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Indigenous people in Peru adapt to Climate Change reality

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Social Links for Emil Lendof
Published May 31, 2018, 6:06 p.m. ET
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Every year, since 1783 in the Sinakara Valley at the foot of Mt Ausagante, Peru, the Qoyllur Rit'i, or 'Snow and Star' festival draws tens of thousands of pilgrims from across the Peruvian Andes and beyond to what is the biggest religious gathering of its kind. The event merged into a mosaic of indigenous, pagan and catholic worship when the image of Jesus appeared on a boulder after the death of a young shepherd in 1780. After hundreds of years, the Qoyllur Rit'i is under threat, and its meaning is changing. The warmer climate in the region has melted much of the sacred Qolqepunku's glaciers where the festival's rituals take place. Where there once stood ice blocks believed to hold special healing properties now only reside rocky slopes, as ice sheets retreat up into the mountain. In a study by the Peruvian government, it found that it's country's glaciers had shrunk by more than 20 per cent over a 30 year period. It has been predicted by The National Commission on Climate Change that Peru could lose all its glaciers below 18,000 feet and that within 40 years, they may all be gone.
Every year, since 1783 in the Sinakara Valley at the foot of Mt Ausagante, Peru, the Qoyllur Rit’i, or ‘Snow and Star’ festival draws tens of thousands of pilgrims from across the Peruvian Andes and beyond to what is the biggest religious gathering of its kind. The event merged into a mosaic of indigenous, pagan and catholic worship when the image of Jesus appeared on a boulder after the death of a young shepherd in 1780. After hundreds of years, the Qoyllur Rit’i is under threat, and its meaning is changing. The warmer climate in the region has melted much of the sacred Qolqepunku’s glaciers where the festival’s rituals take place. Where there once stood ice blocks believed to hold special healing properties now only reside rocky slopes, as ice sheets retreat up into the mountain. In a study by the Peruvian government, it found that it’s country’s glaciers had shrunk by more than 20 per cent over a 30 year period. It has been predicted by The National Commission on Climate Change that Peru could lose all its glaciers below 18,000 feet and that within 40 years, they may all be gone. Getty Images
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Pilgrims begin to arrive for the start of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival in Ocongate, Peru.
Pilgrims begin to arrive for the start of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival in Ocongate, Peru. Getty Images
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Pilgrims begin the half day walk to the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival.
Pilgrims begin the half day walk to the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival. Getty Images
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Pilgrims begin the half day walk to the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: Pilgrims begin the half day walk to the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 27, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in the… Getty Images
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A young boy takes a break along the route to the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: A young boy takes a break along the route to the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 27, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since… Getty Images
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Pilgrims pray at a marker along the route to the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival.
Pilgrims pray at a marker along the route to the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival. Getty Images
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Costumed dancers parade at a chapel on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: Costumed dancers parade at a chapel on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 27, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year,… Getty Images
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Items that people would like to manifest in the real world are sold on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i pilgrimage.
Items that people would like to manifest in the real world are sold on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage. Getty Images
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Items that people would like to manifest in the real world are sold on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i pilgrimage
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: Items that people would like to manifest in the real world are sold on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage on May… Getty Images
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Items that people would like to manifest in the real world are sold on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i pilgrimage
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: Items that people would like to manifest in the real world are sold on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage on May… Getty Images
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People watch as costumed dancers parade on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival.
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: People watch as costumed dancers parade on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 27, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year,… Getty Images
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Costumed dancers parade on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: Costumed dancers parade on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 27, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in… Getty Images
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Costumed dancers pray on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 27: Costumed dancers pray on the first day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 27, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in… Getty Images
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A delegation gathers on the mountainside during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 28: A delegation gathers on the mountainside during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 28, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in the… Getty Images
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Pilgrims gather on the mountain for sunrise during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 28: Pilgrims gather on the mountain for sunrise during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 28, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in… Getty Images
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Pilgrims climb the mountain at sunrise during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 28: Pilgrims climb the mountain at sunrise during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 28, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in the… Getty Images
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People relax at their campsite during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 28: People relax at their campsite during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 28, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in the Sinakara… Getty Images
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A delegation take 'selfies' during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 28: A delegation take ‘selfies’ during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 28, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in the Sinakara Valley… Getty Images
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A ritualistic whip fight takes place during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 28: A ritualistic whip fight takes place during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 28, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in the… Getty Images
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A view over the site during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 28: A view over the site during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 28, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in the Sinakara… Getty Images
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Pilgrims descend descend the mountain after ceremonies during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 29: Pilgrims descend descend the mountain after ceremonies during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 29, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in… Getty Images
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Pablitos descend a rock face carrying a cross after a ceremony on the glacier during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 29: Pablitos descend a rock face carrying a cross after a ceremony on the glacier during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 29, 2018 in… Getty Images
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Pablitos descend the mountain after a ceremony during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
OCONGATE, PERU – MAY 29: Pablitos descend the mountain after a ceremony during the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 29, 2018 in Ocongate, Peru. Every year, since 1783 in… Getty Images
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Delegations dance across the hillside after celebrating sunrise on the final day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
MAHUAYANI, PERU – MAY 30: Delegations wait for sunrise on the final day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 30, 2018 in Mahuayani, Peru. Every year, since 1783… Getty Images
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Delegations dance across the hillside after celebrating sunrise on the final day of the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival
MAHUAYANI, PERU – MAY 30: Delegations dance across the hillside after celebrating sunrise on the final day of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival on May 30, 2018 in Mahuayani, Peru…. Getty Images
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