| Sihuas | |
| Settlement Type: | Province |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Peru |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ancash |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Sihuas |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Area Total Km2: | 1455.97 |
| Population Total: | 30849 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Blank Name Sec1: | UBIGEO |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0219 |
The Sihuas Province (Quechua Siwas) is one of twenty provinces of the Ancash Region in Peru.This province was created by Law nº 13485, dated at January 9 of 1961, when was president of Perou: Manuel Prado.[1] It is bordered by provinces of Huaylas and Corongo on the west, Pallasca Province on the north, La Libertad Region on the east, and Pomabamba Province on the south.[2]
One of the highest peaks of the district is Puka Qaqa at approximately 4400m (14,400feet). Other mountains are listed below:[3]
Sihuas is divided into ten districts, which are:
The province is inhabited by indigenous citizens of Quechua descent. Spanish is the language which the majority of the population (62.89%) learnt to speak in childhood, 36.83% of the residents started speaking using the Quechua language (2007 Peru Census).[4]
On November 10, 1946, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the province. The epicenter is estimated to have occurred at 8°20' S. 77°50' W. at a depth of 30 – 40 km. The surface fault was observed to run about 18 km northwest from Quiches toward Conchucos. The quake was "the first well-observed instance of major faulting."[5] The fault was purely slip-dip (vertical), with an offset of as much as 3.5 meters (11 feet). The quake and resulting landslides resulted in a death toll estimated at 1400 - 1700,[6] a substantial number given the sparse population in the area. The village of Acobamba was buried by one landslide, killing 217.