile border – 1976

The Andes
Part 3: Southern Andes
Chile – Argentina
The book was published in 1977 by C.J. Bucher, Lucerne and Frankfurt am Main.
ISBN 3-7658 0250 6

Map of the Southern Andes.
The numbers refer to the photographs in the book. They are indicated alongside the relevant photographs.

The photographs were taken between 1972 and 1977.
1972–73: Trip 16 – Pan-American Highway
1973: Trip 17 – Argentina
1975–76: Trip 19 – Gauchos – Argentina – Chile
1976–77: Trip 20 – South America – from Argentina to Venezuela

The two large salt flats of the Bolivian Altiplano, the Salares of Coipasa (pictured) and Uyuni, are the remnants of a vast Ice Age freshwater lake, Lago Minchin. Due to low rainfall, the absence of tributaries and the extreme dryness of the air, the former freshwater lakes have evaporated into shallow lagoons and salt flats, their shores lined with deposits of common salt. Cut into blocks, the snow-white salt – considered to be of exceptional purity – is transported by lorry to the areas where it is used. - Book: Picture 159 - Chile - 1976

Penitential snow is a phenomenon associated with the high mountains of the subtropical and tropical dry zones of the Old and New Worlds. Snow cover that has formed during the wet season is subject to selective melting processes during sunny summer and autumn weather; these are governed by irregularities on the original snow surface and sculpt out closely spaced yet completely isolated firn spikes, which resemble a procession of figures in white penitential robes (penitentes). The photograph was taken at an altitude of 4,900 metres on the Huaitiquina Pass, which leads from Salta (Argentina) to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile). - Book: Picture 8 - Chile - 1975

The Chilean Puna de Atacama, situated between San Pedro de Atacama and the Tatio geysers, is a monotonous high plateau formed from rhyolitic lava. The bitter cold of the night covers the small streams of the Puna with a thin layer of ice, which had not yet melted in the early morning when the photograph was taken. - Book: Picture 160 - Chile - 1976

At the Salar de Ascotán in northern Chile. It is situated in the Antofagasta Region at an extreme altitude of around 3,716 metres above sea level – nestled within the breathtaking scenery of the Altiplano. The vegetation differs drastically from that of the surrounding desert. Whilst the surrounding area is dominated by shrubs, special perennial grasses and herbs grow right on the edge of the salar. The volcano in the background is (presumably) San Pedro (6,145 m). – Chile – 1976

Laguna Lejía lies at an extreme altitude of around 4,350 metres in the Puna de Atacama. You can see flamingos foraging in the lake. In the background are several volcanoes, including the Chiliques (5,778 m). It is an important mountain sanctuary for the local population, featuring a series of prehistoric ritual and logistical sites, some of which are estimated to be over a thousand years old. At its summit lies a 15th-century Inca ritual site. – Chile – 1975

Alero de Taira, some 75 kilometres north-east of the city of Calama, is a world-famous archaeological site in northern Chile, renowned for its exceptional rock art. It is regarded as one of the most important centres of pre-Columbian art in South America. The main feature consists of intricate engravings and paintings estimated to be between 2,000 and 2,800 years old. These are highly detailed depictions of llamas, often accompanied by herders. – The striking, pointed snow-capped peak on the far left in the background is Volcán San Pedro (6,145 m). Right next to it (to the right of it in the picture) is its twin volcano, Volcán San Pablo (6,092 m). These two majestic volcanoes form an unmistakable twin-peaked massif in the Atacama region. – Chile – 1976

The Taira Valley in the upper reaches of the Río Loa in northern Chile. The waters of the Río Loa flow through the deeply incised canyon, creating a narrow, green oasis of vegetation amidst the otherwise extremely inhospitable, arid desert landscape. Striking volcanoes, such as the nearby San Pedro, rise up in the background. The canyon is world-famous for its archaeological site, in particular the Taira rock shelter (Alero). It is home to some of the most complex rock paintings and petroglyphs in South America. The fine lines mainly depict llamas and served as a ritual plea to the gods by indigenous herders of the Atacameño culture for the fertility of their herds. – Chile – 1976

Rock paintings at Taira on the Río Loa in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. These engraved and painted depictions of llamas are attributed to the Neolithic Atacameños. - Book: Picture 41 - Chile - 1976

The Quebrada Talabre in the Antofagasta region of Chile, with the Láscar volcano visible in the background. In the barren gorge, the traditional terraced fields, planted with greenery, and the stone enclosures – which were supplied with water via irrigation channels from the river – are clearly visible. In the same area lies the Quebrada Kezala, famous for its open-air museum featuring around 200 ancient rock engravings. – Chile – 1976

The Quebrada de Jerez (also known as the Quebrada de Jere), an impressive rocky gorge with a small river running through it, is situated near the oasis village of Toconao in the Chilean Atacama Desert, not far from San Pedro de Atacama. In this arid desert region, the flowing waters of the Rio Toconao create a green valley that allows fruit and other plants to be grown. The deeply incised gorge consists of striking, reddish volcanic and rock formations. – Chile – 1976

The Pukará de Lasana is a pre-Columbian residential and refuge fortress built by the Atacameños in the 12th century. The ruins of these impressive stone structures stretch along the cliffs directly above the lush green valley floor of the Río Loa (in the middle ground). The combination of the barren canyon walls, the agricultural terraces (andenes) in the valley and the Andean peaks in the background makes this site a unique cultural monument in northern Chile. The twin volcanoes of San Pedro (6,145 metres) and, right next to it, San Pablo (6,092 metres) dominate the horizon. A little further east lie the peaks of Cerro Paniri (5,960 m) and the Cerros de Tocorpuri volcanic complex. – Chile – 1976

