Tacna Region

Tacna is the southernmost region in Peru. Its name originates from the Quechua words taka (”hit”) and na (”place”), which would mean “I hit this place”. This expression is thought to be related to the Quechua conquest of the Aymara people. The regional capital is the Heroic City of Tacna.

Present-day Tacna Region was occupied by forces from neighboring Chile as a result of the War of the Pacific. Tacna was reincorporated into Peruvian sovereignty in 1929 and today it is known for being one of the most patriotic areas in the country.

Geography

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

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

History

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

The first groups of Spanish conquerors arrived to the region in 1535. These groups were formed by members of the Almagro expedition, organized to conquer Chile. During this time, the city of Tacna was called Villa San Pedro de Tacna.

In 1615 and 1784 Tacna experienced violent earthquakes and many towns were reduced to ruins. However, they were rebuilt by their people who decided to stay in the same place.

Tacna has a seat of honor in the emancipation process. Since 1810, the local patriots, following the example of their Argentine neighbors, who had already declared their independence, started to conspire. In 1811, Francisco Antonio De Zela, sent forth the first libertarian outcry in Tacna.

Once the Peruvian independence was consummated, the heroism of this city was honored by promoting it to the rank of villa on 1823. In May 26, 1828, President Jose de La Mar promulgated a law given by Congress by which the city of Tacna was given the title of Ciudad Heroica (Heroic City).

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

On May 26, 1880, after the Battle of Alto de la Alianza, the Chilean army invaded the Tacna province and remained there for five decades. In spite of time, the Tacnenos kept their national pride high and, finally in 1929, the city was reincorporated to Peruvian territory. (more…)

Festivities of Tacna

The most important festivity in the city is the Semana de Tacna (”Tacna Week”), which runs from August 25-30. On August 28th, a large Peruvian flag is shown throughout the city during the Paseo de la Bandera, which celebrates the anniversary of the reincorporation of Tacna into Peruvian sovereignty and is one of the most important patriotic demonstrations in the whole country.

This tradition started in 1901, during the Chilean occupation of Tacna, by a group of tacnenos who defied the prohibition of showing Peruvian flags imposed by the Chilean authorities. There is an agrarian and industrial fair as part of these celebrations. In September, the festival of the Senor de Locumba is celebrated, which draws thousands of faithful people from all over the world.

History of Tacna

Francisco Antonio De Zela, a royal accountant (similar in function to a modern-day income tax auditor), initiated the push for Peruvian Independence from Spain in 1811 in Tacna, leading to a series of commemorative actions for the city, culminating in the 1828 declaration of Tacna as the “Heroic City” (”La Heroica Ciudad de San Pedro de Tacna”) by President Jose de La Mar.

It was the capital of the short-lived Peru-Bolivian Confederation (1836-1839) Tacna’s economic prosperity attracted a wave of Italian immigrants who arrived in the city during the mid 19th century, which is the reason why many tacnenos have Italian surnames. This era of successful commerce and agriculture ended drastically with the start of the War of the Pacific.

During the war, the cities of Tacna and Arica were invaded by the Chilean Army. A peace agreement, the Treaty of Ancon, was signed in 1883. Under the terms of the treaty, Chile was to occupy the provinces of Tacna and Arica for 10 years, after which a plebiscite was to be held to determine their nationality. Tacna lived a period of captivity for 50 years; the invaders started a campaign of “Chilenization”, whose purpose was to convince the local population of accepting Chile as the new ruling power, and make them lose their Peruvian identity.

Nevertheless, the patriotism of the tacnenos hindered the Chilean attempts of gaining their sympathy, which was needed for getting their vote at the plebiscite. The plebiscite was never held, though. Finally, in 1929, an accord was reached by which Chile kept Arica; Peru reacquired Tacna and received USD 6 million indemnity and other concessions.

Today, Tacna is a mostly commercial city with many immigrants from the Puno Region living there. Its economy is based on mercantile activities with the north of Chile (Arica and Iquique). Since it is part of a duty free zone, Tacna has come to rival Arequipa as southern Peru’s main business area. The city has one of the largest artifact markets in the world, with things from Japan to China, and also traditional Peruvian handicrafts. (more…)

Introducation of Tacna

Tacna is a city in southern Peru and the regional capital of the Tacna Region. It is located on the Atacama Desert, inland from the Pacific Ocean and on the valley of the Caplina River. Tacna is a very commercially active city, located only 35 km (21 mi) north from the border with Chile.

Tacna is one of the most patriotic cities in Peru, with many monuments and streets named after heroes of Peru’s struggle for independence (1821-1824) and the War of the Pacific (1879-1883). Residents of Tacna are known in Spanish as tacnenos.This city is the bastion of the essence of all things Peruvian.

The frontier city of Tacna, the business hub of the southern tip of Peru and an interesting stopover. Its monuments, such as the arch of the Alto de la Alianza, reflect the important role this balmy city has played in Peruvian history. President La Mar declared Tacna the Heroic City in 1828, shortly after Peru achieved its independence from Spain.

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