Studying the world map, it is worth paying attention to one state. Its location, history and development are quite interesting. That's why this article we want to dedicate a story about the Republic of Peru. To study its borders, population, system of government. And, of course, find out where Peru is located and what features of the relief it has.

Geographical position

Peru ( official name- The Republic of Peru) is located on the western coast of the continent. Its area of ​​​​1,285,220 square kilometers allows it to occupy the third place in size between Divided into 25 departments, the capital since the time of the Incas is the city of Lima. In order to accurately answer the question of where Peru is located, you need to know its coordinates - this is 8 ° 48′00 ″ S. sh. 74°58′00″ W e. In the neighborhood with the state there are such countries as Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Chile. From the west it is washed by Pacific waters.

Briefly about the main

Translated from the language of local aborigines, the name of the state means "river". The largest water streams- Amazon and Marañon, and the largest lake is the world famous Titicaca. The most high point- Mount Huascaran (6,768 m). According to 2015 data, the population of the country is more than 31 million people, the capital - about 7 million inhabitants. Independence was proclaimed on July 28, 1821. The climate is mixed, signs of both equatorial and tropical appear on the territory of the Republic of Peru. South America, it is worth noting, is characterized by such features. There is only one season in the equatorial zone, very a large number of rainfall, in the same tropical - two seasons. The Amazon jungle has a particularly hot and humid climate.

Relief features

When you find out where Peru is located, the variety of relief immediately becomes clear. Most of the land along the Pacific coast is occupied by the Costa desert, a little to the east is the Andes mountain belt, and even further - the Amazonian selva with its evergreen tropical forests, which smoothly passes into the Montagna plain. Nature has given this country such pearls as the alpine with its unique oceanic ichthyofauna and beautiful surroundings, with mysterious drawings(can only be seen from the air) national park Manu is the most beautiful place in the Amazon basin, as well as many other sites that can boast of their beauty, as well as the uniqueness of flora and fauna.

Attractions

It is worth noting that many tourists who come to where Peru is located need time to adapt. However, those natural beauties that can be observed on the territory of the republic are worth some inconvenience. There are also numerous architectural monuments and the remains of antiquity, which this state is rich with. amazing story. What are the sights of Lima and such buildings of the Inca times as Sacsayhuaman, Machu Picchu, Puca Pucara and others.

Geographic location and natural areas Peru

Peru is located in the west South America and has the following boundaries:

• in the north - with Colombia;
• in the east - with Brazil;
• in the west it is washed by the Pacific Ocean;
• in the northwest - with Ecuador;
• in the southeast - with Chile and Bolivia.

The area of ​​Peru is 1 million 285 thousand 220 square meters. km. Total length border is 5536 km, length coastline- 2414 km.

Three mountain ranges of the Andes stretched across all of Peru from north to south. Along Pacific Ocean in the west is the Costa - a small strip of desert coastal plains. To the east is the Sierra - the mountain belt of the Andes. The east of the country is represented by the Amazonian lowland, in the south turning into the foothill plain - Montagna.

Western Cordelera (more than 6000 m above sea level) is rich in active (Soliman, Misti, Ubinas) and extinct (Huascaran, Coropuna, Ausangate) volcanoes.

In the south, at an altitude of 3-4 thousand meters, there is the semi-desert plateau of Punu, formed by smaller plateaus and intermountain plateaus.

Remark 1

Territory of Peru natural conditions is divided into three zones: Costa (coastal) - occupies 12% of the territory; Sierra (mountainous) - makes up 27% of the territory; Selva (wooded) - the main territory (61%).

All natural zones are divided into regions: the Sechura desert forms the northern part of the Costa; the central and southern parts stretched in an arid strip between the Coastal Cordillera and the ocean; The mountainous country begins with the cardillera of the Condor.

The Costa, a coastal desert, is an extension of Chile's Atacama Desert. Most of areas are very dry. The coastal area is important economic region where the most important agricultural crops are produced. The main coastal cities are Callao, Lima, Trujillo, Chiclayo.

