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eru is located in the west central
part of South America. It encompasses an area of 498,222
square miles (1 `285, 215 km2) and can be compared in
size to Spain, France and former West Germany combined.
In South America, only Brazil and Argentina are larger.
Peru is the 19th largest country in the world. Peru is
bordered to the north by Ecuador, to the south by Chile
and Bolivia, to the east by Colombia and Brazil and to
the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a varied and diverse country due to the climatic,
natural and cultural diversity of its regions. It is
1,554 miles (2,500 km) long, and has 3 natural regions:
coast, sierra and jungle.
The climate of Peru varies widely, ranging from tropical
in the montaña to arctic in the highest mountains of the
Andes. Average temperatures decrease about 1.7 Celsius
degrees (about 3 Fahrenheit degrees) with every 450-m
(1,500-ft) increase in elevation. Permanent snow and ice
fields cover peaks more than 5,000 m (16,500 ft) above
sea level, and the highest elevation at which the land
is suitable for agriculture is about 4,400 m (14,500 ft).
Coast
The coastal region accounts for 10.6% of Peru's
territory 52,639 square miles (136,334 km2). It is a
narrow strip 1,554 miles long (2,500 km), but only 12 to
62 miles wide (19 to 100 km). The altitude along this
strip varies from zero to 3,281 feet above sea level
(1,000 m). Although the coastal strip is mainly arid,
seasonal rains occur in the north, especially during
periods of El Niño climatic phenomena. Along the coast,
less than 1 million hectares of the total 15 million are
irrigated, Some of the 52 valleys are arable and they
are farmed using a combination of ancient Peruvian
methods and modern technologies The Peruvian coastal
region has been home to several important cultures.
Visitors can find many well-known archaeological sites
here, including Chan-Chan, Nasca and Sipan. In the
coastal plain the temperature is normally equable,
averaging about 20° C (about 68° F) throughout the year.
The coastal climate is moderated by winds blowing from
the cool offshore current known as the Peru, or
Humboldt, Current. The coast receives less than 50 mm (less
than 2 in) of precipitation each year, largely because
the cordilleras receive most of the rain carried by the
trade winds from the east. Mist-laden clouds known as
garúa shroud many of the slopes of the sierra from June
to October, providing enough moisture to support
grasslands.
Sierra
Sierra is the name given to the Andean highland region,
where the Andes mount range runs through the country
north to south like a backbone, dividing the coastal
region from the jungle. The sierra offers a wide
diversity of landscapes which vary according to the
altitude. The Sierra makes up 30.5% of the nation's
territory 151,304 square miles (391,876 km2) and is
between 52 and 155 miles wide (83 to 250 km). The
average altitude is 14,108 feet above sea level (22,705
m). The Peruvian Andes have more than 174 snow-capped
peaks over 16,000 feet (4,877 m) in height and 39 peaks
over 19,600 feet (5,974 m) in height. The highest and
most formidable of them all is Mt. Huascaran at 22,205
feet (6,768 m). High plateaus, at altitudes ranging from
12,500 to 14,100 feet (3,810 to 4,298 m) above sea level,
contrast sharply with deep canyons such as those formed
by the Apurimac, Cotahuasi and Colca Rivers. The sierra
region has both arid areas and fertile valleys. Vivid
blue skies form a stunning backdrop to the soaring peaks
and are reflected in many glittering lakes. The world's
largest navigable lake, Titicaca, is an incredible
tourist resource for Peru thanks to its scenery, history,
archaeological sites and beautiful colonial towns. In
the sierra the temperature ranges seasonally from about
-7° to 21° C (about 20° to 70° F). Rainfall is usually
scanty, but in some localities heavy rains fall from
October to April. In Cusco, in the southeastern sierra,
annual rainfall averages some 815 mm (some 32 in). The
exposed eastern slopes of the Andes receive more than
2,500 mm (100 in) of rain annually, but sheltered
locations receive much less. Rainfall amounts diminish
rapidly southward, causing many changes in the
vegetation.
