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DESTINATION PERU
Multiple layers of great civilizations make Peru an interesting
destination for studying the anthropology of the preserved colonial cities
of the Spanish conquistadors, or the ancient Incan capital of Cuzco, the
lost city of Machu Picchu or the enigma of the Nazca Lines. These are
located in a country with some of the most spectacular and varied scenery
in South America. The Peruvian Andes are arguably the most beautiful on
the continent and the mountains are home to millions of highland Indians
who still speak the ancient tongue of Quechua and maintain a traditional
way of life. The verdant Amazon Basin, which occupies half of Peru, is
one of the world's top ten biodiversity `hot spots' - a species-rich area
of tropical rainforest.
Facts at a Glance:
Full country name: Republic of Peru
Area: 1,285,220 sq km (three times larger than California)
Population: 27,925,628 (2005 est.)
Capital city: Lima (pop. 7.35 million)
People: 45% Indian, 37% Mestizo (mixed European and Indian
descent), 12% Spanish descent, 3% Black, Asian and other
Language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Religion: 81% Roman Catholic, small Protestant population
Government: Constitutional Republic
President: Alejandro Toledo Manrique since 2001
Independence: July 28, 1821 (from Spain)
Location, Land, and Environment:
Peru is in western South America and shares borders with Chile (to the
south), Bolivia (southeast), Brazil (northeast), Colombia (north) and
Ecuador (northwest). It has three major regions: a narrow Coastal belt,
the wide Andean mountains and the Amazon Basin. The coastal strip is predominantly
desert, but contains Peru's major cities and its best highway, the Carratera
Panamericana. The Andes comprise two principal ranges - Cordillera Occidental
and Oriental - and includes Huascarán (6768m), Peru's highest mountain.
Also found in the Andes is Lake Titicaca, at 3820m, the highest navigable
lake in the world, over 170km long, and the largest lake in South America.
The air is unusually clear and the water is azure. In the east of Peru
is the Amazon Basin, a region of tropical lowland, which is drained by
the Maranon and Ucayali rivers.
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: sea level, along the coast
Highest point: Huascaran, 6,768 m (22,205 ft.)
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Weather/Climate:
Peru's climate can be divided into two seasons - wet and dry - though
this varies, depending on the geographical region. The coast and western
Andean slopes are generally dry, with the summer falling between December
and April. During the rest of the year, the garúa (coastal fog)
moves in and the sun is rarely seen. In the Andes, the dry season is from
May to September, while the wet season takes up the remainder of the year.
On the eastern slopes of the Andes, the drier months are similar to the
highlands, though the wet season (January to April) is more pronounced.
History:
The first inhabitants of Peru were nomadic hunter-gatherers who lived
in caves in Peru's coastal regions. The oldest site, Pikimachay cave is
estimated around 12,000 BC. Crops such as cotton, beans, squash and pepper
chillis were planted around 4000 BC; later, advanced cultures such as
the Chavín introduced weaving, agriculture and religion to the
country. Around 300 BC, the Chavín inexplicably disappeared, but
over the centuries several other cultures – including the Salinar,
Nazca, Paracas Necropolis and Wari (Huari) inhabited the land. By the
early 15th century, the Inca empire had control of much of the area, even
extending its influence into Colombia and Chile.
Between 1526-28, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro explored Peru's
coastal regions drawn by the riches of the Inca empire. By his second
expedition in 1533, civil war had weakened the once flourishing Incan
empire such that it was easily conquered when his men marched into Cajamarca,
in northern Peru, and captured, ransomed and executed the Inca emperor,
Atahualpa. Pizarro subsequently founded the city of Lima in 1535 and was
assassinated six years later. The rebellion of the Incans against the
Spanish ended ingloriously with the beheading of the last Incan leader,
Manco Inca, in 1572.
The next 200 years proved peaceful, with Lima becoming the major political,
social and commercial center of the Andean nations. However, the exploitation
of Indians by their colonial masters led to an uprising in 1780 under
Inca Tupac Amaru II. The rebellion was short-lived and most of the leaders
were rounded up and executed. Peru continued to remain loyal to Spain
until 1824 when the country was liberated by the Venezuelan Simón
Bolívar and the Argentinean José de San Martín.
A succession of power hungry generals kept Peru in turmoil until 1845.
Border conflicts were frequent from 1836-39. Peru was united with Bolivia
under the presidency of Andres Santa Cruz. A period of civil war 1842-1845
ended with the emergence of Ramon Castilla as president of Peru. During
his presidency (1845-62) brought about extensive economic and political
reforms.
Castilla’s retirement was followed by a period of internal disorder,
corruption and increasing foreign debt. In 1866, Peru, with the help of
Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile defeated a Spanish invasion, apparently initiated
by Peru’s debt. In 1879, the peace treaty with Spain recognized
Peru’s independence for the first time. The first civilian government
came to power in 1872, and its president Manuel Pardo, involved Peru in
a secret defense fund alliance with Bolivia against Chile which led to
Peru’s involvement in the War of the Pacific. This war was disastrous
for Peru resulting in the loss of the valuable nitrate fields and leading
to bankruptcy and instability.
