Iquitos meaning

Using linguistics, we can approximate the origin of the name. "Iquitos" is a plural Hispanicized version of "ikito," because it was originally called "Caserío de Iquitos." The word "iquito" contains the prefix ik-, which means river, lagoon, well, although it also means separation, distance. Etymologically, combining the two meanings gives: "Multitude separated by waters."

Toponymy

On the other hand, according to the book "Sachachorro" by the writer César Augusto Lequerica Delgado, the name in the Iquito language translates to "squirrels" and comes from the Záparo language family.

According to Marcelo Inuma, chief of the Ikitu community of San Antonio del Río Pintiyacu, Alto Nanay district, "ikitu" means "tiger." This toponym is mentioned in an Iquito legend, which tells of a group of Iquito residents who fled the headwaters of the Upper Nanay River due to an attack by a "demon tiger." After several years of settling in new lands, the mestizo patrons arrived and asked how they got there, to which they replied: Canaja tei ikitu nuti (We came fleeing from the tiger), where ikitu would mean "tiger."

The Iquito population originally occupied the banks of the Nanay River and its tributaries, the Blanco and Chambira Rivers. They later migrated from the Tigre River to the Napo River. They were divided into three sub-tribes: the Iquitos proper, the Maracanos, and the Auves. Later, they were concentrated in the early Spanish settlement of "San Pablo de Nuevo Napeanos" along with the Napeanos (Yameos). Over time, the Napeanos abandoned the settlement, and it was inhabited primarily by the Iquitos. By the end of the 18th century, the settlement was already known as "the hamlet of Iquitos."

Today, the Iquitos live in small communities along the rivers: Nanay in the communities of San Juan de Hungurahual and Puca Urco, and its tributary, the Pintuyacu River, in the communities of San Antonio de Pintuyacu, and Atalaya on the Chambira River, in Peru and Ecuador. According to the 1993 National Census, the population of this ethnic group totaled 234 inhabitants.

The Birth of Iquitos

The area we know today as Loreto encompassed the entire Peruvian rainforest under the name of Maynas. Originally, the jurisdiction of this place was integral to the formation of the department of La Libertad. However, in 1832, a geographical reduction occurred, leading to the creation of the department of Amazonas. It wasn't until 1866 that it emerged as an independent entity with the establishment of the department of Loreto, where Iquitos assumed the preeminent role as its capital.

The historical significance of Iquitos as the departmental capital is commemorated on January 5th, the important date marking its founding. In 1863, this day was etched in the collective memory when the first ship in the Peruvian Navy's steamship fleet arrived at the newly built river terminal. This event became the starting point for the region's connection to the outside world.

The first steps of the Republic represented a stimulus for the colonization of the Amazon rainforest. However, this new contact between the inhabitants of the rainforest and the colonizers marked a challenging period for Loreto. The breaking of the isolation to which the indigenous peoples had become accustomed under the influence of the Spanish missionaries had a considerable impact. Faced with this situation, the government was forced to establish specific regulations to regulate and restrict this process of change. Despite this, the region remained isolated due to the lack of roads connecting it to the capital.

The late 19th century represented a period of economic and cultural splendor for the city of Iquitos. The growing global demand for rubber for the automotive industry attracted large numbers of immigrants from Europe, Brazil, as well as the Peruvian coast and lowland jungle. This wave of migration also included Chinese and Jewish populations, generating a blending of cultures in the Amazon region. Rubber exploitation revived the presence of religious missionaries, and this is reflected in Iquitos' architecture.

The foreign influence was reflected in the architecture, with Moorish-style buildings and the flourishing of the so-called Belle Époque. This economic boom led to unprecedented urban growth, marked by the historic installation of public electric lighting in the city, thus consolidating a crucial chapter in the history of Iquitos and its development as the capital of Loreto.

Late 20th Century

In the 1970s, the discovery of oil reserves triggered a new economic boom in Peru. Motivated by this discovery, the government undertook the construction of the North Peruvian Pipeline between 1972 and 1977, marking a momentous occasion by bringing oil to the country's northern coast for the first time. This event generated significant change in the region.

The pipeline project attracted many farmers who abandoned their lands to work in construction. The demand for skilled labor offered higher wages than the income generated by local agriculture, leading to emigration to this new job opportunity. The company in charge provided the necessary training, thus encouraging the migration of men in search of employment.

However, upon completion of the pipeline, the region faced a challenging reality. Local agriculture was in decline, abandoned by those who had turned to construction. This led to a progressive deterioration of the agricultural environment and a difficult social situation, with households affected by the absence of men who had moved to work in construction.

The city of Iquitos, however, experienced an economic revival with the rise of tourism. The following decades were characterized by a growing interest in regional ecology and biodiversity. The economic boom was also fueled by resources from the oil royalty, which contributed to the development of the region.