Jungle
The jungle is the country's largest region, covering
58.8% of Peru's national territory 292,150 square miles
(756,665 km2). Tropical rain forests extend from the
eastern Andean foothills to Peru's borders with Ecuador,
Colombia, Brazil, and Bolivia. There are two separate
and distinct types of jungle, the highland and the
lowland. This region is extremely hot and humid,
although at higher altitudes it is less so. The
prevailing easterly winds blowing across that region
gather moisture that is later deposited on the eastern
Andean slopes. Annual rainfall in some districts
averages as much as 3,810 mm (as much as 150 in). Most
of this rain, which principally falls from November
through April
The Highland Jungle
The highland jungle, known locally as "ceja de selva",
is located on the eastern flank of the Andes. Its
average altitude is between 1,600 and 9,200 feet above
sea level (487 to 2,804 m). A variety of tropical and
subtropical products (coffee, tea, cocoa, citrus fruits,
bananas, pineapples, etc.) grow amidst its luxuriant
vegetation. This region, unlike the sierra, has a
temperate and humid climate and it is also the smallest
region in the country. Machu Picchu, our most important
tourist destination, is located in this environment.
The Lowland Jungle
Also known as the Amazon plain, this region, the largest
in the country, is made up of lush tropical vegetation
and a vast network of rivers. Peru's largest volume of
natural resources, and most important ones, are
concentrated here. The lowland jungle lies, on average,
between 250 and 1,300 feet above sea level. The two most
majestic rivers in Peru are found here; the Marañon
River (1,025 miles long) and the Ucayali River (1,240
miles long). Both flow into the Amazon River, which
eventually crosses the borders into Colombia and Brazil.
Although the lowland jungle is the least inhabited of
the regions, it offers a vast array of attractions and
resources, particularly for eco-tourism
El Niño
Peru’s climate periodically experiences a weather
pattern known as El Niño. El Niño occurs every three to
seven years when unusually warm ocean conditions appear
along the western coast. During El Niño the wet weather
conditions normally present in the western Pacific move
to the east, bringing heavy rains that can cause
extensive flooding.
Rivers and Lakes
Peru has three main drainage systems. One comprises
about 50 torrential streams that rise in the sierra and
descend steeply to the coastal plain. The second
comprises the tributaries of the Amazon River in the
montaña region. In the third the principal feature is
Lake Titicaca, which drains into Lake Poopó in Bolivia
through the Desaguadero River.
The Napo, Tigre, and Pastaza rivers rise in Ecuador and
flow into Peru. The latter two streams are tributaries
of the Marañón River, and the Napo empties into the
Amazon River. The border between Peru and Colombia is
delineated by the Putumayo River.
Plants and Animals
The plant life of the three main geographical regions
varies widely. The vast, fertile montaña contains a rich
profusion of trees, plants, and jungle vines, including
mahogany, cedar, rubber, and cinchona trees,
sarsaparilla and vanilla plants, and a variety of exotic
tropical flowers. The rugged sierra supports a
relatively sparse plant life. Sierra vegetation is
largely xerophytic—that is, adapted to survival on a
restricted supply of water. Such growths include
mesquite, cactus, scrub and fodder grasses, and
eucalyptus plants. The dry, sandy reaches of the coastal
plain support mainly desert vegetation, such as shrubs,
grasses, and tuberous plants.
The wildlife of coastal Peru is limited in number and
variety. The coastal plain and offshore islands support
gulls and terns and some albatrosses, but little other
wildlife except lizards, insects, tarantulas, and
scorpions. Peruvian ocean waters abound in anchovy,
pilchard, haddock, sole, mackerel, smelt, flounder,
lobster, shrimp, and other marine species. In the sierra
are found the llama, alpaca, vicuña, chinchilla, and
huanaco. Birds of the region include the giant condor,
robin, phoebe, flycatcher, finch, partridge, duck, and
goose. Lake Titicaca and other sierran bodies of water
teem with fish. Animals of the tropical montaña include
the jaguar, cougar, armadillo, peccary, tapir, anteater,
several dozen species of monkey, alligator, turtle, and
a variety of snakes and insects; among the birds are the
parrot, the flamingo, and other tropical species.
