Las erupciones volcánicas ocurridas hace millones de años en la que es hoy la ciudad de Arequipa nos regalaron un tesoro. Se trata de las canteras de Añashuayco, un yacimiento ubicado en el distrito de Cerro Colorado donde, desde tiempos antiguos, se extrae el sillar para la construcción de las viviendas de los characatos. Pero, que hoy también se ha convertido en un importante atractivo natural y cultura para turistas nacionales e internacionales.
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ORIGEN VOLCÁNICO
Las canteras de Añashuayco se formaron hace 1.65 millones de años al erupcionar violentamente un volcán que estuvo antes de la formación de los volcanes Misti y Chachani, según una investigación hecha por los vulcanólogos del Observatorio Vulcanológico del Ingemmet.
La potente erupción originó nubes ardientes (flujos piroclásticos) que contenían fragmento de pómez, ceniza, cristales, rocas, entre otros, que descendieron por las quebradas aledañas. Al enfriarse se solidificaron y formaron la ignimbrita, roca conocida popularmente como sillar.
En el mundo existe ignimbritas de distintos colores y en Arequipa se puede hallar la de color salmón y blanquecina.
CIUDAD BLANCA
El uso del sillar predominó en la época colonial, entre los siglos XVI al XVIII, cuando se empieza a construir la parte tradicional de nuestra ciudad para la aristocracia. Los constructores de la época usaban este material como elemento base para la típica “casa” arequipeña, formada por dos patios centrales, donde alrededor de ellos giran las habitaciones, explica el Arq. Andrés Rojas.
Entre los edificios de sillar más importantes construidos en el centro histórico de Arequipa están la Catedral de Arequipa, el convento de Santa Catalina -con sus 20 000 m2-, la iglesia de la Compañía y sus claustros además del Templo de San Francisco.
ATRACTIVO TURÍSTICO
Hoy en día, los operadores turísticos han encontrado en las canteras de Añashuayo, un lugar ideal para explicar a los visitantes parte de los orígenes de la ciudad y el por qué se le conoce como la “Ciudad Blanca”. El tour se denomina “La ruta del sillar”.
Allí los visitantes pueden aprender cómo los canteros se extraen el sillar. Uno de los hombres dedicados a moldear la roca volcánica es Fortunato Guerreros. El cantero curtido por los años de experiencia puede tallar hasta 10 sillares por día soportando los inclementes rayos solares. La resolana le obliga a utilizar lentes de sol para no perjudicar sus ojos.
A la hora de almorzar no hay mejor lugar que su chinkana, una construcción subterránea con varios cuartos pequeños hecha de sillar donde suele descansar. El ambiente es sumamente agradable en comparación al sofocante calor del exterior y lo convierte en un atractivo único en las canteras.
Los tallados en las paredes de las canteras son espectaculares al ser realizados por los artesanos con tal destreza que encantan a los turistas. Entre ellas tenemos a la fachada del templo de La Compañía y el escudo de Arequipa. Además, se exhiben una serie de esculturas hechas con mucha precisión.
También se venden souvenirs de sillar como llaveros o pequeños adornos, que generan ingresos a las familias dedicada a esta labor.
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