Peru

Peru (Spanish: Peru is a country in western South America, bordering Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Peru is rich in cultural anthropology, and is well-known as the cradle of the Inca empire.

Peru
Missing image
Flag_of_Peru.png
Flag of Peru

Missing image
PeruCoatofArms.PNG
Republic of Peru: Coat of Arms

(National Flag) (National Coat of Arms)
National motto: None
Location of Peru
Official languages Spanish1
Capital and largest city Lima
President Alejandro Toledo Manrique
Prime Minister Carlos Ferrero Costa
Area
 - Total
 - % water
World ranking: 20th
1,285,220 km²
8.80%
Population
 - Total (2002)
 - Density
World ranking: 39th
27,925,628
22/km²
Independence
 - Declared
From Spain
July 28, 1821
Currency Nuevo Sol (S/.)
Time zone UTC -5
National anthem "Somos libres, se᭯slo siempre" "We are free, may we always be so"
Internet TLD .pe
Calling Code 51

1 Quechua, [[Aymara language|Aymar᝝ and other regional languages are also recognized in the areas where they are predominant.

Contents

History

Main article: History of Peru

Before the Spanish arrived, Peru was home to various Pre-Inca cultures and later, to the Inca Empire. Francisco Pizarro landed on the Peruvian coast in 1532, and by the end of the 1530s Peru became a Viceroyalty and a major source of gold and silver for the Spanish Empire. Peru declared its independence from Spain on July 28, 1821 thanks to an alliance between the Argentine army of [[Jos頤e San Mart�], and the Neogranadine Army of Sim󮠂ol�r. Its first elected president, however, was not in power until 1827. From 1836 to 1839 Peru and Bolivia were united in the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy, dissolved only after an armed conflict with Chile and Argentina. Between these years, political unrest didn't fade away, with the Army as an important political force. Once again, between 1879 and 1883, Peru and Bolivia made an alliance and fought against Chile in the War of the Pacific. After the war (and with the loss of the province of Tarapaca), political stability was achieved, during the early years of the 1900s; until [[Augusto Legu�] and his dictatorship arrived.

Regions

Main article: Political division of Peru

Peru's territory is divided into 25 regions. These regions are subdivided into provinces, which are composed of districts. There are 180 provinces and 1747 districts in Peru.

The Lima Province, located in the central coast of the country, is unique in that it doesn't belong to any of the twenty-five regions. The city of Lima is located in this province, which is also known as Lima Metropolitana (Metropolitan Lima).

Until 2002, Peru was divided into 24 departments (departamentos), and many people still use this term when referring to today's regions, although it is now obsolete.


Geography

Main article: Geography of Peru

Missing image
Pe-map.png
Map of Peru

Peru is located in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador. It also shares borders with Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia.

The western coastal plains (costa) are separated from the eastern lowland jungle of the Amazon Basin (selva) by the high and rugged Andes in the center (sierra). On the border with Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 3821 m.

A land rich in cultural heritage and a variety of natural environments, harbors 84 of the 118 known life zones of the earth.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Peru

The current president is Alejandro Toledo, leader of Per?ible. This governing party is, with 45 seats, the largest in the 120-seat parliament.

The second and third largest parties are in opposition; respectively Partido Aprista Peruano (short: PAP, 28 seats), which is led by Alan Garc�P鲥z, and Unidad Nacional (short: UN, 17 seats), which is led by Lourdes Flores Nano.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Peru

The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990; in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. Thanks to strong foreign investment and the cooperation between the Fujimori government the IMF and the World Bank, growth was strong in 199497 and inflation was brought under control. In 1998, [[El Ni񯝝's impact on agriculture, the financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets undercut growth. And 1999 was another lean year for Peru, with the aftermath of El Ni񯠡nd the Asian financial crisis working its way through the economy. Lima did manage to complete negotiations for an Extended Fund Facility with the IMF in June 1999, although it subsequently had to renegotiate the targets. Pressure on spending grew in the run-up to the 2000 elections. Growth up to 2004 has been driven by construction, investment, domestic demand, and exports to different world regions. Peru's economy is one of the better-managed in Latin America. Over the next few years, the country is likely to attract both domestic and foreign investment in the tourism, agriculture, mining, petroleum and natural gas, and power industries.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Peru

Peru is one of only three countries in the Americas where indigenous people constitute the majority of the population — the other two being Bolivia and Guatemala — where almost half of all Peruvians are Amerindian, or 45 percent of the total population. The two major indigenous ethnic groups are Quechua-speakers, followed closely by the [[Aymara|Aymar᝝, as well as several dozen small Amerindian ethnic tribes scattered throughout the country beyond the Andes Mountains and in the Amazon basin. Mestizos, a term that denotes people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry, constitute around 37% of the people.

Peru has two official languages--Spanish and the foremost indigenous language, Quechua. Spanish is used by the government and the media and in education and commerce, although there is an increasing and organized effort to teach Quechua in public schools. Amerindians who live in the Andean highlands speak Quechua and Aymara and are ethnically distinct from the diverse indigenous groups who live on the eastern side of the Andes and in the tropical lowlands adjacent to the Amazon basin.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Peru

Pictures and Photographs of Peru

International rankings

Miscellaneous topics

External links


Countries in South America
Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Panama | Paraguay | Peru | Suriname | Trinidad and Tobago | Uruguay | Venezuela
Dependencies: Falkland Islands | French Guiana
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