Huacachina OF ICA
The Laguna de Huacachina is an oasis located five kilometers west of the Peruvian city of Ica, in the middle of the Pacific coastal desert. Emerald green water emerged from the outcrop of underground currents and around it is an abundant vegetation composed of palm trees, eucalyptus (introduced species) and the algarrobo species known as huarango, which serves for the rest of migratory birds That pass through this region All that has to be done in Huacachina one of the most seen and beautiful places of the Peruvian coast. Known as the oasis of America.
HISTORY
Its great appeal as a natural paradise, the warm climate prevailing all year long and the healing power attributed to its waters (once rich in sulphurous and saline substances) made Huacachina become, around 1940, one of the most important and exclusive Peruvian spas of the time. Houses and hotels were built, a beautiful boardwalk was built around the lagoon, with railings, boulevards and dressing rooms for bathers. It even paved the way that connects the lagoon with the city of Ica, which was planted with ficus, acacias and huarangos. Although the passage of time is noticed, the spa still maintains enough of the prestancia of its better times. Two survivors of that time are the Hotel Mossone, built in the 1920s and a favorite place of President Augusto B. Leguía and Salcedo and Hotel Salvatierra, a favorite place of artists such as Sérvulo Gutiérrez, hotel inside which you can see the works he painted The artist for the local.
LEGEND OF HUACACHINA
One of the versions of Huacachina lagoon is about a young maiden named Huacay China who fell in love with a young warrior, but after marrying the warrior had to go to a war in which she died, after hearing the news the young Huacay China was filled with sadness and went to mourn the field of sunflowers where they had first met. Young Huacay China wept day after day, until the tears of her crying formed a small lagoon. One day, when a young warrior was getting dark, he passed by the lagoon and saw the young Huacay China, realizing that they were watching her, began to run, when the young warrior was about to reach her, she threw herself into the lagoon. He waited for hours until the young warrior left, when he came out he realized that he no longer had legs, was a beautiful siren, thus giving the name to the lagoon. The legend says that each night of new moon, the young woman leaves the lagoon to mourn for her beloved.
Another version is as follows:
Legend has it that there was once a beautiful maiden named Huacca China who fell in love with a young warrior. One day the young warrior went to fight in a battle and after some time the beautiful maiden received the bad news that his young lover had died. After the horrible news, Huacca China imbued with sadness went to the place where she and her beloved met for the first time. The beautiful maiden suffered and wept every day remembering her beloved. One day, the maiden saw through the hand mirror that a young man was watching him, and when the young man in the mirror tried to approach, the maid ran away from him and began to run, but in his attempt to escape he released the mirror , This fell and broke giving rise to a lagoon, the same that today is known as the Huacachina. Then the dresses that covered him also fell, forming the dunes (hills). Finally, she plunged into the lagoon that had just formed and took the form of a beautiful mermaid.
