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The Eastern Cordillera of the Andes, which is the spinal column of this department, has been strongly eroded by the complex system of courses of waters draining toward the Jungle as well as glaciars that had had unexpected activity during last thousands of years. Nowadays only three chains of mountains are left from the old Eastern Cordillera which are oriented from the southeast to northeast part like the Vilcabamba that defines the hydrographic systems of Urubamba and Apurimac with elevated tops like Salkantay and Pumasillo; the Vilcanota with its most important peak, the Ausangate, which is at the same time the highest peak of the department also; the Paucartambo with smaller dimensions than the previous channels. Also, Cuzco has alignments of mountains with smaller elevations and local characteristics like the residual Highlands which origin is originated from the wear of the old andean altiplano caused by strong erosion of rivers due to the high andean lifting. The two most important Highlands zones are: Vilcabamba enclosing the valley of Cuzco and which most important top is Huanacaure and the Mountains of Cuzco, located at the north of the city, which highest peak is Pachatusan. Like in all andean region, the main rivers and its affluents have formed deep valleys and canyons, among the most important ones are those formed by the Urubamba, Apurimac and Paucartambo rivers. The valley of Urubamba shows alluvial terraces in its thick soils where a strong population dedicated to the agriculture is established. The Urubamba, under 2000 m, has formed a deep and narrow canyon which reaches all its majesty and beauty close to Machu Picchu, showing a rare landscape of bends. Due to the diversity of soil altitudes, the department has a great variety of climates and landscapes, which have strongly influence on agriculture and distribution of population.
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