Pucará de Lasana, an abandoned Atacameño village on the Río Loa in the Atacama Desert, Chile. The Atacameños practised terraced farming with artificial irrigation and built their dwellings close together so as not to waste the barren arable land. - Book: Picture 53 - Chile - 1976

As a high-altitude, cold desert, the Puna de Atacama is one of the most inhospitable regions on Earth. Bare rock and sand, lava flows and volcanoes characterise this forbidding yet impressive landscape. - Book: Picture 161 - Chile - 1976

The photograph shows a section of the old, unpaved tracks on the plateau east of Calama, between the famous oasis of San Pedro de Atacama and the historic Atacameño village of San Francisco de Chiu Chiu, which was a strategically important stop on the Inca Trail (Camino del Inca), as the river, with its flowing water, represents one of the few lifelines in the midst of the utterly inhospitable, grey Atacama Desert. – Chile – 1976

To the east of the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, the striking Licancabur volcano (5,916 m) rises on the border between Chile and Bolivia in the Atacama Desert. At its summit lies one of the highest crater lakes in the world. Historical ruins also bear witness to the fact that the volcano was a sacred site for the Incas. To the right of Licancabur, the slightly lower Juriques volcano can be seen. – Chile – 1976

Evening atmosphere over the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. The valley lies about 13 kilometres west of San Pedro de Atacama and forms part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. The scene is characterised by sculptural formations of sand and salt rock, shaped by erosion and reminiscent of a lunar landscape. The Licancabur volcano can be seen in the background. – Chile – 1976

The Río San Pedro de Inacaliri (often simply called the Río San Pedro) has carved this canyon into the high plateau of the Chilean Puna. The striking, block-like cliffs consist of thick ignimbrite deposits (volcanic pyroclastic flow sediments). In the background rises the Palpana volcano. It is a massive stratovolcano, approximately 6,040 metres high, in the Chilean Andes near the border with Bolivia. – Chile – 1976

The Valle de Marte (also known as the Valle de la Muerte, or Valley of Death, or Mars Valley) near San Pedro de Atacama in the Chilean Atacama Desert. The valley is characterised by rugged, reddish rock formations of the Cordillera de la Sal, deep gorges, sandy slopes and structures heavily shaped by wind and tectonic activity. In the background lies the barren desert landscape with the striking volcanic cones of the Andes, some of which are snow-capped. On the right is the dominant, almost perfectly conical stratovolcano Licancabur (5,916 metres high). It lies exactly on the geographical border between Chile and Bolivia. Immediately to its right is the slightly lower neighbouring volcano, Juriques (5,704 metres). In the centre are the Cerros de Tocorpuri and, on the far left, the San Pedro volcano. – Chile – 1976

Snuff set - Origin: Quitor - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (province Antofagasta) - Chile - 1976

Tablet male - Origin: Coyo Oriental - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (Province of Antofagasta) - Chile - 1976

Handle of a snuff box from the Atacameños (found at Coyo Oriental), made of carved black wood with shell inlays (width at top: 7 cm). Formally, the depiction is reminiscent of the central figure of the Sun Gate at Tiahuanaco (cf. Figure 124). Museo San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. - Book: Picture 78 - Chile - 1976

Tablet female - Origin: Quitor - Museo San Pedro de Atacama (Provincia Antofagasta) - Chile - 1976

Arrowheads - in natural glass or meteorite showers - Neolithic period - Origin: Sequitor Alambrado, San Pedro de Atacama - Museum San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - 1976

Anthropomorphic jug from the Second Phase of the Atacama culture (height 19 cm) in the characteristic black pottery. Museo San Pedro de Atacama, Chile - Book: Picture 54 - Chile - 1976

Abstract anthropomorphic bottle - Second phase of the Atacameña culture - Height 18,5 cm - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (Antofagasta province) - Chile - 1976

Two anthropomorphic bottles, naturalistic left 19 cm, abstract right 18,5 cm - Second phase of the Atacameña culture - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (Antofagasta province) - Chile - 1976

Vessel Incisa - diameter 18,5 cm - Atacameña culture, last period of the second phase - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (Antofagasta province) - Chile - 1976

Carob wood duck - length 18 cm - Atacameña culture - Origin: Quitor - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (province Antofagasta) - Chile - 1976

Basket with figure with axe and 3 javelins - diameter 35 cm - Atacameña culture second phase - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (Antofagasta province) - Chile - 1976

Detail of a basket with figure with axe and 3 throwing spears - diameter 35 cm - Atacameña culture second phase - Museum San Pedro de Atacama (Antofagasta province) - Chile - 1976

Skull with a headband from an Atacameño grave of the Second Phase at the Quitor 6 site in the Atacama Desert. The grave contained only the skull, without the rest of the skeleton. Such ritual skull burials have not yet been recorded at any other site in South America. Museo San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. - Book: Picture 55 - Chile - 1976

Female skull with hair band - Atacameña culture second phase - Origin: Coyo Oriental - Museum San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - 1976

Skull of a child - Second phase of the Atacameña culture - Origin: Quitor (province of Antofagasta) - Museo San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - 1976

