The Queshuachaca bridge is located in the department of Cusco, over the Apurimac river at 3,700 meters above sea level. About a thousand people from different communities near the bridge gather for four days to renovate it. Solid thatch of vegetable fiber that grows in the Andean highlands for the reconstruction of the Queshuachaca bridge.
Description
To reach the Queshuachaca bridge from the city of Cusco we must travel by tourist bus, for about 4 hours to the town of Quehue in the course of the road we will find what is Andean agriculture the Q’eswachaka bridge is located on the Apurimac River at about 11,811 feet above sea level in the province of Canas about 160 km south of Cusco. Known as Q’eswachaka
Your measurement of the Queshuachaca Bridge
The Queshuachaca Bridge is 33 meters long and 1.20 meters wide and rises 15 meters above the river. It is rebuilt every year as a community effort. About 1000 farmers from the communities of Winchiri, Ccolana, Quehue, Chaupibanda and Choccayhua are involved in the construction of this unique Inca suspension bridge.
Meaning of the Queshuachaca bridge
Q’eswachaka, comes from the Quechua letters “Q’ESWA” which means Braid and “CHAKA” which means Bridge, that the Incas also used this bridge as well as the peasants of the community still use it today.
The bridge of Queshuachaca, is made every year in the month of June of each year, the villagers of the community are those who are responsible for collecting materials such as straw which means in Quechua ¨ ichu ¨ the villagers are dedicated for 4 days to braid the straw for construction, which are guided by craftsmen experts in techniques of tranzados, which is done every year is like a seremonia for the villagers of the place.
The modality that they continue to use is the minka, in this way the villagers are creating the braiding for the bridge of Queshuachaca.
The renovation of the bridge of Queshuachaca culminates with a ceremony, which the villagers celebrate in a big way in gratitude to their Apú of their high Andean.
