(Thanks to Promperu for the tourist information and photographs )

INFORMATION ABOUT PERU

GEOGRAPHY

With an extension of 1 285,216 km2 (496,222 sq miles) Peru is located over the central and occidental area of South America. It limits with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Chile to the South, Brazil and Bolivia to the east and the Pacific ocean to the west.

Peru has three clearly defined geographical regions: the coast, desert area in which 40 valley, irrigated by the rivers that run down the occidental side of the Andes, are the seats of the main cities in the region, like Lima , the capital city, Trujillo , Ica and Tacna .

The sierra, over the Cordillera de los Andes mountain chain running from south to north. Its highest peak is Huascaran with 6,768 m/ 22,204 ft. a.s.l. Cusco , the capital of the Inca empire was established within this region.

The jungle, in the middle of which runs the torrential Amazonas river . It has a tropical wheather and its flora and fauna are considered to be the richest in the world.

The Peruvian sea has a great ichtyologic variety because of its warm and cold streams which run parallel to the coast and give its water a special temperature .

CLIMATE

Being the coast over the sub tropical area, its average temperature is between 14ºC / 57ºF and 27ºC / 80ºF. In the sierra the weather is cold and dry with a temperature between 9ºC / 48ºF and 18ºC / 64ºF. In the jungle it is very warm and humid and the temperature may range between 25ºC / 77ºF and 28ºC / 82.4ºF. Peru can be visited the whole year around.

POPULATION

The population in Peru reaches 22 128,466 people according to the latest census (1993). Because of the successive immigrations which have taken place for more than a hundred years, there are several ethnic groups coexisting in the country with the natives or indiana. The main are Caucasian, African - American and Asiatic -mainly Chinese and Japanese- who make a very peculiar ethnic combination which gives Peruvian people an uncommon charisma.

LANGUAGE

The official language are Spanish and Quechua dialect, which along with the Aymara are still used by many people. There are many other dialects in the jungle.

MONEY

Starting from July 1, 1991 the official currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.). There are S/.10, S/. 20, S/. 50, S/. 100, S/. 200 bills, and, S/. 0.05, S/. 0.10, S/. 0.20, S/.0.50, and S/. 1.00, S/. 2.00, and S/. 5.00 coins.

HERITAGE

Peru has a cultural heritage of almost 20,000 years.

There are many testimonies of it, from the ancient cave paintings to the stone and mud-brick monuments left by the Chavin , Tiahuanaco , Mochica and Chimu cultures, as well as by the Incas. Part of this heritage is represented by the enigma and mysteries of the past, like in the Nasca markings.

During the colonial period which took place in Peru after its conquest by Francisco Pizarro, Spain also contributed to painting, sculpture and architecture as well as to gold and silver works with several art expressions.

The symbiosis of the ancient cultures with the successive migrations which took place during the Republican period has made this an extraordinary country with music and folklore which, added to its natural attractions. its modern life and its gastronomy, make Peru a very attractive tourist destination.