Mummy of a young woman - Second phase of the Atacameña culture - 300 BC - Origin: Solor - Museum San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - 1976

Skull of a man with Bonnet-Turban - with a blanket with geometrical figures - Atacameña culture second phase - Origin: Coyo Oriental - Museum San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - 1976

Mummy of a woman with child - Atacameña culture second phase - blanket with borders - volcanic rock and turquoise necklace - Origin: Sequitor Alambrado - Museum San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - 1976

Typical landscape along the unpaved gravel road linking the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama with the El Tatio geysers in northern Chile. This route takes you to an extreme altitude of over 4,000 metres. Vegetation is almost entirely non-existent due to the extreme aridity of the Atacama Desert and the cold. In the background, you can see the volcanic Andean Cordillera, which stretches along the Chilean-Bolivian border, including the striking, partly still active Putana volcano (5,890 m), which rises directly behind the El Tatio geyser field. Cerro Tatio (5,208 m) gives the region its name. In the ancient Kunza language, the word means ‘The Weeping Grandfather’. Or the mighty Tocorpuri volcanic complex (5,808 m) right on the border, whose slopes you pass by whilst driving. – Chile – 1976

In the vicinity of the world-famous El Tatio geyser field in the Chilean Andes. The typical mineral crusts and outflows resulting from geothermal activity can be seen, set against the backdrop of the cold, barren Altiplano plateau, which is surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. – Chile – 1976

On the way to the El Tatio geysers, you pass the Vado del Río Putana wetland (Putana River Valley), where the riverbeds are frozen solid in winter. In the background, you can see the Putana volcano. – Chile – 1976

The El Tatio geyser field in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, situated at an altitude of around 4,200 metres. It is one of the highest geyser fields in the world. Activity is at its peak in the early morning (between 6.00 and 8.00 am), as this is when the temperature differences are greatest and the steam from the geysers rises most vigorously. The volcano in the background is the dormant stratovolcano Tatio (5,198 m). It lies directly on the border between Chile and Bolivia and forms part of the larger Tocorpuri volcanic complex. The name Tatio comes from the ancient Kunza language (Tata-iu) and translates as ‘the weeping grandfather’. It refers to the shape of the mountain range, which, from a distance, resembles the profile of an elderly man lying down. – Chile – 1976

An active geyser with a large fountain of steam in the El Tatio geothermal area in the Chilean Andes, at an altitude of around 4,280 metres in the Antofagasta Region. The best time to visit is early in the morning, when the fountains and steam are particularly impressive in the cold early-morning temperatures. – Chile – 1976

The rhyolite lava flows in the Chilean Puna de Atacama are associated with major tectonic fault lines striking in a north-south direction. The Tatio geysers, whose hot water vapour condenses in the cold high-altitude air, provide evidence that magmatic flow is present at shallow depths. It is rainwater that has seeped into the ground, heated up at depth and, due to the resulting pressure, is ejected either continuously or at regular intervals. - Book: Picture 162 - Chile - 1976

The impressive El Tatio geyser field is one of the highest and largest in the world, featuring numerous hot springs, fumaroles and rising columns of steam. Due to the extreme altitude (4,280 m) and the cold mountain air, the temperature difference between the hot water and the surrounding environment is particularly evident in the large clouds of steam in the morning. – Chile – 1976

The photograph shows the El Tatio geothermal field in the Andes in northern Chile, which lies at an altitude of around 4,280 metres and is one of the highest in the world. It is situated approximately 80 km north of San Pedro de Atacama. Over 80 active geysers spout large clouds of steam into the cold desert air, particularly in the early hours of the morning. – Chile – 1976

The Río Salado in the Antofagasta region of Chile, in the heart of the Atacama Desert. The river rises near the famous geothermal springs of El Tatio at an altitude of over 4,200 metres. As it flows, it feeds green wetlands (Vegas) and carves deep into the canyons of volcanic rock. It eventually flows westwards and joins the Río Loa as a major tributary. – Chile – 1976

The Chilean Exploration Company, a subsidiary of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, had been operating the copper mines at Chuquicamata since 1905. Together with the Braden Copper Company and Anden Copper Mining, these three North American companies controlled 95 per cent of copper mining. As copper was the country’s most important source of foreign exchange, the nationalisation of the copper mines became one of the most important political tasks. In 1971, Salvador Allende nationalised the copper industry, a measure that even the military junta was unable to reverse following its coup. - Book: Picture 171 - Chile - 1976

The copper mines of Chuquicamata, situated at 2,800 metres in the Puna de Atacama. The reserves of copper ore in this, the world’s largest open-cast copper mine, are estimated at around one billion tonnes. - Book: Picture 169 - Chile - 1976

Chuquicamata is the world’s largest open-cast copper mine and is situated in the heart of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. The mine’s enormous pit is more than 4 kilometres long, 3 kilometres wide and over 1,000 metres deep. – The photograph shows the extracted ore being smelted at extremely high temperatures and processed into pure copper at the adjacent Chuquicamata copper smelter (Fundición). – Chile – 1976

The huge copper smelter and industrial facilities at the Chuquicamata copper mine in the Chilean Atacama Desert. In the foreground, settling ponds (thickening tanks) and extensive processing areas can be seen, whilst in the background, smoking chimneys and the barren slopes of the desert mountains rise up. Chuquicamata (often called ‘Chuqui’) belongs to the Chilean state-owned mining company Codelco and has shaped global copper production for over a century. – Chile – 1976

