Peru

Peru is a country in western South America, with a long coastline along the Pacific Ocean. Its territory is commonly divided into three major natural regions: the coast, the Andes, and the Amazonian lowlands. The coastal plain is generally dry, and Lima lies there. The Andes run through the country from north to south, creating high mountains, plateaus, and valleys with marked climate differences.

To the east, the land descends toward the Amazon Basin, where warm, humid conditions support extensive tropical forests. The cold Humboldt Current along the Pacific coast also influences Peru’s climate, helping explain why some coastal areas receive very little rainfall. Peru borders Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile.

Peru combines great natural and cultural diversity. Huascarán, at 6,768 metres, is the country’s highest mountain and lies in the Andes. The Peruvian Amazon covers a large share of the territory and contains many plant and animal species. Peru is also a major center of ancient Andean history.

The Inca civilization built a powerful state across much of the Andes before Spanish conquest in the sixteenth century. One of its best-known archaeological sites is Machu Picchu, a fifteenth-century settlement built high in the mountains. Today, Lima is the country’s main political and economic center. Other cities are Cusco, Arequipa, and Iquitos.