Peru | History, Flag, People, Language, Population, Map, & Facts

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md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru">Peru</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Peru">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref28026"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru#ref28026">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28027"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru#ref28027">Relief</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28028"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru#ref28028">The Costa</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28029"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru#ref28029">The Sierra, or Andean, region</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28030"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia">Amazonia</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28031"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia#ref28031">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28032"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia#ref28032">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28033"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia#ref28033">Climate</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28034"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia#ref28034">Coastal desert</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28035"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia#ref28035">Mountain climates</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28036"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia#ref28036">Tropical forest climates</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28037"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Amazonia#ref28037">El Niño</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28038"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Plant-and-animal-life">Plant and animal life</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28039"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Plant-and-animal-life#ref28039">The Costa</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28040"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Plant-and-animal-life#ref28040">The Sierra</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28041"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Plant-and-animal-life#ref28041">Amazonia</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref28047"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Plant-and-animal-life#ref28047">The people</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28048"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Plant-and-animal-life#ref28048">Pre-Hispanic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28049"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Plant-and-animal-life#ref28049">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272283"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Languages">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28050"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Languages#ref28050">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28042"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Languages#ref28042">Settlement patterns</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28043"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Languages#ref28043">Pre-Hispanic patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28044"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Colonial-patterns">Colonial patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28045"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Colonial-patterns#ref28045">Twentieth-century migrations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28046"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Colonial-patterns#ref28046">Urban Peru</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28051"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Demographic-trends">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref28052"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Demographic-trends#ref28052">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28056"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Demographic-trends#ref28056">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28053"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Resources-and-power">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28058"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Resources-and-power#ref28058">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28059"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Resources-and-power#ref28059">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28060"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Resources-and-power#ref28060">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272284"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Services-labour-and-taxation">Services, labour, and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28061"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Services-labour-and-taxation#ref28061">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref28062"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28063"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref28063">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272285"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref272285">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272286"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref272286">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272287"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref272287">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272288"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref272288">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28065"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref28065">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272289"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref272289">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28064"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref28064">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref28066"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref28066">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272290"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Government-and-society#ref272290">Cultural milieu</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272291"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Daily-life-and-social-customs">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28068"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref28068">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28069"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref28069">Folk culture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28070"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref28070">Fine arts</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28071"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Cultural-institutions">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28072"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Cultural-institutions#ref28072">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28073"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Cultural-institutions#ref28073">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref214498"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28006"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/History#ref28006">The Incas</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28007"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Discovery-and-exploration-by-Europeans">Discovery and exploration by Europeans</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28008"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Discovery-and-exploration-by-Europeans#ref28008">Colonial