An indigenous woman from the region around San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile. She is wearing the wide-brimmed straw hat (sombrero de paja) typical of the Andean region, which serves as essential protection from the sun in the Atacama Desert – the driest place on earth. Her deep wrinkles and dark complexion reflect the extremely harsh climate, the intense sunlight and the harsh aridity of the Chilean highlands. – Chile – 1976

Cactus spines used as knitting needles. Atacama Desert, Chile. - Book: Picture 138 - Chile - 1976

The photograph shows a vast, arid plain with sparse desert vegetation and a barren mountain range in the background, across which a freight train is travelling in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. – South of Copiapó – Chile – 1975

With a population of three million (1977), Santiago de Chile is one of the five largest cities in South America. It lies at the foot of the Andes and is traversed by the River Mapocho. Founded in 1541 by Pedro de Valdivia on the Cerro de Santa Lucía, the city initially spread out around this hill. The centre remains the Plaza de Armas (above), where the cathedral – which has been destroyed several times – the bishop’s palace, the post office and arcades lined with shops are situated. Although the Spanish colonial grid layout still predominates, only a few old buildings have survived due to various major fires and earthquakes. More than half of the country’s economic activity is concentrated in and around Santiago; with its universities and technical college, its significance extends far beyond Chile. - Book: Picture 163 - Chile - 1976

The Laja Falls (Spanish: Salto del Laja) in southern Chile consist of four spectacular waterfalls, each with a drop of around 35 metres. They are situated on the lower reaches of the Río Laja in the Biobío Region, some 25 kilometres north of the city of Los Ángeles and close to the Pan-American Highway. – Chile – 1975

The vast, green farmlands of Chile’s Central Valley, lined with the characteristic rows of poplars (álamos) and pasture fences, provide the perfect backdrop for the 3,242-metre-high Longaví volcano. – Chile – 1975

The photograph shows the snow-capped Volcán Osorno in the Los Lagos region of southern Chile, rising in the background behind a green pasture with grazing cows and trees. It is a striking stratovolcano with an almost perfectly symmetrical conical shape, which is often reminiscent of Mount Fuji in Japan. – Chile – 1975

The 2,661-metre-high volcanic cone of Osorno rises above the clear waters of Lake Llanquihue in ‘Chilean Switzerland’. In terms of its shape and location, this most beautiful of the Andean volcanoes is reminiscent of Mount Fuji. Ancient lava flows have separated Lake Llanquihue from Lake Todos los Santos, which is also known as Lake Esmeralda due to its emerald-green colour. - Book: Picture 199 - Chile - 1975

The Villarrica volcano is Chile’s most active and dangerous volcano. It is situated in the southern part of the country, around 750 kilometres south of Santiago de Chile. It is a classic stratovolcano with a characteristic, almost perfectly symmetrical conical shape and stands 2,847 metres high. It is one of only about eight volcanoes worldwide that harbour an open, permanently active lava lake within its crater. Despite its activity, around 40 square kilometres of the mountain’s summit are covered by glaciers and perpetual snow. – Chile – 1975

The Villarrica is a 2,847 m high active volcano in Chile, which lies on the border of the Araucanía and Los Ríos regions. To the north of the volcano are the town of Pucón and Lake Villarrica. - 1973

An Araucanian woman wearing the characteristic silver jewellery from the Temuco region, Cautín Province, Chile. Following the conquest of the Chilean territories by Pedro de Valdivia around 1550, the warlike Araucanians had led all uprisings against foreign rule, and under their leader Lautaro, the Indigenous armies even marched on the capital after liberating the southern territories. The attack was repelled, but the heartland of the Araucanians remained de facto independent until around 1800. - Book: Picture 194 - Chile - 1973

An Araucanian woman wearing the characteristic silver headdress whilst weaving. Temuco region, Cautín Province, Chile. - Book: Picture 140 - Chile - 1973

From the Argentine city of Salta, an old mule track – now a poorly maintained track – leads over the Huaitiquina Pass to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. In the past, herds of cattle were driven over this pass to supply the Chilean port city of Antofagasta with Argentine beef. When the dreaded Viento Blanco – the ‘white wind’ – blows, the plateau, situated at an altitude of 5,000 metres, is covered within a few hours by a metre-thick blanket of snow, and it was not uncommon for people and animals to perish in such ‘blizzards’. This is evidenced by the sun-bleached cattle skeletons in this desolate wasteland with its salt lakes, dominated by the towering cone of the Lascar volcano. - Book: Picture 157 - Argentina - 1975

A historic photograph! It shows a historic train in the barren high desert of the Argentine Puna in the province of Jujuy. This narrow-gauge line once ran through the spectacular Quebrada de Humahuaca, up onto the plateau and on to the Bolivian border at La Quiaca. The tracks around the high-altitude station of Tres Cruces lie at an altitude of over 3,600 metres and are largely a historical relic of the former link between Argentina and Bolivia. – Argentina – 1973

Landscape near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujuy Province. - 1973

The photograph shows the impressive Cuesta de Lipán in the province of Jujuy in north-western Argentina, on the road from Purmamarca up to the Salinas Grandes. The barren, spectacular high-mountain landscape is characterised by hairpin bends, eroded mountain ranges and distinctive candelabra cacti (cardones) lining the roadside. – Argentina – 1975

