Pampacancha Mountains

The Cordillera Negra rises west of the Santa River and the Callejón de Huaylas in northern Peru. Its rocky ridges contrast with the permanently glaciated summits of the Cordillera Blanca across the valley. Streams descend from both ranges towards the Santa, which flows north along the valley before turning west to the Pacific. High passes and sparse vegetation mark the mountain country above the cultivated settlements of the valley.