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Peru Facts

Peru Facts
The country of Peru's official name is the Republic of Peru. It is located in South America in the western region, bordering on the Pacific Ocean. To Peru's north lies Ecuador and Columbia, to its east Brazil, to its south Chile, and to its southeast Bolivia. Peru was home to many ancient cultures beginning with the Norte Chico people, one of the oldest civilizations known to man. Prior to Spanish settlement in the 1500s Peru had been home to the Inca Empire. After several hundred years of Spanish rule, Peru declared its independence from Spain in 1821. Despite its independence Peru continued to experience political unrest.
Interesting Peru Facts:
The Peruvians celebrate Independence Day on July 28th and 29th each year. The celebration is called ‘Fiestas Patrias' which means ‘Patriotic Holidays'.
When Peru was under Spanish rule the capital city was Lima. It was South America's most powerful city. Lima is Peru's capital city.
Approximately 30 million people live in Peru.
Approximately one quarter of Peru's residents live in Lima.
Peru's currency is the Nuevo Sol.
Peru's official language is Spanish but many Peruvians also speak Quechua (Inca language) and Aymara. It is also believed that Natives east of the Andes Mountains speak up to an additional 13 languages.
Potatoes were originally from Peru.
There are more than 55 types of corn grown in Peru.
The world's 6th largest gold producer is Peru.
The world's 8th largest coffee producer is Peru. Peru is also the 5th largest Arabica bean producer.
Peru is the largest asparagus exporter in the world. In 2012 Peru exported 117,000 tonnes of asparagus.
Approximately two-thirds of Peru's land is made up of the Amazon Rain Forest.
There are 1625 types of orchids in Peru. 425 types of orchids grow naturally near Machu Picchu (an Inca site from the 1400s).
Machu Picchu, the Inca site, had been lost to man for hundreds of years deep in the Amazon. An American explorer rediscovered the site.
The largest lake in South America is Southern Peru's Lake Titicaca.
The highest sand dune in the world is located in Peru. It is called Cerro Blanco and is located in the Sechura Desert. It is 3,860 feet tall.
Peru is considered to be a poor country yet it has a rich and wide variety of natural resources.
The world's greatest fishing country is China, with Peru coming in second place for highest annual catch.
The world has 103 ecosystems. There are 84 of these ecosystems in Peru.
The natural hazards that Peru is at risk for experiencing include earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides and mild volcanic activity.
Peruvian food is a blend of Spanish and Amerindian food with Japanese, Italian, Arab, African and Chinese influences.
The main economic activities in Peru include manufacturing, mining, agriculture and fishing.
There are 27 snow-capped mountain peaks in Peru's Huascaran National Park reaching 6,000 meters above sea level.
Pima and Tanguis are the finest cottons in the world and are Peruvian cottons.
In some regions of Peru it is acceptable to eat cat, the same as it is okay chicken in North America.


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