- Peru Capital: Lima Area: 1,285,000 km2
- Population: Approximately 34.22 million (2024)
- Official languages: Spanish and Quechua (pronounced “kechava”)
- Neighborhoods: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and the province
- Currency: Nuevo Soo
Tell me, where is the highest lake in the world? Or the driest desert in the world? And what about the deepest canyon in the world? Where is that? All of these are in Peru, a beautiful country with its interesting geography, fascinating history, extraordinary nature, and warm, colorful people.
Peru is a South American country with an interesting geography. To its west lies the Pacific Ocean, followed by a desert strip along its coast. Alongside this strip are the Andes Mountains, which divide the country vertically in two. The Andes Mountains were home to the Inca civilization and are full of historical cities! To the east lies the Amazon Rainforest and the Amazon Basin, with their rich natural beauty.
Peru has colorful and warm people!
In Peru, some people live along the ocean coast, while others live in mountainous regions. In the Amazon rainforest, where even walking is difficult, there are tribes speaking different languages and living in primitive conditions. Most Peruvians are indigenous people descended from the Incas. These people still maintain Inca traditions and speak Quechua, a language inherited from them. However, Peru was under Spanish rule for a long time. During this period, the indigenous people and the Spanish intermingled. There are many people in the country who are half indigenous and half Spanish. Spanish is even an official language. Peru gained its independence in 1824. The clothing of the indigenous people is resistant to the cold of the mountainous regions. Fabrics woven from the wool of llamas or alpacas (a sheep native to South America) are dyed with natural dyes. Hats, caps, belts, ponchos, tunics, jackets, vests, and skirts are made from these fabrics. All these garments are colorful and full of patterns. Moreover, the clothing reveals where people come from, and even their social standing. For example, it’s easy to tell if a woman is married or not from her clothing.
Peru is home to many fascinating animals.
Remember that Peru is located on the ocean coast. There are deserts in the coastal region, as well as the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest. In such a rich geography, of course, many interesting animals live! Puma, jaguar, Humboldt penguin, crocodile, python snake, Andean bear, Andean monkey, spider monkey, Andean deer, Andean fox, condor, sloth, and tapir are just a few of these animals! And the Andean rock bird is Peru’s national animal!
