Protecting Lake Perol

Many protesters arrived at Lake Perol on foot or on horseback, some wearing ponchos, as well as traditional broad-brimmed straw hats or baseball caps. Others carried blankets and bags of potatoes and rice - planning to camp out at the site for weeks to halt the project.

U.S. Company Newmont Mining and its Peruvian partner, Buenaventura say that transferring water from the lakes to four reservoirs that they are building or planning to build will end seasonal shortages and guarantee year-round water supplies to towns and farmers in the area.

But many residents fear they would lose control of the water or that the mine would cause pollution.

"Why would we want a reservoir controlled by the company when we already have lakes that naturally provide us water?" asked Angel Mendoza, a member of a peasant patrol group from the town of Pampa Verde.

The Conga mining project - which many in the business sector see as essential for the country's bustling economy - has sparked violent protests in the past.

This demonstration, however, was largely peaceful and there were no clashes with police, though a handful of protesters threw rocks and set fire to a wall near one reservoir.