Peruvian 'Forest' Has No Trees

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 77, 17 April 1937, Page 18

Peruvian 'Forest' Has No Trees

LIMA, Peru — High in - tbe Andes Mountains, not very far from tbe mining camp of Cerro de Pasco, along the Lima-Canta-Huanuco road, tbe motorist comes across one of tbe unique sigbts of Peru — tbe "Rock Eorest." At a distance one sees a tremendous area, at least 100 square miles, covered seemingly wkb forestry, bisected bere and there wub wbat appear to be arterial bigbways. Kearer at hand, the "forest**' turns out to be a conglomeration of rocks, grotesquely formed and incongruously scattered over a great area. It is appropriately designated the "Rock Eorest." In tbis "forest" tbere is a galaxy of figures — high cburch spirfes, antediluvian animals, voluminous musbrooms, many-storied tenements and spacious theaters, all carved by nature millions of years ago. The carving haa been perpetrated witb an alternately rough and symmetrical hand. "Slums" and "residential quarters " lie cheek by jowl. Witb a little imagination you can walk down a financial lane. bemmed in witb towexing skyscrappers, and soon afterwards stroll in a veritable1 garden city. Scores of "roads" all seemingly linked up in one great system, encourage a ramble in tbis paeuliar rock forestal city. It is tbe geologist wbo is primarily challenged by tbe topography of tbis region. Here be is p'resented witb a eompldte natural. laboratory in wbicb to study. At 13,000 feet be will find marine fossils, ensconced in the parcbed patches of Andean vegetation typical of tbe Soutb 'American Codillera. He can slide 'down smootbly-bewn rocks, scores of feet bigb, into tbo wet and boggy "cbampa" out of wbicb ooze springs of crystal clear water. Miracles bave been performed witb tbe limestone strata, pushed up bent and twisted into a thousand different stories within the "rock forest of Peru." Important. Tbe vessels of tbe Eleet bad just dropped ancbor, wben a small rowing boat appeareu alongside tbe flagsliip, and a small man, wearing a bowjer hat and carrying an umbrella — a typical taxpayer — climbed up .tbe stairway on to tbe deck. It was not a day for publio inspeetion, and as»be strode along tbe deck an officer apprpached bim- and asked W ell, sir, and wbat do you waut?" "I want to see tbe ' Admiral, " was the replv. "Tell bim one of Um •wnars )f tbis boat is on board." j