Vacas, Cochabamba
Encyclopedia
Vacas is a Bolivia
n village in the southeast of the Cochabamba Department
. It is the capital of the Vacas Municipality
, the second municipal section
of the Arani Province
. Vacas is located about 85 km far from Cochabamba
and about 30 km far from Arani.
The people living in Vacas and surrounding areas are predominantly indigenous
citizens of Quechuan
descent. During the Inka
period Vacas served as a tampu
along the Inca road system
that led to Inkallajta and Pocona
. Later on, during the colonial period
, it was founded under the name of "Santa Bárbara de Bacas".
Vacas is situated in a rural environment in the altitudes of the Cono Sur (South cone) of Cochabamba. The climate is suitable for the cultivation of potatoes, wheat, barley, broad bean and oat. Vacas is known as the "Land of the potato" (Quechua: Papaq llaqtan). The fields are prepared with the help of yokes of oxen
. The cultivation of the soil is supplemented by animal husbandry
of cows, sheep, pigs and hens.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n village in the southeast of the Cochabamba Department
Cochabamba Department
Cochabamba is one of the nine component departments of Bolivia. It is known to be the "granary" of the country because of its variety of agricultural products due to Cochabamba's geographical position. It has an area of 55,631 km². Its population, in the 2007 census, was 1,750,000...
. It is the capital of the Vacas Municipality
Vacas Municipality
Vacas Municipality is the second municipal section of the Arani Province in the Cochabamba Department in central Bolivia. Its capital is Vacas known as the "Land of the potato"...
, the second municipal section
Municipalities of Bolivia
Municipalities in Bolivia are administrative divisions of the entire national territory governed by local elections. Municipalities are the third level of administrative divisions, below departments and provinces. Some of the provinces consist of only one municipality...
of the Arani Province
Arani Province
Arani is a province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Arani, situated about 53 km from Cochabamba. Arani is known for its bread but also for the town's artisan wickerwork.- Subdivision :...
. Vacas is located about 85 km far from Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the fourth largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people...
and about 30 km far from Arani.
The people living in Vacas and surrounding areas are predominantly indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
citizens of Quechuan
Quechuas
Quechuas is the collective term for several indigenous ethnic groups in South America who speak a Quechua language , belonging to several ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Argentina.The Quechuas of Ecuador call themselves as well as their...
descent. During the Inka
Inka
, is a term used in Zen Buddhism to denote a high-level of certification, and literally means "the legitimate seal of clearly furnished proof." In ancient times inka usually came in the form of an actual document, but this practice is no longer commonplace...
period Vacas served as a tampu
Tambo (Incan structure)
A Tambo was an Incan structure built for administrative and military purposes. Found along Incan roads, tambos typically carried supplies, served as lodging for itinerant state personnel, and were depositories of quipu-based accounting records.Different types of tambos existed; those that served...
along the Inca road system
Inca road system
The Inca road system was the most extensive and advanced transportation system in pre-Columbian South America. The network was based on two north-south roads with numerous branches. The best known portion of the road system is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu...
that led to Inkallajta and Pocona
Pocona Municipality
Pocona Municipality is the third municipal section of Carrasco Province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its seat is Pocona. At the time of census 2001 the municipality had 13,488 inhabitants.- Cantons :The municipality is divided into five cantons....
. Later on, during the colonial period
History of Bolivia
This is the history of Bolivia. See also the history of Latin America and the history of the Americas.Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America...
, it was founded under the name of "Santa Bárbara de Bacas".
Vacas is situated in a rural environment in the altitudes of the Cono Sur (South cone) of Cochabamba. The climate is suitable for the cultivation of potatoes, wheat, barley, broad bean and oat. Vacas is known as the "Land of the potato" (Quechua: Papaq llaqtan). The fields are prepared with the help of yokes of oxen
Yoke
A yoke is a wooden beam, normally used between a pair of oxen or other animals to enable them to pull together on a load when working in pairs, as oxen usually do; some yokes are fitted to individual animals. There are several types of yoke, used in different cultures, and for different types of oxen...
. The cultivation of the soil is supplemented by animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
of cows, sheep, pigs and hens.
Education
As to education all types of schools are available in or next to Vacas.- Preschool education: Guardería Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.
- Primary school: Escuela Unidad Experimental, founded in 1862
- Secondary school: Colegio Profesor Toribio Claure
- Higher education: Escuela Superior de Formación de Maestros Ismael MontesIsmael MontesIsmael Montes Gamboa was a Bolivian general and political figure. He served as the President of Bolivia between 1904 and 1909 and again between 1913 and 1917....
(in Challwamayu), founded in 1916
Festivities
- May 4: Santa Vera CruzTrue CrossThe True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
Tatala - May or June: Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi (feast)Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
- June 29: Saint PeterSaint PeterSaint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
- July 16: Our Lady of Mount CarmelOur Lady of Mount CarmelOur Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries...
, patron saintPatron saintA patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Bolivia - October 15: Anniversary of Vacas Municipality
- December 4: Saint BarbaraSaint BarbaraSaint Barbara, , Feast Day December 4, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian saint and martyr....
, Anniversary of Vacas.