The archaeological site of Santa Rosa de Tastil in the province of Salta, Argentina, features the well-preserved, pre-Inca stone foundations of one of the country’s largest pre-Hispanic settlements. The complex consists of compact stone houses without windows and narrow alleys. The ruins cover 17 hectares in the Quebrada del Toro gorge at an altitude of around 3,200 metres and form part of the Qhapaq Ñan (Inca road system), which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The settlement is thought to have been inhabited between the 14th and 15th centuries, prior to the full-scale Inca expansion, and could have accommodated up to 3,000 inhabitants. – Argentina – 1975

The flowering tip of a large columnar cactus, native to the high Andes of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. – Argentina – 1975

A striking eroded landscape with the moon along the Quebrada de Humahuaca in the region between Purmamarca and Tilcara in the province of Jujuy in north-western Argentina. These gullies, known as cárcavas (badlands), form in arid climates when infrequent but heavy rainfall deeply cuts into the unprotected, soft sedimentary layers. – Argentina – 1973

Aconcagua, situated in the Argentine Andes in the province of Mendoza, is the highest mountain on the American continent at 6,961 metres. The mountain is a popular destination for mountaineers from all over the world; it was first climbed in 1897 by Matthias Zurbriggen. – Argentina – 1975

Aconcagua, the highest mountain on the American double continent, is not among the most impressive mountain formations in South America, despite its height of 6,959 metres. It is not a volcano and therefore lacks the elegant curves of its slopes. Extreme dryness and strong winds prevent the formation of an ice cap on the summit, though small slope glaciers flow down from five cirques. The mountain, situated in the Argentine-Chilean border region of the High Cordillera, was first climbed in 1897 by the Swiss mountaineer M. Zurbriggen. - Book: Picture 201 - Argentina - 1975

The Andes Cordillera is the backbone of the South American continent, forming at certain points an impassable barrier. It establishes the natural border between the eastern, low-lying areas and the Pacific coastline, which extends westwards for thousands of kilometres. The Aconcagua (approx. 7,000 metres), dear to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is the highest peak in the Andes mountain range. It rises majestically between Argentina and Chile. It is usually covered with clouds. Its ascent has tempted many andinists - the name given to mountaineers. However, it presents serious dangers. - 1973

The photograph shows the Argentine side of the famous ‘Los Caracoles’ mountain pass at the Paso Internacional Los Libertadores in the Andes, on the border between Chile and Argentina. The winding mountain pass snakes through the barren high-mountain landscape of the Andes and leads up to the old border tunnel and the statue of Christ, Cristo Redentor de los Andes, at an altitude of over 3,800 metres. – Argentina – 1975

A view of Lake Nahuel Huapi in the Patagonian region of Argentina, surrounded by dense forest and snow-capped Andean peaks in the background. The landscape is situated within Nahuel Huapi National Park, near the towns of San Carlos de Bariloche and Villa La Angostura. Typical of this region are the lush forests of southern beech (coihues) and myrtle trees (arrayanes). The lake is of glacial-tectonic origin and is fed by the surrounding glaciers and mountains. – Argentina – 1975

Lake Nahuel Huapi (Araucanian for ‘Lake of Tiger Island’), which is comparable in size (529 km²) to Lake Constance, is a vast glacial trough into which several glacial streams converged. This explains its intricate network of fjord-like branches. It is known as the ‘Lake Lucerne’ of Argentina, whilst the surrounding mountain landscape, including the skiing paradise at Cerro Catedral (2,388 m), is referred to as the ‘Argentine Switzerland’. - Book: Picture 196 - Argentina - 1973

62 kilometres away from San Carlos de Bariloche, on the banks of the Limay River, lies Valle Encantado, a place with a special magic. Surrounded by mountains and rock formations that, letting the imagination run wild, come to life in the eyes of the beholder. - Neuquén Province - 1973

The famous panoramic road, the ‘Ruta de los Siete Lagos’ (Road of the Seven Lakes), in the south-west of Neuquén Province connects the two holiday resorts of Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes. It winds its way through the unspoilt natural landscape of the Nahuel Huapi and Lanín National Parks. Along this route, there are many sections featuring traditional wooden fences (‘tranqueras’ or ‘cercos de varas’) that mark the boundaries of private pastures and historic estancias, whilst the mighty peaks of the Andes tower in the background. – Argentina – 1975

View from the 1,314-metre-high Paso Puyehue on the Argentine-Chilean border towards the isolated, towering peak of Pico Pantojo. - Book: Picture 197 - Argentina - 1975

Alongside the various species of southern beech (Nothofagus), the mighty araucaria trees (Araucaria imbricata) make up a significant proportion of the Southern Cordillera’s forests. The oil-rich seeds of these conifers once formed an essential part of the subsistence diet of the Pehuénche, who practised a foraging economy. Their name means ‘people of the araucaria forests’ (pehuén = the araucaria). - Book: Picture 198 - Argentina - 1975

The photograph shows the majestic Lanín volcano (3,776 m), a stratovolcano in the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile. The snow-capped volcano rises from the Andean Cordillera and lies within the Lanín National Park (Argentina) and the Villarrica National Park (Chile). In the foreground and on the slopes, one can see the typical forest of Chilean araucarias (also known as pehuén) and sub-Antarctic grass and shrub vegetation. – Argentina – 1975

The Chilean araucaria (Araucaria araucana), also known as the Andean fir or monkey tree, in its natural South American Andean or volcanic landscape. These distinctive conifers have a straight, columnar trunk and an umbrella-shaped crown with stiff, scaly branches. They often grow on barren, volcanic soils in the mountains of Chile and Argentina and are extremely hardy. The species is regarded as a living fossil and is protected due to habitat loss and past deforestation. – Lanín National Park – Argentina – 1975