period</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28009"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Achievement-of-independence">Achievement of independence</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28010"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Achievement-of-independence#ref28010">Peru from 1824 to 1884</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28011"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Achievement-of-independence#ref28011">Struggle for power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28012"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Achievement-of-independence#ref28012">Establishment of order</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28013"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-War-of-the-Pacific-1879-83">The War of the Pacific (1879–83)</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28014"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-War-of-the-Pacific-1879-83#ref28014">Peru from 1884 to 1930</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28015"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-War-of-the-Pacific-1879-83#ref28015">Social reforms and economic development</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28016"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Formation-of-the-Aprista-movement">Formation of the Aprista movement</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28017"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Formation-of-the-Aprista-movement#ref28017">Peru from 1930 to 1968</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28018"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Formation-of-the-Aprista-movement#ref28018">Troubled democracy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28019"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Formation-of-the-Aprista-movement#ref28019">The dictatorship of Manuel Odría</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28020"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Return-to-elected-government">Return to elected government</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28021"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Return-to-elected-government#ref28021">Military rule (1968–80)</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28022"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/Return-to-elected-government#ref28022">Economic nationalism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref28023"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta">The second junta</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref28024"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref28024">Return to civilian rule</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351510"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351510">The second Fernando Belaúnde presidency (1980–85) and the rise of Shining Path and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351511"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351511">The first Alan García Pérez presidency (1985–90)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351512"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351512">The rule, misrule, and flight of Alberto Fujimori (1990–2000)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351513"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351513">The Alejandro Toledo presidency (2001–06) and the extradition and imprisonment of Alberto Fujimori</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351514"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351514">The second Alan García Pérez presidency (2006–11)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351515"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351515">The Ollanta Humala presidency (2011–16)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351516"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351516">The rise of Keiko Fujimori, the Pedro Pablo Kuczynski presidency (2016–18), and the Odebrecht scandal</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351517"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351517">The short presidencies of Martín Vizcarra (2018–20), Manuel Merino (2020), and Francisco Sagasti (2020–21) and the COVID-19 pandemic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref351518"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref351518">The Pedro Castillo presidency (2021–22)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref354313"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Peru/The-second-junta#ref354313">The Dina Boluarte presidency (2022– )</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Peru">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru/images-videos">Images, Videos & Interactives</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div 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Author of <i>Geograf ĩa del Perú: Las ocho regiones naturales </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Javier Pulgar-Vidal</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Thomas-M-Davies/3367" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Thomas M. Davies</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of History; Chairman of Latin American Studies; Director, Center for Latin American Studies, San Diego State University, California. Author of <i>Indian Integration in Peru: A Half Century of...</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Thomas M. Davies</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-03-26T00:00:00CDT" >Mar 26, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/453147/dabea7cd70b6288542317b080b99c8aa" rel="nofollow">Deeply unpopular Peruvian president calls for general elections in April 2026</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 26, 2025, 2:37 AM ET (AP) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/453147/f2a2addd25f983dec817fda0a25062cf" rel="nofollow">Peru declares an emergency and deploys the army as violence surges in the capital</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 18, 2025, 4:34 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/453147/4ce86fa6fdbd822f878ecf3c750ca97d" rel="nofollow">Peruvian farmer’s case against German energy giant RWE could reshape global climate accountability</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 14, 2025, 11:47 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/453147/0e583370e0fb5e455769d151a4032bbf" rel="nofollow">Peru's detained ex-President Castillo transferred to a hospital days after starting hunger strike</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 13, 2025, 1:44 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/453147/70bdb220736f1e8cdf4c416157ae83a4" rel="nofollow">Peru's Indigenous leaders raise concerns over oil and gas projects at a human rights hearing</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 4, 2025, 12:47 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="95391" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/95026-050-004DB8AB/view-cathedral-Lima-Peru.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/453147/95391"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/95026-050-004DB8AB/view-cathedral-Lima-Peru.