This region has suffered several strange disasters. In 1941 a flood originated in Palcacocha lake in the Cojup valley. It destroyed a huge portion of the city of Huaraz, since then the government has emphasized control of the water level in those lakes that pose a threat.  In 1962 The city of Ranrahirca was almost completely washed away by a wall of water caused by an enormous block of ice that separated off of Huascaran. The mass of water and mud almost completely destroyed an entire city.  One of the most tragic earthquakes in history happened on may 31 of 1970. At 7.8 on the Richter scale, this earthquake completely destroyed the whole city of Huaraz. Other cities of the Callejon de Huaylas and the Callejon de Conchucos where affected as well. It reports 70,000 deaths.  The same day in the city of Yungay not only suffered from the earthquake but was completely wiped out by a huge avalanche of mud and stones resulting from a block of ice that was dislodged by the earthquake off of North Huascaran. The city practically disappeared and the only survivors were those that fled to the highest part of the cemetery.

This whole region along with it's history has served as an important place for the establishment of different cultures that show us a past reflected in and recorded in their ceramics, lithic sculptures and architectural works.  Their influence may be seen in several important places such as: Wilcahuain, Huaullac, Honkopampa, Jancu and Chavin.  CHAVIN: This site is considered as the oldest established culture in Peru. Their existence dates between 1100 to 300 a.d. while flourishing between 700 to 400 a.d. This archaeological area is formed by a numerous buildings, terraces, platforms, squares etc. The main example is the castle that, according to some archaeologists, was one of the main religious-cultural centers of the western hemisphere. The walls were built with enormous granite blocks, with the interior containing a series of mysterious passageways to form the labyrinths where the famous Lanzon de Chavin is set up, also there are numerous stones carved in the form of heads.

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