POPULATION
About 45 percent of Peru’s inhabitants are Native
Americans, some of whom are descended from the Inca who
established a great civilization in the region by the
15th century. About 100 other indigenous groups live in
the rain forest of eastern Peru. These tribes live in
virtual isolation from the rest of Peru’s population,
speaking traditional languages and surviving by hunting,
fishing, and agriculture. Some 37 percent of the
country’s people are mestizos, those of mixed white (mainly
Spanish) and Native American background. About 15
percent of Peruvians are of unmixed white descent, and
many of the remainder are of black African, Japanese, or
Chinese ancestry. Some 72 percent of the people live in
urban areas.
Population Characteristics The population of Peru (1998
estimate) is 26,111,110, giving the country an estimated
overall population density of 20 persons per sq km (53
per sq mi). The distribution, however, is uneven, with
about 50 percent of the people inhabiting the sierra
region and about 40 percent inhabiting the coastal plain.
Principal Cities
The largest city in Peru is Lima (greater city
population, 1996 estimate, 6,884,000), the country’s
capital and chief commercial center. Other important
cities include Callao (637,755), a major port located
near Lima; Arequipa (680,600), an industrial center;
Trujillo (556,800), a commercial center; Chiclayo
(457,800), in the sugar district; and Cusco (257,751),
famous for its Inca ruins.
Language and Religion
Spanish, spoken by some 70 percent of the people, was
the sole official language of Peru until 1975, when
Quechua, one of the principal languages of the Native
Americans, also was made an official language. Another
Native American language, Aymará, was declared official
in 1980. English is also spoken.
More than 90 percent of Peruvians adhere to the Roman
Catholic religion. In 1915 a law was passed that made
Roman Catholicism the established religion of the
country. However, the constitution of 1979 ended Roman
Catholicism's status as the established religion,
although it recognized Catholicism "as an important
element in the historical, cultural, and moral formation
of Peru." Other religions are permitted and tolerated,
and small numbers of Protestants, Jews, and Muslims live
in Peru.
Education The literacy rate in Peru has increased
substantially as a result of greater emphasis on
education. According to estimates, the adult literate
population rose from 42 percent in 1940 to 89 percent in
1995. Public basic education in Peru is free and
compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and
12. Many children in rural areas do not attend secondary
school, however, because of a lack of facilities. In
1995 some 4.1 million pupils attended elementary schools,
and 1.9 million students were enrolled in secondary and
vocational schools.
Music
The pentatonic scale used by the ancient peoples still
survives, and pre-Columbian instruments such as the reed
quena or flute, the antara or panpipes, conch shells,
the ocarina, and various primitive percussion devices
are widely used today. The Spaniards brought stringed
instruments. The violin, the harp, the guitar, and the
charango, a mandolinlike instrument, are very popular.
Among the most popular folksongs and dances are the
yariví, a love song; the huayno, a rapid dance of the
highlands; the cashua, a circle dance; and the marinera
or zamacueca.
Lima has a national conservatory and a symphony
orchestra, the latter organized in 1938 by Austrian-born
Theo Buchwald. The orchestra encourages Peruvian
composers by performing their compositions. The most
distinguished 20th-century Peruvian composer is the
Paris-born André Sas, who founded a music school in Lima
in 1929. His compositions reflect the influence of
native music. Sas was also an authority on folk music.
Literature and Drama
Peruvian literature began during the 16th century when
Garcilaso de la Vega, son of a Spanish conqueror and an
Inca princess, wrote his Comentarios reales de los incas
(1609; Royal Commentaries of the Incas, 1869), a vivid
historical chronicle about the Inca culture and empire.
