Ica is a
region in
Peru. It borders the
Pacific Ocean on the west; the
Lima Region on the north; the
Huancavelica and
Ayacucho regions on the east; and the
Arequipa Region on the south. Its capital is the city of
Ica.
The Ica Region has a remarkable geography. It is the only region of the southern coast formed by plains also called coast plains since the
Andean Cordillera is erected inside. Some
geological folds have determined the formation of lands moving forward the sea which form the
Paracas Peninsula while some isolated formations located at the southern part have determined the Marcona complex, a place where the biggest deposits of
iron in the
Pacific coast have been formed. Ica's configuration is due to the
geomorphology of its two big and unique fluvial watersheds: the Pasco watershed and Ica watershed. Also, it has an incomplete and continuous current inadequately called Rio Grande because its short waters do not even reach the sea; its waters are mainly used for agriculture in
Pampa,
Nazca and
Ingenio, its final watershed is dry since sand and dried lands absorb its short resources. There are extensive
deserts in Ica like the Lancha Pampas before Pozo Santo and Villacuri Pampas which are extremely hot areas. Strong and persistent winds called "Paracas" are present and originate large clouds of sand.