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| PERU:
GENERAL OVERVIEW |
GENERAL INFO .
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GEOGRAPHY .
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HISTORY .
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| GEOGRAPHY |
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Peru is a varied and diverse country due to the climate,
natural and cultural diversity of its regions. It is
1,554 miles (2,500 km) long, and has four natural regions:
coast, sierra, jungle and territorial waters.
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| COAST |
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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 the climatic
phenomena El Niño. Along the coast, less than
1 million hectares of the total 15 millions are irrigated.
Some of the 52 valleys are arable and they are farmed
using a combination of ancient Peruvian methods and
modern technology.
The Peruvian coastal region has been home to several
important cultures. Visitors will find many well-known
archaeological sites here, including Chan Chan, Nasca
and Sipán.
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| SIERRA - high lands |
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 Sierra
is the name given to the Andean highland region, where
the Andes mountain 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 (4301 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. Huascarán at 22,205
feet (6,768 m).
High plateau, 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 Apurímac,
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.
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| JUNGLE - amazon rainforest |
 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.
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 km). 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 high temperature
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 know 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 volumes 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 Marañón River (1,025
miles long) and the Ucayali River (1,240 miles long).
Both flow into the Amazon River, which eventually crosses
the border 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 ecotourism.
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| TERRITORIAL WATERS |
| Interestingly, Peru includes
its territorial waters as one of its natural regions.
The Peruvian coast would have a hot and torrid climate
were it not for the presence of the Humboldt Current in
its territorial waters. Thanks to this cool water current,
the Pacific Ocean off Peru's coast is one of the richest
fishing grounds in the world. This factor also made it
possible for so many important settlements to take place
here throughout the country's history, which contributed
to making Peru such a culturally diverse country. |
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