Representations of a younger, more developed culture depict meanders, either painted or carved, forming intricate overall patterns. In certain cases, they are even extremely complex labyrinths. They too are probably an expression of religious ideas, but the exact meaning of all these symbols cannot be determined. - This rock painting is located near San Martín de los Andes. - 1975

South of Sarmiento, one comes across a petrified forest known as “Bosque José Ormachea”. It consists of araucaria trunks that are around 70 million years old. Around it stretches the desert, dominated by washed-out, strangely coloured hills. - Province of Chubut - 1973

Argentina's soil holds real treasures, but has not yet been fully explored. Oil, however, has been extracted for years, in considerable quantities in the area of Comodoro Rivadavia province of Chubut on the southern coastal strip. If you follow the road from Buenos Aires to the southern tip, you will notice strange machines in the pampas, reminiscent of large grasshoppers, which are constantly pumping oil out of the earth's interior. Drilling rigs also rise up from the ocean. Comodoro Rivadavia is home to thousands of engineers, workers and employees who earn their living directly or indirectly from the oil deposits. The “black gold” is not refined in the city itself, but in La Plata, south of Buenos Aires. Comodoro Rivadavia's oil production covers part of the country's needs. Further drilling is being done in other provinces, especially in Mendoza and San Juan. - 1973

‘La Cueva de las Manos’ is a hard-to-reach rock shelter above the Río Pinturas, between Bajo Caracoles and Perito Moreno in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The significance of the hands is unclear, but they are certainly of a magical nature. The paintings belong to the Toldense culture, which is estimated to date back to around 8000 BC. They are now a World Heritage Site. - Book: Picture 42 - Argentina - 1973

Fitz Roy (3375 m), one of the most beautiful Argentinean Andean peaks, rises in the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz province). Because of the harsh weather that prevails in the mountains, it is dangerous to climb. - 1973

Mount Fitz Roy (3,375 m) was named in honour of the captain of the Beagle. It was under his command in 1834, following a sixteen-day boat journey on the Río Santa Cruz – in which Charles Darwin also took part – that this peak was first sighted. Towering some 1,600 metres above the surrounding plateau, it resembles a cluster of pillars and spires, whose vertical walls are separated by gorges a thousand metres deep. The Fitz Roy is rightly regarded as the most beautiful peak in the Andes. - Book: Picture 200 - Argentina - 1973

On the Estancia Santa Margarita. In the background the Fitz Roy massif. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

A gaucho is herding a flock of horses. He works for the Estancia Las Toscas, a historic rural farm in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. Such remote estancias in the Patagonian steppe were established in the early 20th century for sheep and cattle farming. – Argentina – 1973

Disused wheels on the edge of the Río La Leona - in the background Cerro Fortalezza 722m - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

These traditional windmills are essential for supplying water to livestock farms in the extremely remote and arid regions of Patagonia. As surface water is scarce, these windmills pump groundwater directly into water tanks or livestock troughs. The vast farms (estancias) are not connected to the electricity grid as they are often located far from the nearest town. Patagonia is one of the windiest regions on earth. The design of these windmills, with their many rotor blades, allows them to start turning even in a very light breeze, whilst protecting themselves from destruction during the notorious Patagonian storms thanks to an automatic flag control system. – Estancia “Las Toscas” in the province of Santa Cruz – Argentina – 1975

The sky over Patagonia looks different from anywhere else. It is often veiled by very light clouds that let a strange light shine through. Sometimes the wind blows in violent gusts and causes sandstorms. Then it is necessary to seek shelter immediately to escape the turmoil of the elements. A yellowish light intensifies the sense of threat that grips the traveller. But the storm does not last long, and soon the sky is clear again. The inhabitants of the Pampas have taken advantage of the wind. They set up windmills at various points on their property and use them to pump water out of the ground. In many places this precious wet is completely lacking, which is all the more regrettable because thousands of cattle, which together with the sheep make up the wealth of Patagonia, need a watering place. This picture was taken on the estancia “Las Toscas” in the province of Santa Cruz. - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andean Cordillera, which in certain sections presents an insurmountable barrier. The winds blow in from the Pacific in an almost constant direction. The clouds they carry gather over the high mountain peaks and bring heavy rainfall. This explains why, despite the relatively low altitude, glaciers – some of which are of immense proportions – stretch across the eastern flank of the Andes. In Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies Lago Argentino, the ‘Silver Lake’, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is attracting ever more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen in the immediate vicinity. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. Pictured here is the equally famous Perito Moreno. – Argentina – 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 205 - Argentina - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. Navigation on the Silver Lake is dangerous, if only because of the wind and the storms that are frequent in the Cordillera. Nature, preserved in its authenticity, attracts many scientists who can devote themselves to their studies here. - 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 204 - Argentina - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. Navigation on the Silver Lake is dangerous, if only because of the wind and the storms that are frequent in the Cordillera. Nature, preserved in its authenticity, attracts many scientists who can devote themselves to their studies here. - 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 203 - Argentina - 1973

