The river valley of the Río Pisco forms a lush, green strip in the midst of one of the driest coastal deserts on Earth. Thanks to meltwater and rainwater from the Andes, oasis farming has been practised here successfully for thousands of years. Whilst the river’s course in its upper reaches carves deep, narrow gorges into the barren Andes mountains, the valley widens towards the coast into a broad, fertile plain before the river flows into the Pacific Ocean north of the port city of Pisco. At the various altitudes within the valley, maize, pulses, fodder crops (such as alfalfa) and fruit are grown, and livestock is reared. – 1977