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/95026-050-004DB8AB/view-cathedral-Lima-Peru.jpg?w=300" alt="cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Lima" data-width="1600" data-height="532" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/95026-050-004DB8AB/view-cathedral-Lima-Peru.jpg" data-href="/media/1/453147/95391">cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Lima</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref396382"></span>Peru</strong>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> in western <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South America</a>. Except for the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Titicaca" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lake Titicaca</a> basin in the southeast, its borders lie in sparsely populated zones. The boundaries with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Colombia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Colombia</a> to the northeast and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Brazil</a> to the east <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="traverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traverse" data-type="MW">traverse</a> lower ranges or tropical forests, whereas the borders with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bolivia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bolivia</a> to the southeast, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Chile" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chile</a> to the south, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ecuador" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ecuador</a> to the northwest run across the high <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Andes-Mountains" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Andes</a>. To the west, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/territorial-waters" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">territorial waters</a>, reaching 200 miles (320 km) into the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pacific Ocean</a>, are claimed by Peru.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="222436" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/183733-050-F25A4459/World-Data-Locator-Map-Peru.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/453147/222436"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/183733-050-F25A4459/World-Data-Locator-Map-Peru.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/183733-050-F25A4459/World-Data-Locator-Map-Peru.jpg?w=300" alt="Peru" data-width="1600" data-height="1532" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/183733-050-F25A4459/World-Data-Locator-Map-Peru.jpg" data-href="/media/1/453147/222436">Peru</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Peru is essentially a tropical country, with its northern tip nearly touching the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Equator" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Equator</a>. Despite its tropical location, a great <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diversity" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity" data-type="MW">diversity</a> of climates, ways of life, and economic activities is brought about by the extremes of elevation and by the southwest winds that sweep in across the cold <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru-Current" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Peru Current</a> (or Humboldt Current), which flows along its Pacific shoreline. The immense difficulties of travel posed by the Andes have long impeded national unity. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Iquitos" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Iquitos</a>, on the upper <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Amazon</a>, lies only about 600 miles (965 km) northeast of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lima" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lima</a>, the capital, but, before the airplane, travelers between the cities often chose a 7,000-mile (11,250-km) trip via the Amazon, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-county-New-Jersey" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atlantic</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Caribbean-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Caribbean</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Isthmus-of-Panama" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Isthmus of Panama</a>, and the Pacific, rather than the shorter mountain route.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/3448-050-1EFC8CF3/Flag-Peru.jpg" data-href="/media/1/453147/61679" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/3448-050-1EFC8CF3/Flag-Peru.jpg" alt="Peru" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Peru">flag of Peru</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <audio src="https://cdn.britannica.com/63/145763-005-C03F51E0/instrumental-national-anthem-Peru.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" controls=""></audio> <div class="text-center font-12 mt-5"> <span>Audio File:</span> National anthem of Peru</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of State And Government: </dt> <dd>President: <a href="/biography/Dina-Boluarte">Dina Boluarte</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Lima">Lima</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2025 est.) 34,364,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Form Of Government: </dt> <dd>unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house (Congress of the Republic [130])</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Languages: </dt> <dd>Spanish; Quechua (locally); Aymara (locally)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Religion: </dt> <dd>none<sup>1</sup></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Name: </dt> <dd>República del Perú (Spanish) (Republic of Peru)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>1,285,082</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>496,171</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>nuevo sol (S/.)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Rank: </dt> <dd>(2025) 44</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Projection 2030: </dt> <dd>35,900,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: </dt> <dd>(2025) 69.3</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Km: </dt> <dd>(2025) 26.7</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Urban-Rural Population: </dt> <dd>Urban: (2017) 79.3%</dd> <dd>Rural: (2017) 20.7%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Life Expectancy At Birth: </dt> <dd>Male: (2020–2025) 74.5 years</dd> <dd>Female: (2020–2025) 79.8 years</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: </dt> <dd>Male: (2020) 97%</dd> <dd>Female: (2020) 92%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): </dt> <dd>(2023) 240,295</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): </dt> <dd>(2023) 6,990</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="footnotes mb-15"> <ol> <li>The state recognizes Roman Catholicism as an important element in the historical and cultural development of Peru.</li> </ol> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Peru"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="210501" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/189878-050-D673E81F/llama-ruins-Peru-Machu-Picchu.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/453147/210501"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/189878-050-D673E81F/llama-ruins-Peru-Machu-Picchu.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/189878-050-D673E81F/llama-ruins-Peru-Machu-Picchu.jpg?w=300" alt="Machu Picchu, Peru" data-width="1600" data-height="1049" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/189878-050-D673E81F/llama-ruins-Peru-Machu-Picchu.jpg" data-href="/media/1/453147/210501">Machu Picchu, Peru</a><span>A llama walking near the ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The name Peru is derived from a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Quechua" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Quechua</a> word implying land of abundance, a reference to the economic wealth produced by the rich and highly organized <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Inca" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Inca</a> civilization that ruled the region for centuries. The country’s vast mineral, agricultural, and marine resources long have served as the economic foundation of the country, and, by the late 20th century, tourism had also become a major element of Peru’s economic development. Favourite destinations for international travelers include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Machu-Picchu" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Machu Picchu</a>, a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cuzco" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cuzco</a>, and museums housing <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="artifacts" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artifacts" data-type="MW">artifacts</a> excavated from ancient tombs in northern coastal Peru.