| PERU |
| "Cusco, navel of the Inca world, is now South America's gringo hangout, with it's access to Machu Picchu and a buzzing nightlife. Not far away is magical lake Titicaca, birthplace of the Inca myth. The adobe cities of the north coast, the mysterious cloud people of the northern highlands, the giant figures etched on the dessert by the Nascans, are just a few of the pre-Inca cultures Peru has to offer. You can trek for ever amid high peaks and blue lakes, cycle down remote mountainsides, or surf the paciffic rollers. East of the Andes the jungles strech towards the heart of the continent with some of the richest biodiversity on earth. And, should you tire of nature, there is always Lima, loud and brash, but with some of the best museums and liveliest nightlife in the country." Taken from Footprint South American Handbook 2003 |
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| Location: Western South America, boardering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador Land boundaries: Total: 5,536 km Border countries: Bolivia 900km, Brazil 1,560 km Chile 160 km, Colombia 1,496 km (est), Ecuador 1,420 km. Coastline: 2,414 km Climate: Varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes Terrain: Western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in centre(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amozon Basin (selva) Natural Hazards: Earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity Population: 27,949,639 (July 2002 est.) Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara Government type: Constitutional republic Independance: 28th July 1821 (from Spain) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Imports: $7.4 billion Exports: $7.3 billion Currency: Neuvo sol |
| Peruvian flag click to enlarge |
| Map of Peru |
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