The first third of the 20th century was dominated by Augusto Bernadino
Leguia y Salcedo who reined from 1908 and was deposed in 1930. In 1941
Peru went to war with Ecuador over a land dispute. The decision over the
land is still fiercely contested. Cuban-inspired guerrilla uprisings occurred
throughout 1965 led by the National Liberation Army but were unsuccessful.
The military junta instituted a land-distribution program, establishing
farm cooperatives on former privately owned large estates. It also nationalized
many industries, including petroleum. Because of greatly increased government
spending to finance these programs, by 1975 the country again faced spiraling
inflation and a huge foreign deficit. In 1975, Velasco Alvardo’s
government was replaced by a new military junta led by General Francisco
Morales Bermudez. The regime reversed the balance of payments deficit
and was unable to control the high level of unemployment and shortages
of agricultural products.
In July 1980 the junta stepped down in favor of the newly elected civilian
government of Belaunde Terry. Belaunde’s efforts to restore normal
conditions were hindered by continued economic instability, nationwide
strikes and a violent insurgency by the Maoist Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso)
guerrillas. Another guerrilla group - the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
(MRTA) - also gained in strength during this time.
However, the 1990 presidential election victory of Alberto Fujimori (erroneously
known as El Chino because of his Japanese parentage) and the capture in
1992 of inspirational MRTA and Sendero Luminoso leaders hindered hopes
for a sustained period of peace. Unfortunately, recent flare-ups with
Ecuador over long-standing border disputes have meant the enlistment of
international observervation and control. The main threat to domestic
stability remains unemployment and poverty, despite Peru's fast-growing
economy. Fujimori was re-elected in April 1995, comprehensively beating
former UN secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar.
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Social Statistics:
Population growth rate: 1.36% (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.94 deaths/1,000 live births
(2005 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.56 children born/ woman (2005
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 69.53 years
Literacy: 90.9%, age 15+ that can read and write (2003
est.)
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2005 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 82,000 (2003 est.)
Education: years compulsory - 11
Culture:
Art forms before Spanish colonization concentrated almost entirely on
the production of pottery, metalwork, stonecraft and textiles. The Spanish
subsequently introduced urban planning, and constructed mansions, churches
and monasteries which resembled Spanish renaissance. Over time, these
European styles increasingly showed signs of a native Indian influence,
leading to a style known as Mestizo. (The best examples of Mestizo architecture
can be found in the churches around Puno and Arequipa.) Painting has also
mimicked European influences but as local artists grew more confident,
a new and distinctive Cuzco style developed, in which artists turned their
attention away from the visible world, and concentrated instead on fairy-tale
and fable. The influence of these works on Gauguin, who spent his childhood
in Lima, is noticeable. Peruvian music is almost entirely folk music,
while its literature encompasses everything from independence-inspired
political controversy to the anarchic individualism of its many poets
and contemplative story-telling of the internationally renowned author
Mario Vargas Llosa.
Religion:
The main religion is Roman Catholicism, though the Indians while outwardly
Catholic, often blend Catholicism with traditional beliefs and practices.
Language:
Spanish is the main language. In the highlands, most Indians are bilingual,
but speak Quechua as their mother tongue. There are about 70 other languages.
In remote parts of the Amazon Spanish is rarely spoken.
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Food:
Typical Peruvian dishes vary regionally. Seafood is, understandably, best
on the coast, while the Inca delicacy - roast guinea pig - can be sampled
in the highlands. Other dishes include: lomo saltado (chopped steak fried
with onions); cebiche corvina (seabass); and sopa a la criolla (a lightly
spiced noodle soup with beef, egg, milk and vegetables).Suffrage:
Universal over 18; compulsory until age 70 (members of the military may
not vote).
Economy:
Peru, one of the poorest countries in Latin America, has experienced serious
economic problems for years. Throughout the 1980s, economic growth scarcely
kept pace with population increase. By 1989, with an inflation rate of
8,000 percent and more than half the work force unemployed or under-employed,
the country faced its worst economic crisis of the century. The failed
economy spurred the disruptive activities of leftist guerrillas, which
in turn further weakened the economy.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing provide about 15% of the gross domestic
product (GDP). Farmers in the Sierra grow corn, wheat, barley, and potatoes
for food, as well as coca (the source of cocaine), which has become Peru's
leading cash crop even though its cultivation is illegal. Joint Peruvian-U.S.
efforts to eradicate coca plants have been resisted by planters and guerrillas.
Commercial irrigated farming in the coastal region produces cotton, sugar,
and coffee for export. Peru's fish catch was the largest in the world
from 1962 until 1972, when the arrival of the warm El Nino current caused
cool-water species to move elsewhere temporarily. The fishing industry
subsequently revived, but El Nino returned again during 1983-84 and is
presently affecting current weather patterns.