The Sierra is the highlands of the Andes. The Andes occupy almost a third of the area of ​​the entire country. mountain ranges elongated from northwest to southeast. The highest peak is Huascaran (6768 m). On the eastern slopes of the Andes, several large tributaries of the Amazon originate. On the border of Brazil and Peru is the largest alpine lake Titicaca (3812 m above sea level).

The soils of the western slopes of the Andes and the Costa are infertile. In the mountainous region, mountain-steppe soils predominate, in the southeast - semi-desert soils.

The Selva includes the lower regions of the eastern slopes of the Andes and the adjacent plains of the Amazon basin. This area covers more than half common territory countries.

The plain is covered with tall dense tropical rain forests. The main economic center of Iquitos is located on the Amazon River.

Main Natural resources: iron, iron ore, copper, potassium, silver, timber, oil, coal, phosphates, natural gas, hydro resources.

Climatic features of Peru

Remark 2

Peru, in terms of its climatic diversity, occupies one of the first places in the world. On its territory, there are about 80% of all climate ideas known to science.

Climatic conditions are determined by the following main natural factors:

• the presence of the Andes mountain range, which cuts the country's territory into the western and eastern slopes;
• cold Peruvian current.

The natural areas of Peru are distinguished by their climatic features:

1. Coastal desert. The Peruvian cold current (Humboldt current) determines dry and cool weather on the coast. The average temperature ranges from 16 to 23ºС. Precipitation is low, average annual rate is 50 mm, but in some years there is no rain at all. Frequent coastal fogs. The foothills of the mountains are often shrouded in "garua" - dense wet fog, which contributes to the growth of forb ephemera, low grasses, which together make up the "loma" community.
2. Highlands of the Andes. Climatic conditions vary depending on absolute altitude. For every 450 m you climb, average temperatures decrease by 1.7 ºС. At an altitude above 5 thousand meters above sea level, the peaks are covered with eternal snow and glaciers. Average temperatures in Cusco range from 8 to 11ºC, with frequent frosts at night. On the eastern open slopes, the annual rainfall is above 2500 mm, in closed basins it is about 800 mm. To the south, the amount of precipitation decreases sharply. The Andean slopes (their middle part) in the north and east of the country are covered with dense subtropical forest, gradually changing with height to "sekhu" - a forest of a more temperate climatic type. The cinchona tree is the greatest value of the forest.
3. Selva. Tropical rainforest zone. Heat keeps here all year round, heavy rainfall. Annual average temperature fluctuates around 24-25ºС. A tall tropical rainforest grows on the territory. Highest value has mahogany (akazhu) and zedrel.

Natural hazards in Peru: earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides, floods. The most active volcano in the country is Ubinas (5672 m).

To problems environment include: desertification; deforestation (often due to illegal logging); pollution of rivers and coastal waters with waste mining industry and household waste; air pollution; overgrazing on the western slopes of the coastal plains leading to soil erosion.

Fauna of Peru

On the land of the Costa, the animal world is scarce. On the territory of Peru live: puma, jaguar, monkeys, llama, anteater, tapir, sloth, chinchilla, crocodile, armadillo, many birds, lizards, snakes, insects.

The world of seabirds and aquatic animals (shrimps, shellfish, fish) is diverse.

The Sierra is inhabited by representatives of llama vicuñas and guanacos. There are a lot of trout in Lake Titicaca.

Tropical fauna lives in the Selva. It is home to tapirs, peccaries, monkeys, anteaters, reptiles, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds, and insects.

The main animals of the Andes are alpacas, llamas, guanacos, vicuñas, chinchillas and viscachas.

The coastal desert is washed by cold waters, in which many species of commercial fish live: bonito, tuna, mackerel, swordfish, stone perch, croaker. Sea fish provides food for cormorants, pelicans, gannets nesting on rocky islets.

The ecological balance of coastal communities can be disturbed by warm equatorial waters (El Niño). This phenomenon causes migration among fish and plankton, as a result of which birds die of starvation.

