Some interesting facts about Peru
So what does anyone actually know about Peru apart from the fact it’s where Paddington Bear came from and that it’s home to some fairly spectacular ancient ruins and monuments such as Machu Picchu?
Don’t worry, your in the field reporter decided to do a little research for you!
Location: Peru (officially the Republic of Peru) is on the west side of South America, below the equator. It is bordered by 5 different countries. Ecuador and Colombia to the north. Brazil is to the east, Bolivia the south east, and Chile to the south.
Capital: The capital of Peru is Lima, which is located on the west coast.
Population: The population of Peru is 29,180,900 according to WikiPedia. It is the fourth most populous country in South America. Over 8 million people live within the Lima metropolitan area, which is almost a third of the population.
Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%.
Language: The main language of Peru is Spanish, however there are several native languages that are still spoken by the more indigenous populations. Quechua, the language of the Incas, is the most common native language, spoken by over 13% of the population.
Currency: The currency of Peru is the nuevo sol (plural is soles). Virtually everyone just says soles, ie. ten soles (or diez soles). Many shops and businesses in Cusco (and probably many other parts of the country) also accept American Dollars. More at wikipedia.
Income: The average household income in Peru is about $4,400. Peru is largely a poor country.
Politics: Peru is a presidential representative democratic republic with a multi-party system. Under the current constitution, the President is the head of state and government; he or she is elected for five years and cannot seek immediate re-election, he or she must stand down for at least one full constitutional term before reelection.
Independance: Peru declared independance from Spain on 28 July 1821.
Flag: Here is an image of the Peruvian flag
Geography: Peru covers 1,285,220 km² (496,193 sq mi). There are 3 very distinct geographical areas of Peru. The entire west coast is mostly dry and desert. Then running parallel with the coast from the north west to the south east are the Andes mountains . Then to the north and north east of Peru is the Amazon basin. The Amazon rainforest in Peru covers 70 million hectares, giving Peru the fourth largest area of tropical forest in the world after Brazil, Congo and Indonesia.
Natural Hazards: Peru (or certain regions of Peru) are prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides and mild volcanic activity. Yikes!!!
Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy for Peruvian males is 68.88 years, and for females is 72.69 years.
Religion: Peru is a very christian country with over 81% of the population Roman Catholic. However many Peruvians still maintain some of their indigenous beliefs.
Food: Peruvian cuisine is considered by many to be the best in South America. Common ingredients found in Peruvian dishes include rice, potatoes, hot peppers and garlic. A Peruvian speciality (in the Andes region) is guinea Pig (known as Cuy). More about Peruvian cuisine at Wikipedia
More info about Peru can be found at:
What else would you like to know about Peru? Leave a comment below!
