Llanganuco Lakes

For the lake in the Ayacucho Region, Peru, see Lake Orconcocha, Ayacucho. For other uses, see Urququcha (disambiguation).

The Llanganuco^[1][2] Lakes (Llankanuku^[3] in Quechua language), Chinancocha and Orconcocha, are situated in the Cordillera Blanca in the Andes of Peru. They are located in Ancash Region, Yungay Province, Yungay District, about 25 km north-east of Yungay.^[2][4] The lakes are part of Huascarán National Park.

The Llanganuco lakes as seen from a mountaintop east of the lakes. The lake further west is Chinancocha.

Llanganuco Lakes
Heaven's Gate in Laguna de Chinancocha
Llanganuco Lakes Show map of Peru Llanganuco Lakes Show map of South America
Location	Peru Ancash Region
Coordinates	9°04′03″S 77°38′17″W
Surface elevation	3,850 m (12,630 ft)

Chinancocha

Water flowing from Lake Chinancocha.

Lake Chinancocha,^[5] (possibly from Quechua china female, -n a suffix, qucha lake,^[6] "female lake") lies at an altitude of 3,850 metres (12,631 ft).^[5] It is situated southwest of Lake Orconcocha.

Orconcocha

Lake Orconcocha^[5] (possibly from Quechua urqu male / mountain,^[7] "male lake") lies about 1 km away from Chinancocha at the end of the Llanganuco valley.^[1][5]

1970 Earthquake

An extensive earthquake in 1970 caused an avalanche which created a third smaller lake between the two main lakes.^[8]