Another important writer of the colonial period was
17th-century satirist Juan del Valle y Caviedes. The
foremost writers of the 19th century were Manuel
González Prada, who wrote social criticism, and Ricardo
Palma, who composed a collection of historical and
legendary tales about Peru's past.
In the 20th century there has been an abundance of poets
and prose writers. Among them are Ventura García
Calderón, a diplomat who was also an essayist; José
Carlos Mariátegui, a Marxist political essayist; and the
poets José Santos Chocano, César Vallejo, and José María
Eguren. Ciro Alegría, in his famous El Mundo es ancho y
ajena (1941; Broad and Alien is the World), has produced
one of the finest novels treating the plight of the
indigenous peoples in Latin America. Mario Vargas Llosa
is an internationally famous novelist. One of Latin
America's most important literary critics is Luis
Alberto Sánchez.
The theater has played an important role in the cultural
life of Peru since 1568, when the first play in the
country was presented in the plaza of San Pedro in Lima.
During the colonial period, the Jesuits promoted
dramatic productions, and 18th century viceroy Manuel de
Amat was a leading patron of the theater. The country's
leading playhouse and concert hall is Lima's Municipal
Theater. Sebastián Salazar Bondy and Enrique Solari
Swayne are the most important 20th-century playwrights.
Libraries
Some of the most important libraries in Peru are located
in the larger cities and are affiliated with the major
universities. Within the various libraries of the
National University of San Marcos in Lima are more than
450,000 volumes. The National Library (1821), in Lima,
houses more than 3.2 million books and other items.
Museums
Museums throughout the country display Peruvian art and
archaeological artifacts. Many of Peru's colonial
buildings, such as the Torre Tagle Palace and the
cathedral in Lima, contain valuable artifacts. Notable
museums in Lima include the Museum of Art (1961), the
Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum (1926), the
Javier Prado Natural History Museum, and the National
Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology (1822), which
displays collections of pre-Columbian artifacts. Other
important museums include the Military History Museum of
Peru (1946), in Callao; and archaeological museums in
Arequipa, Cusco, Huancayo, and Trujillo.
Transportation
Peru’s system of railroads, highways, and airports has
been expanded considerably in the second half of the
20th century. The country’s mountains make surface
transport difficult, however. In 1996 Peru had about
72,800 km (about 45,236 mi) of roads, of which 10
percent were paved. The main artery is a section of the
Pan-American Highway, which traverses Peru from Ecuador
to Chile, covering a distance of about 2,495 km (about
1,550 mi). The Central Highway links Lima and Pucallpa.
Peru also has about 1,691 km (about 1,051 mi) of
railroads. One trans-Andean line, the Central Railroad,
ascends to some 4,815 m (some 15,800 ft) above sea level,
the highest point reached by any standard-gauge line in
the world. The most notable inland waterway is the
Amazon River, which is navigable by ship from the
Atlantic Ocean to Iquitos in Peru. Lake Titicaca also
serves as a waterway. Leading Peruvian seaports include
Callao, Salaverry, Pacasmayo, Paita, and San Juan. The
country’s main international airports are situated near
Lima, Cusco, Iquitos, and Arequipa. Aeroperú, the
national airline, offers domestic and international
service.
Communications
Peru’s telephone system, which was nationalized in 1970
and reprivatized in 1994, has 68 mainlines for every
1,000 of Peru’s residents. The country is served by more
than 300 radio stations and 8 television stations. In
1996 there were 271 radios and 125 television sets in
use for every 1,000 people. In the same period the
country had 74 daily newspapers. Dailies with large
circulations included El Comercio, Expreso, Ojo, and La
República, all published in Lima.
Health and Welfare
In 1998 the average life expectancy at birth in Peru was
72 years for women and 68 years for men; the infant
mortality rate was 43 per 1,000 live births. Although
the government has made some progress in improving
medical facilities, sanitation remains inadequate, and a
cholera epidemic in 1991 killed more than 1,000
Peruvians and sickened another 150,000.
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