The State of Peru is located in the western part of South America between 81o19' and 68o west longitude and between 0o01' and 18o21' south latitude. On its territory (1,285.215 sq. km), France, Spain and Italy combined can freely accommodate. Among Latin American countries Peru is second in size only to Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. Its neighbors are Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, and Chile to the far south. From the west it is washed by the Pacific Ocean.

Administratively, it is divided into 23 departments and the province of Callao, which has the rights of a department. State languages- Spanish and Quechua. The dominant religion is Catholic. The capital is Lima.

Political structure

Modern Peru is a republic. The head of state is the president, who is elected for 5 years. He in turn appoints the ministers. Legislative power belongs to the unicameral Congress, which includes 120 congressmen. The term of office of Congress is 5 years. Executive power is in the hands of the president of the republic and the ministers. Judicial branch carried out Supreme Court and local judiciary.

Relief

The size of the country and the natural and geographical diversity have determined the contrasts of its individual regions.

Costa stretches in a narrow strip - the western coast, washed by the Pacific Ocean, a strip of coastal desert, with a width of 80 to 150 km.

Beyond the coastal desert rises one of the greatest mountain systems our planet - the Andes. The highest peaks covered with eternal snows (the highest is Huascaran - 6768 m), powerful glaciers, deep canyons, vast high mountain plateaus - such is the Sierra - mountain part countries, literally “saw”. Here, from the small glacial lake Laurikocha, the most abundant river in the world, the Amazon, originates. East End country - 3/5 of the entire territory (Peruvians call Selva, from the Latin "silva" - forest), covered with dense humid equatorial forest.

Hydrography

The entire Pacific coast is indented by rivers, but only a few of them carry their waters to the ocean throughout the year. The channels of most rivers are filled with water for a short period - from January to April - when it rains in the Andes, snow and glaciers melt.

Since ancient times, rivers have played an important role in the life of the Sierra, in the valleys of which the bulk of the population is concentrated. Streams running down from mountain glaciers merge to form lakes. One of them - Laurikocha - gives rise to the Marañon flowing to the north. For almost 640 km, it separates the Western and Central Cordillera. Another one major river northern Andes - Huallaga. Having broken through the eastern Cordillera, it enters the Selva plain, then merging with Marañon to form the great Amazon. In southern Peru, the largest river is the Apurimac. Merging with Mantaro, Apurimac gives rise to the river Ene, which downstream is called Tambo. The Tambo, together with another river, the Urubamba, in turn gives rise to the Ucayali, the most important river of the Peruvian Selva.

The Urubamba River Valley is the cradle of the great Inca civilization. In the upper reaches, where it is called Vilcanota, is located ancient capital Incas - Cusco. Not far from Cusco are the ruins of the famous fortress of pre-Columbian America - Machu Picchu.

Flora

In the Andes, it is clearly manifested altitudinal zonality. The slopes of the Eastern Cordillera up to about 1500 m form a zone called in Spanish "tierra caliente" (hot land). From a height of about 1500 m, it is replaced by a belt of mountain rainforest, rising to 2300-2500 m, which is represented by many tree-like ferns 10-14 m high, thorny shrubs, mosses, lichens, club mosses, an abundance of fiery red or bright yellow orchids. One of the typical plants of the mountain forest is cinchona (from 1400 to 2400 m). Peru is the birthplace of this tree and is depicted on the coat of arms of the country.

The mountain rainforest is replaced by a deciduous forest (up to about 3000 m). A different picture on the slopes of the western Cordillera: bare rocks, rubble, salt marshes, sand dunes, dryness, rare shrubs, cacti and grasses.

The vegetation of the intra-Andean regions is sharply affected by the height, the distance from the equator. Natural vegetation is represented here mainly by herbs and shrubs. At the borders with Ecuador, from the edge of the mountain forest to the snow line, there are high-altitude equatorial meadows - paramos.

The species composition of the Peruvian selva is extremely rich - more than 20 thousand plants. The “black gold” of the selva is famous - hevea, which gives rubber. A lot of trees and shrubs are used to produce timber, vegetable oil, varnishes, raw materials for the medical and food industries.