Exports of copper, silver, lead, zinc, and iron provide about 40% of all
export income. Petroleum is extracted near Talara on the coast and near
Pucallpa in the Amazon basin.
Manufacturing contributes about 23% of the GNP. The chief export industries
are metal refining and smelting and the processing of agricultural and
fish products. Most other industry focuses on the production of consumer
goods for domestic consumption. The textile, sugar refining, paper, chemical,
automotive, and shipbuilding industries are concentrated on the coast,
60% in the Lima area alone. The processing of forest products and petroleum
refining are the leading industries in the Montana. Development of the
Montana, which contains more than half of Peru's arable land, has been
hindered by a lack of adequate transportation.
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Economic Statistics:
GDP: $155.3 billion (2004 est.)
GDP per head: $5,600 (2004 est.)
Annual growth rate: 4.5%
Inflation rate: 3.8%
Unemployment rate: 9.6% with widespread underemployment (2004
est.)
Labor distribution: agriculture--9%; manufacturing--18%; services--73%
Major industries: pulp, paper, coca leaves, fishmeal,
steel, chemicals, oil, minerals
Major trading partners: US, UK, Chile, Japan, Switzerland,
China, Columbia, Brazil, Spain.
Exports: $12.3 billion
Imports: $9.6 billion
Facts for the Traveler:
Visas: Most travelers do not need visas; notable exceptions
are New Zealanders and Spaniards.
Currency: Nuevo (New) Sol
Exchange rate: US$1 = 3.41 soles (2004 est.)
Time: EST
Electricity: 220V, 60 Hz
Tourism: 810,000
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Major Cities and Attractions:
Lima
Lima, Peru's capital (pop: over 8 million), is crowded, polluted, and
noisy. However, the inhabitants are friendly and hospitable, and there
are many opportunities for dining and nightlife. The city also has a great
selection of museums. Attractions include the Museo de Oro del Peru, which
has numerous artifacts of gold, silver and precious stones, and the Museo
Nacional de Antropología y Arquelogía, which is noted for
its excellent exhibits of prehistoric Peru. Churches such as San Francisco
(famous for its catacombs) and Santo Domingo (circa 1540) provide a welcome
respite from the outside activity. Lima's many markets, including Polvos
Azules, overflow with consumer goods and handicrafts. There are also plazas,
lovely colonial buildings and a zoo.
Cuzco
The archaeological capital of the Americas and the oldest continuously
inhabited city on the continent, Cuzco, is now an important link in the
South American travel network. Its legacy as the hub of the Inca empire
is readily apparent: most of the city streets are lined with Inca-built
stone walls and busy with Quecha-speaking descendants of the Incas. The
city has magnificent repositories of colonial art such as the cathedral
(begun in 1559) and La Merced Church. There is also the Coricancha ruins,
east of the city center, which were formerly covered with gold (the stonework
is all that remains) and the Museo de Arqueológia, the interior
of which is filled with metal and gold work, jewelry, pottery, textiles
and mummies. Four other ruins - Sacsayhuamán, Qenko, Puca Pucara
and Tambo Machay - are nearby.
Machu Picchu
West of Cuzco is Machu Picchu, the most well-known site on the continent.
Despite the relentless stampede of tourists to the ruins, this 'Lost City
of the Incas' still retains an air of mystery and is a highlight of any
visit to Peru.
Pucallpa
Pucallpa with a population of 200,000 is Peru’s fastest growing
jungle town. The huge flocks of vultures that circle the markets and docks
are one of the most memorable sights of the area. Though locals take pride
in the city’s progress and growth, it is not a major destination
for the typical traveler. The Plaza de Armas is the city center and Yarnicocha,
a nearby lake, is the tourist area of Pucallpa. The port, La Hoyada, on
Rio Ocayau is busy with local activity.
Nazca, Home of the Nazca Lines
Nazca, a town of 30,000 people on the Panamerican Highway, is a frequent
traveler’s destination because of it’s culture and world famous
Nazca Lines. A frequently asked question then is, So what are the Nazca
Lines? Their ancient significance is not known but, what is known is that
they are huge geometric designs drawn in the desert and visible only by
air. The lines were made by the removal of the dark sun-baked stones from
the surface of the desert. These stones were then piled up on either side
of the lines, exposing the lighter colored soil below. This lower layer
contains a lot of gypsum. Some of these lines make-up the designs of giant
animals ( a monkey, a condor and a lizard). Others are perfect triangles
or rectangles or straight lines. There are several dozen different figures.
The most famous lines are in the desert 12 miles north of the city. It
is thought that the lines were made by Nazca or Paracas cultures somewhere
from 900BC to 600AD. The best way to see the lines is from the air above
Nazca.
Information adapted from the Lonely Planet website, the
Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia,Human Development Report 1999 & the
World Factbook.
(updated 8/05)
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