the northward route going north from huaraz follows the rio santa to the north end of the callejón de huaylas, where it branches into two. the minor branch goes steeply westward up to the ancient town of huaylas and then northwestward down to the coast. the main highway goes north beside the cañón del pato through a dozen one-lane tunnels, precipitously descends several thousand meters by switch-backs and hairpin curves on the one-lane rocky roadway, and arrives at the town of huallanca. here there is a connection with the santa railway. the highway again splits. the most heavily traveled fork continues generally west to the coastal city of chimbote where it connects with the pan-american highway. the other fork goes from huallanca northward and upward into the northern peruvian andes.