Mantaro

Mantaro River, or Rio Mantaro, is a river in central Peru. It rises in the central highlands and flows through the Mantaro Valley, passing near the city of Huancayo before continuing southeast. The river’s course makes it a significant waterway in the Andean highlands and the Mantaro Valley region, which is important for agriculture and local communities.

The Mantaro is part of the broader Andean hydrological system. It contributes to the Ene River and, as part of the Apurímac–Ene–Madre de Dios river system, ultimately drains into the Amazon Basin. The Mantaro Basin extends across a portion of Peru’s central highlands, including areas in the Junín, Pasco and Huancavelica regions. The river and its tributaries support irrigation networks and several hydroelectric facilities within the valley, reflecting the basin’s role in power generation and farming.

Economy and environment in the Mantaro Valley are closely tied to the river. Agriculture, particularly crops such as potatoes and maize, benefits from the valley’s irrigation, while livestock farming also plays a role in the regional economy. The basin hosts Andean ecosystems adapted to high-altitude conditions, with flora and fauna typical of the central Peruvian highlands and associated seasonal climate patterns.

Etymology is commonly linked to local Quechua usage, reflecting the river’s long-standing significance in indigenous and rural communities across the central highlands. The Mantaro remains a key hydrological and cultural feature of Peru’s central Andes.