The name of the volcano Huaynaputina (4800 m) from the Quechua language means "Young volcano". It is a stratovolcano and is located in the region of Moquegua, southern Peru, 80 km South-East of the city of Arequipa. Volcano Huaynaputina is part of the Central volcanic zone of the Andes, passing through Peru and Chile. Despite his height, the top of the volcano Huaynaputina not as interesting as its horseshoe-shaped crater with a width of 2. 5 m, which is below 1000 meters and includes three cone 100-meter grooves, formed during the last strongest eruption in 1600.

Not much is known about pre-Hispanic history of the region. According to local legend, a few days before the eruption someone reported the noise near the volcano and the smoke emitted from its crater. The locals have prepared girls, Pets, and flowers for sacrifice to appease the volcano. During the ceremony of sacrifice to the volcano threw a column of ash. By February 15, activity has increased significantly, as began to happen tremors. By 18 February seismic activity increased to three or four aftershocks every fifteen minutes. In the evening of 19 February 1600, Huaynaputina erupted volcanic eruption with the emission of ash into the atmosphere. Observers have described this event as "the big Bang from a cannon ball with a huge fire". Pyroclastic flows as a river flowed down from the mountain. Flows on the South side of the volcano mixed with the waters of the río Tambo. An hour after the eruption of the sky began to fall, the flakes of ashes. Within 24 hours of Arequipa was covered with a 25 cm layer of ashes.

After a month the volcano Huaynaputina made another eruption with the emission of pyroclastic flows up to 13 km to the East. Volcanic mud flows on its way destroyed several villages and reached the shores of the Pacific ocean. The emission of volcanic ash and earthquakes caused substantial damage in the major cities of Arequipa and Moquegua.

In total, during the eruption of the volcano Huaynaputina killed more than 1,500 people. Under his ashes were buried dozens of villages. For full recovery of the agricultural economy of the region it took 150 years.