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.

It 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 (4,275 m aprox.). 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 MarañónRiver (1,025 miles long) and the UcayaliRiver (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 LakePoopó in Bolivia through the
DesaguaderoRiver.
The Napo, Tigre, and Pastaza rivers rise in Ecuador and flow into Peru. The latter two
streams are tributaries of the MarañónRiver, and the Napo empties into the Amazon
River. The border between Peru and Colombia is delineated by the PutumayoRiver.

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, guanaco and chinchilla.
Birds of the region include the giant condor, robin, phoebe, flycatcher, finch, partridge,
duck, and goose. Lake Titicaca and other sierra 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.
The population of Peru (per 2000 Inhabitant Census) is 25,661,690, 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, 7,497,000), the
country’s capital and chief commercial center. Other important cities include Callao
(773,701), a major port located near Lima; Arequipa (762,958), an industrial center;
Trujillo (652,800), a commercial center; Chiclayo (517,800), in the sugar district; and
Cusco (291,751), 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
mandolin like 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. http://www.rutaincaperu.com/