Peru 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. |