The Perito Moreno Glacier (Spanish: Glaciar Perito Moreno) is one of the best-known and most spectacular glaciers on Earth. It is situated in Los Glaciares National Park in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, in south-western Patagonia. The glacier stretches for around 30 kilometres and is 5 kilometres wide. The impressive ice front rises, on average, 55 to 75 metres above the surface of Lago Argentino. Underwater, the ice extends a further 100 metres or so into the depths. Unlike most glaciers worldwide, which are shrinking due to global warming, the Perito Moreno Glacier is in a relatively stable equilibrium. It advances by up to 2 metres every day. As a result of this continuous movement, chunks of ice as tall as houses regularly break off from the front. This phenomenon is accompanied by a thunderous crash and a deep rumble that can be heard for kilometres. As it advances, the glacier periodically blocks a side arm of Lago Argentino (Brazo Rico). The dammed-up water builds up enormous pressure until the barrier finally collapses in a spectacular process lasting several days. – Argentina – 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 202 - Argentina - 1973

Steam locomotive with coal trailer in Río Turbio - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

Spring in Patagonia! A vast meadow dotted with white wildflowers. In the background rise the snow-capped peaks and striking granite cliffs of the Cuernos del Paine in Torres del Paine National Park. – Chile – 1975

Laguna Amarga (meaning ‘Bitter Lagoon’ in English), surrounded by the typical Patagonian steppe landscape with reddish ground cover and low shrubs in the foreground. The name derives from the bitter taste of the water. As it is a landlocked body of water, the water evaporates continuously. As a result, the dissolved salts and minerals from the subsoil become extremely concentrated, giving the water a very high pH value. The lake is one of the most famous vantage points in Torres del Paine National Park, as on clear, windless days the three famous granite spires are perfectly reflected on the water’s surface. – Chile – 1975

The massive granodiorite batholith of the Southern Andes is dominated in the Chilean province of Magallanes by the Cordillera del Paine (2,460 m), which extends into Argentine territory. The towering rock spires, the Torres del Paine, consist of remnants of Cretaceous overlying strata that once covered the intrusive body that had risen from the depths. Contact metamorphism has greatly hardened the rock, making it particularly resistant to erosion. In the foreground is Laguna Amarga. The photograph was taken during the southern summer, on 10 January at 11 pm. - Book: Picture 5 - Argentina - 1975

The area surrounding the magnificent massifs, pinnacles and towers of the Cordillera del Paine has been a protected nature reserve for some time. The national park is one of the last refuges for guanacos still living in the wild. - Book: Picture 208 - Argentina - 1975

The area surrounding the magnificent massifs, pinnacles and towers of the Cordillera del Paine has been a protected nature reserve for some time. The small mountain lakes in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, such as Lago Nordenskjöld, owe their formation to the erosive action of Ice Age glaciers. - Book: Picture 207 - Argentina - 1975

A vast steppe with low vegetation (such as matahambre shrubs) tinged with autumnal red in the foreground, and the striking Cordillera del Paine mountain range with its snow-capped peaks in the background. We are in the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. The turquoise lake is Lago Nordenskjöld, named after the Swedish geologist and polar explorer Otto Nordenskjöld, who conducted scientific research in the region at the end of the 19th century. – Chile – 1975

In southern Patagonia, and particularly in Tierra del Fuego and southern Chile, the climate and vegetation allow only sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered across thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are rounded up for just three occasions: disinfection baths, shearing and the slaughterhouse. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days on end with their powerful dogs, keeping in contact with one another via bonfires and smoke signals. – Torres del Paine National Park – Chile – 1975

A typical landscape of the Tierra del Fuego region near Ushuaia in Argentina, set amongst the rugged, unspoilt peat and grassland terrain characteristic of the valleys outside Ushuaia. – Argentina – 1973

The town of Ushuaia, situated in a sheltered bay on the northern shore of the Beagle Channel, grew out of a Protestant mission station in 1868. In 1884, when it had a population of just under 150, it became the capital of the Argentine territory of Tierra del Fuego; two years later, it became a penal colony. The prisoners were put to work in forestry, and for a long time timber shipping formed the economic basis of the settlement. Since the Second World War, Ushuaia – which now has a population of around 4,000 – has served as a base for Argentina’s Antarctic expeditions. One- and two-storey wooden houses still characterise the town as an unfinished pioneer settlement. In 1953, Ushuaia had to cede the title of ‘the southernmost city in the world’ to the Chilean military base of Puerto Williams on Navarino Island. - Book: Picture 209 - Argentina - 1973

The photograph shows a historic panoramic view (1973) of the Argentine city of Ushuaia, the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego (Fireland). The town is picturesquely situated on a sheltered bay on the northern shore of the Beagle Channel. The image captures the town’s former, still predominantly rural character, with simple wooden houses and tin roofs. On the right-hand edge of the picture, near the coast, the historic Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (the old parish church) stands out with its striking tower. – Argentina – 1973

A view of the Argentine city of Ushuaia on the island of Tierra del Fuego, framed by the coastline of the Beagle Channel and the striking, snow-capped mountain range, with the distinctive Monte Olivia in the background. The port of Ushuaia is a major hub for trade and fishing, as well as a starting point for Antarctic expedition cruises. – Argentina – 1973

Sheep farming and sheep transport have had a significant impact on the history and economy of the region around Ushuaia and throughout Patagonia. From the late 19th century onwards, the region underwent drastic changes following the introduction of livestock. Large estates (estancias) – such as the famous Estancia Harberton near Ushuaia – were established to produce wool and meat for export worldwide. As there were hardly any roads in the rugged landscape of Tierra del Fuego, criss-crossed by fjords and islands, the entire economy depended entirely on ships. Sheep were transported from the surrounding islands to the processing plants on small sailing vessels (cutters) and steamships. As can be seen in the photograph, huge flocks were herded right up to the coast to be loaded onto cargo ships via simple wooden jetties. – Argentina – 1973

