Alpaca Mountain

About Alpacas

Alpacas are indigenous to the Andes Mountains of South America where they roam and graze on the large altiplano. The altiplano, a huge steppe-like area, straddles the east and west sides of the Andes' 19,000 ft. peaks at an altitude between 12,500 and 14,000 ft. The extremely harsh weather conditions of intense sunlight accompanied by blistering winds and freezing temperatures creates the environment that is home to the alpaca and its herders.

The alpaca has survived these mind-numbing winters due to its natural fiber. The fiber allows the animal to breathe during intense sunlight and warms the animal during the night. The nomadic peoples hunted the alpaca around 10,000 BC and used the animal for its warmth. It wasn't until around 4,000 BC that alpacas began to be domesticated. The region most widely known for its alpaca craft and specialization was southern Peru around Lake Titicaca. The finest textile products were available only for royalty. For the peoples of Pre-Columbian Peru, the most important channel for artistic expression developed out of weaving. The peoples in the south mastered this ancient craft and have passed it down through generations of skilled artisans.