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref28026"> <h2 class="h1">Land</h2> <section data-level="2" id="ref28027"> <h2 class="h2">Relief</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="61681" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/3450-050-0961629F/Peru-map-features-locator.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/453147/61681"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/3450-050-0961629F/Peru-map-features-locator.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/3450-050-0961629F/Peru-map-features-locator.jpg?w=300" alt="Physical features of Peru" data-width="1115" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/3450-050-0961629F/Peru-map-features-locator.jpg" data-href="/media/1/453147/61681">Physical features of Peru</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="212208" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/167865-050-65F4B5B2/Colca-valley-Chivay-Peru.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/453147/212208"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/167865-050-65F4B5B2/Colca-valley-Chivay-Peru.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/167865-050-65F4B5B2/Colca-valley-Chivay-Peru.jpg?w=300" alt="Colca valley, Chivay, Peru" data-width="800" data-height="526" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/167865-050-65F4B5B2/Colca-valley-Chivay-Peru.jpg" data-href="/media/1/453147/212208">Colca valley, Chivay, Peru</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref396385"></span>Peru is traditionally described in terms of three broad longitudinal regions: the arid Costa on the west; the rugged Sierra, or Andes, system in the centre; and the wet and forested Amazonia—the tropical Amazon Basin—on the east.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="3" id="ref28028"> <h2 class="h3">The <span id="ref396386"></span>Costa</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The coastal plain can be readily divided into three parts—north, central, and south—on the basis of the amount of level land and the distance between the Andean ranges and the sea. Generally speaking, the amount of level coastal land diminishes from north to south. In the northern region, from Ecuador to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Chimbote" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chimbote</a>, the plain is typically some 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 km) wide, with a maximum width of more than 90 miles (140 km) in the Sechura Desert south of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Piura-Peru" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Piura</a>. The central coastal region, which stretches from Chimbote to Nazca, is narrower than the northern region and is characterized by areas of rough hills that extend from the Andes to the shores of the ocean. From Nazca southward to the Chilean border the coast is for the most part lined by low mountains; the southern valleys are narrow, and only in scattered spots are level lands found near the ocean.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/which-country-is-larger-by-area-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/168695-131-11055CC5/Geography-Something-globe-Europe-Eurasia-Africa.jpg" alt="7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="3" id="ref28029"> <h2 class="h3">The Sierra, or Andean, region</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Along the western edge of South America, the <span id="ref396387"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Andes-Mountains" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Andes Mountains</a> were created by tectonic activity in which the South American Plate overrode the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Nazca-Plate" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Nazca Plate</a>. The Peruvian Andes are typical of mountain regions of the Pacific Rim: they are young in geologic terms, and their continuing uplift is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="manifested" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manifested" data-type="MW">manifested</a> by frequent earthquakes and much instability. Three main backbones protrude from the Peruvian Andes; they are commonly called the cordilleras Occidental, Central, and Oriental, although these <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="designations" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designations" data-type="MW">designations</a> are not used within Peru.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="95385" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/95024-050-9DC147CF/Misti-Volcano-Arequipa-Peru.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/453147/95385"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/95024-050-9DC147CF/Misti-Volcano-Arequipa-Peru.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/95024-050-9DC147CF/Misti-Volcano-Arequipa-Peru.jpg?w=300" alt="Misti Volcano, Peru" data-width="1600" data-height="528" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/95024-050-9DC147CF/Misti-Volcano-Arequipa-Peru.jpg" data-href="/media/1/453147/95385">Misti Volcano, Peru</a><span>Misti Volcano, near Arequipa, Peru.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Slopes are relatively gentle in northern Peru, and maximum elevations seldom exceed 16,000 feet (about 5,000 metres). The Andes in central Peru are higher and more rugged. The ranges of the central zone form particularly difficult barriers to movement. The main pass east of Lima, for instance, is at an elevation of more than 15,000 feet (4,500 metres)—higher than many of the peaks in the north. Many of the mountains of central Peru are snowcapped and are a popular attraction for climbers and tourists. Of particular fame is the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cordillera-Blanca" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Cordillera Blanca</a>, with the country’s highest peak, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Huascaran" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mount Huascarán</a>, at 22,205 feet (6,768 metres), and nearby Huascarán National Park (designated a UNESCO <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Heritage-site" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World Heritage site</a> in 1985). In southern Peru the character of the Andes changes to that of a high <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="plateau" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/plateau" data-type="EB">plateau</a> region; this is the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Altiplano" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Puna</a>, with vast tablelands and elevations between 13,000 and 16,000 feet (about 4,000 and 5,000 metres). Scattered peaks, with elevations of up to about 21,000 feet (6,400 metres), protrude above the broad southern plateaus. Beginning northwest of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Arequipa-Peru" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arequipa</a>, many of the southern peaks form a volcanic chain that stretches into northern Chile, including Ampato, Huacla Huacla, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Misti-Volcano" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Misti</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> </section> </section></section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":18,"pageId":453147,"pageLength":821,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.134.26"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.134.26' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Peru | History, Flag, People, Language, Population, Map, & Facts | Britannica