Sheep are the wealth of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. The English missionary Th. Bridges brought the first small breeding flock from the Falkland Islands to his mission station in Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel in 1871. Not far from this town, on the natural channel that divides southern Tierra del Fuego, a flock of recently shorn sheep awaits shipment. - Book: Picture 206 - Argentina - 1973

Sheep farming in Ushuaia and on Tierra del Fuego has a long and dramatic history, which has had a lasting impact on the character of this extreme region in the south of Argentina and Chile. Large-scale sheep farming began at the end of the 19th century. As the rugged steppe was available in abundance, huge numbers of sheep were imported. Wool and meat were exported directly from the coast to Europe on large cargo ships – similar to the one shown in the photograph. To ensure the success of the vast farms (estancias), European settlers encroached upon the hunting grounds of the indigenous peoples (such as the Selk’nam and Yámana). As the indigenous people hunted sheep as ‘lame guanacos’, this led to bloody conflicts and ultimately to the almost complete extermination of the indigenous population. – Today, sheep farming in this region is no longer profitable for various reasons. – Argentina – 1973

Angela Loij, born between 1896 and 1898, died in 1975 in Río Grande in Argentine Tierra del Fuego as the last surviving member of the Ona, one of the three tribes of Tierra del Fuego who, until the beginning of the last century, lived at a Stone Age cultural level and subsisted on hunting, fishing and gathering wild fruits. To protect themselves from the cold, they smeared their bodies with a thick layer of fat. They usually went naked or wore only roughly cut animal skins. - Book: Picture 11 - Argentina - 1973

The sky over Patagonia looks different than anywhere else. Often it is veiled by very light clouds that let a strange light shine through. Sometimes the wind blows in violent gusts, triggering sandstorms. Then it is necessary to seek shelter immediately in order to escape the turmoil of the elements. A yellowish light enhances the sense of threat that the traveler sees. - Fishermen are on their way with their ship on Megellanstrasse, in the Chilean part of Tierra del Fuego. - 1973

On 21 October 1520, Ferdinand Magellan and a fleet of four ships entered a strait separating Patagonia from Tierra del Fuego, which today bears his name. On 28 November of the same year, the Portuguese navigator's sailors reached the Pacific Ocean. The passage had taken thirty-six days. This achievement was one stage in the first voyage around the world, an adventure that was to end in death for Magellan and most of the men in his crew. Today, traversing the Strait of Magellan offers no difficulties, despite the harsh weather in these regions. A ferry connects the mainland with the large southern island. The areas on both sides of the strait belong to Chile. Tierra del Fuego owes its name to the navigator Magellan, who was astonished to notice Indian fires all along the shores. Today, instead of the Indian fires, the columns of flames from the oil drilling sites glow there. The National Road 3 leads to the northern shore of the strait and continues over there. - 1973

The Tierra del Fuego National Park is the southernmost national park on Earth. Winter storms have washed up bleached driftwood on the shores of the lakes. The gentle slopes of the peaks towering above them – such as Montaña El Cóndor here – with their forests and heathland, represent a slice of Tierra del Fuego’s unspoilt natural landscape, which has already been largely altered by sheep farmers in other parts of this southernmost region of Argentina. - Book: Picture 211 - Argentina - 1973

The Parque Nacional de Tierra del Fuego is the southernmost national park on Earth. Although the lakes situated in complete isolation, such as Lago Roca – on whose shores winter storms have washed up bleached driftwood – lack the magnificent mountainous backdrop of the Southern Andes lakes, with their forests and heathland they represent a slice of Tierra del Fuego’s unspoilt natural landscape. - Book: Picture 210 - Argentina - 1973

The picture shows Monte San Valentín in the Chilean Southern Andes from a bird’s-eye view. At a height of approximately 4,058 metres, it is the highest mountain in the Patagonia region. On the left-hand side of the picture, one can see the extensive fjord and seawater area of the Pacific catchment, which is typical of the rugged coastal landscape of southern Chile. – Chile – 1975

Set against the backdrop of the Darwin Range in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, which rises to a height of 2,300 metres, a large valley glacier flows into the Admiralty Fjord. Two central moraines, formed by the confluence of tributary glaciers, appear as dark stripes. Icebergs drift from the pack ice field in front of the calving glacier tongue into the fjord, which flows into the Strait of Magellan. - Book: Picture 10 - Argentina - 1975

At Cape Horn, at 56° S and 67° 15' W, South America reaches its southernmost point. The cape lies on the 8-kilometre-long Horn Island, which belongs to Chile; the island consists of igneous rock and drops away into the sea on its western side as a 425-metre-high cliff. The island and the cape were discovered on 29 January 1616 by the Dutch navigators W. C. Schouten and Le Maire and named after Schouten’s birthplace, Hoorn in Holland. The name commonly used in Spanish, Cabo de Hornos (horno = oven), is a phonetic adaptation that makes little sense. Cape Hoorn, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, was feared in the age of sailing ships because of its cliffs and severe winter storms. Since the opening of the Panama Canal (1914), it has played only a modest role in local coastal and tourist shipping. - Book: Picture 212 - Argentina - 1975

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