Editing Cusco (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Cusco by Sentinel-2, 17 July 2024.png|thumb|Cusco (center) and the [[Sacred Valley]], following the [[Urubamba River]] to the northwest, as seen from [[Sentinel-2]]]]

=== Location ===
Cusco extends throughout the Huatanay (or Watanay) river valley. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cusco{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}, its elevation is around {{convert|3400|m|ft|abbr=on}}. To its north is the [[Vilcabamba mountain range]] with {{convert|4000|-|6000|m|ft|adj=mid|abbr=off|-high|sp=us}} mountains. The highest peak is [[Salcantay]] ({{convert|6271|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=off|sp=us}}) about {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} northwest of Cusco.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://andes.zoom-maps.com/ |title=Map of the Andes |work=zoom-maps.com |access-date=18 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924154519/http://andes.zoom-maps.com/ |archive-date=24 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Climate===
Cusco has a [[subtropical highland climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cwb''). It is generally dry and temperate, with two defined seasons. Winter occurs from April through September, with abundant sunshine and occasional nighttime freezes; July is the coldest month with an average of {{convert|9.7|C|1}}. Summer occurs from October through March, with warm temperatures and abundant rainfall; November is the warmest month, averaging {{convert|13.3|C|1}}. Although frost and hail are common, the last reported snowfall was in June 1911. Temperatures usually range from {{convert|0.2|to|20.9|C|F}}, but the all-time temperature range is between {{convert|-8.9|and|30|C|F}}. Sunshine hours peak in July, the equivalent of January in the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, February, the equivalent of August in the Northern Hemisphere, has the least sunshine.

In 2006, Cusco was found to be the spot on Earth with the highest average [[ultraviolet]] light level.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614170312/http://www.niwascience.co.nz/rc/atmos/uvconference/2006/Liley_2.pdf Liley, J. Ben and McKenzie, Richard L. (April 2006) "Where on Earth has the highest UV?" ''UV Radiation and its Effects: an update'' NIWA Science, Hamilton, NZ];</ref>

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Cusco ([[Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport]]), elevation {{convert|3249|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–1920 normals, extremes 1931–present)
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 27.8
| Feb record high C = 26.7
| Mar record high C = 25.3
| Apr record high C = 26.9
| May record high C = 27.0
| Jun record high C = 24.2
| Jul record high C = 24.2
| Aug record high C = 25.8
| Sep record high C = 25.9
| Oct record high C = 27.2
| Nov record high C = 26.6
| Dec record high C = 29.9
| year record high C = 29.9
| Jan high C = 19.6
| Feb high C = 19.5
| Mar high C = 19.8
| Apr high C = 20.3
| May high C = 20.7
| Jun high C = 20.4
| Jul high C = 20.1
| Aug high C = 21.1
| Sep high C = 21.5
| Oct high C = 21.4
| Nov high C = 21.9
| Dec high C = 20.3
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 13.0
| Feb mean C = 13.0
| Mar mean C = 13.0
| Apr mean C = 12.5
| May mean C = 11.4
| Jun mean C = 10.4
| Jul mean C = 10.0
| Aug mean C = 11.0
| Sep mean C = 12.4
| Oct mean C = 13.3
| Nov mean C = 14.0
| Dec mean C = 13.1
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 8.2
| Feb low C = 7.9
| Mar low C = 7.9
| Apr low C = 6.2
| May low C = 3.5
| Jun low C = 1.7
| Jul low C = 1.3
| Aug low C = 2.5
| Sep low C = 5.1
| Oct low C = 6.9
| Nov low C = 7.7
| Dec low C = 8.0
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = 0.0
| Feb record low C = 0.0
| Mar record low C = 0.0
| Apr record low C = -2.0
| May record low C = -7.0
| Jun record low C = -4.5
| Jul record low C = -7.0
| Aug record low C = -6.0
| Sep record low C = -6.0
| Oct record low C = 0.0
| Nov record low C = 0.0
| Dec record low C = 0.5
| year record low C = -7.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 153.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 132.1
| Mar precipitation mm = 105.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 38.4
| May precipitation mm = 7.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 3.3
| Jul precipitation mm = 5.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 6.6
| Sep precipitation mm = 18.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 54.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 77.3
| Dec precipitation mm = 125.2
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 19.6
| Feb precipitation days = 17.2
| Mar precipitation days = 15.6
| Apr precipitation days = 7.3
| May precipitation days = 2.2
| Jun precipitation days = 1.0
| Jul precipitation days = 1.2
| Aug precipitation days = 1.9
| Sep precipitation days = 3.9
| Oct precipitation days = 9.3
| Nov precipitation days = 9.8
| Dec precipitation days = 17.1
| Jan humidity = 66
| Feb humidity = 67
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 63
| May humidity = 59
| Jun humidity = 55
| Jul humidity = 54
| Aug humidity = 54
| Sep humidity = 56
| Oct humidity = 56
| Nov humidity = 58
| Dec humidity = 62
| year humidity = 60
| Jan sun = 143
| Feb sun = 121
| Mar sun = 170
| Apr sun = 210
| May sun = 239
| Jun sun = 228
| Jul sun = 257
| Aug sun = 236
| Sep sun = 195
| Oct sun = 198
| Nov sun = 195
| Dec sun = 158
| source 1 = NOAA,<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REGIII/PR/84686.TXT |title=Cusco Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=4 July 2017 }}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>{{cite web |url=http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1877 |title=Station Alejandro Velasco |publisher=Météo Climat |language=fr |access-date=4 July 2017 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220180036/http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1877 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity 1954–1993)<ref name = DWD>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_846860_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von Cuzco, Prov. Cuzco / Peru |work=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de |access-date=4 July 2017 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902232106/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_846860_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Danish Meteorological Institute (sun 1931–1960)<ref name=DMI>{{cite web |last1=Cappelen |first1=John |last2=Jensen |first2=Jens |url=http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |work=Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) |title=Peru – Cuzco |page=209 |publisher=Danish Meteorological Institute |language=da |access-date=18 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427173827/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |archive-date=27 April 2013  }}</ref> Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/worldclimate/graphs.php?climate=9120&code=84686 |title=Cuzco Climate: 1991–2020 |publisher=Starlings Roost Weather |access-date=24 February 2025 }}</ref>
}}[[File:Vista de Cusco, Perú, 2015-07-31, DD 11-17 PAN.JPG|center|thumb|880x880px|Panoramic view of Cusco]]