JUNIN, a sierra department of central Peru, bounded on the north by Huanuco, east by Loreto and Cuzco, south by Huan cavelica and west by Lima. Area, 22,820 sq.m.; estimated popu lation (1920) 394,393. It includes sierra and forested eastern slopes of cordillera with their deep valleys (see PERU : Sierra). Most of the department consists of a desolate plain (Pampa of Junin) at a height of more than 23,00o ft., across which flows the Mantaro river from its source in Lake Junin. The climate is raw and cold. On account of railway communication with the coast, Junin is the centre of mining developments and of the scientific livestock industry. Formerly silver, copper now leads in mineral production (see CERRO DE PAsco) with vanadium (Minasragra), gold, silver, lead, zinc, bismuth, coal and other mines in active operation. Peruvian as well as foreign capital is largely invested here. Agricultural products of the sierra include potatoes, cereals and livestock; the eastern valleys raise coffee. sugar, cacao, coca, fruits and other tropical crops. A recent influx
of European colonists, mostly Poles, has reached these valleys. The Central railway from Callao runs south from Oroya to Huan cayo and beyond, while a private line ,connects at Oroya for Cerro de Pasco, with branches to other mining centres. The de partment is crossed from north to south by a good road, with spurs to neighbouring towns and toward eastern and western valleys. There are now (1927) 644 m. of finished roads in Junin. The capital is Cerro de Pasco (q.v.). Other important towns are Huancayo, famous for its commerce and weekly fair, its cereals, poultry and livestock, leather and silver work; Jauja (I ',coo ft.) for its tuberculosis sanatorium, a natural health resort ; Oroya, for smelter and hydroelectric plants (16,000 h.p. in all) ; Yauli for mines ; Tarma, at the head of the Chanchamayo valley, for its fruits, coffee and brandy. A decisive battle during the wars of independence, was fought near Lake Junin on Aug. 6, 1824.