The Andes of Southern Peru Geographical Reconnaissance along the Seventy-Third Meridian

"The Andes of Southern Peru" by Isaiah Bowman is a detailed exploration of the Peruvian Andes in the early 1900s, documenting the Yale Peruvian Expedition's journey along the 73rd meridian. Bowman's account focuses on the striking differences in climates, landscapes, and people found within this region, highlighting the challenges and rewards of life in the mountains. Through the stories of four different people—a forester, a valley farmer, a mountain shepherd, and a coastline farmer—he paints a vivid picture of Peruvian society, revealing themes of remoteness, economic opportunities, and the lasting effects of colonization on the local people and their ways of life.