Fauna

The temperature regime of the Peruvian current is very favorable for the development of plankton, which serves as food for fish and cetaceans. Numerous islets scattered along the coast, as if covered with white snow: there is so much bird droppings on them - guano. Birds living on the islands - cormorants, boobies, pelicans, gulls, etc. - form this valuable fertilizer.

Animal world The Sierra is represented mainly by llama, alpaca, huariso, vicuña and guanaco. A typical inhabitant of the Andes is the mighty royal condor, whose wingspan sometimes reaches four and a half meters. In the Peruvian Andes, there is also a very rare animal - the chinchilla, whose fur is considered the most expensive in the world. Of the predators in the Sierra, there are a cougar and an Azar fox. There are many waterfowl on the shores of lakes and in the swamps of the Sierra, and the rivers are rich in fish.

The Selva is inhabited primarily by arboreal animals: monkeys, sloths, tenacious bears, opossums, porcupines, anteaters. In the forests of the Ucayali River basin, the smallest monkeys in the world live - wistiti, about 15 cm in size (not counting the tail). 3here great amount birds of all sizes, colors and shapes. Selva predators - jaguar, ocelot, puma, otters, martens - lead mainly a terrestrial lifestyle. There are more than a thousand species of fish in the Amazon and its tributaries. In the Peruvian selva there are many poisonous snakes and the largest snake on earth is the anaconda. Wetlands are a favorite habitat for caimans.

Minerals

More than 200 deposits of almost 80 types of minerals have been discovered in Peru: copper, iron, zinc, lead, silver, gold, mercury, bismuth, molybdenum, sulfur, antimony and barite. The reserves of copper ore are especially large. Peru has significant energy resources. The first oil well in Latin America was drilled in 1865 in the north of the country, in Talara. Peru has significant resources natural gas, coal, uranium ores. The country's hydropower resources are unusually large, especially those of the Andean rivers.

Industry

Relatively high level reached in the country the extractive industry of oil, gas, coal. The leading mining industry in Peru is copper.

About 40 types of metal and non-metal ores are mined in the country: copper, silver, iron ore, lead, zinc, bismuth, antimony, molybdenum, tungsten, mercury, cadmium, gold, selenium and tellurium. The largest polymetallic plant in Oroya in Latin America smelts over 20 different metals.

The departments of Huanuco, Pasco, Junin and Huancavelica located in the Andes supply polymetals, coal, bismuth, antimony, vanadium and silver to the Lima-Callao region. All mining operations in this zone are carried out on high altitude(3.5 - 5 thousand meters above sea level), in severe natural and climatic conditions.

Agriculture

This is the most important branch of Peruvian agriculture, which employs 3/5 of the active population of the country. By tradition, products are divided into export and consumer. In Kosta, cotton and sugar cane crops are mainly concentrated. Cotton grown in Peru is a long-staple cotton that is highly valued on the world market. There are coffee plantations on the eastern slopes of the Andes and in some valleys of the Sierra. Citrus fruits, mangoes, strawberries and cocoa beans are of export importance. In addition, about 10,000 tons of coca leaf are harvested annually. The most important consumer crops include rice, maize, cassava, yuca, potatoes, and wheat. Vegetable oil is produced from cotton seeds.

animal husbandry

Animal husbandry in Peru is significantly inferior in its development to agriculture. In the most inaccessible areas of the Sierra, llamas, alpacas and huarisos are bred. Pig and sheep breeding are widely represented in all departments of the country. Important role as well as agriculture and animal husbandry is played by the use of the fish resources of the Peruvian Current. 25 species of fish are of commercial importance, incl. anchovy, bonito, hake, mackerel, dorado, corvina, tuna, machete, swordfish, etc. Most of the fish caught is processed into flour, fish oil and exported.

Ethnic composition of the population

In modern Peru, three peoples are ethnically represented - Spanish-speaking Peruvians, Quechua, Aymara, as well as the so-called forest Indians and foreigners. Spanish-speaking Peruvians make up the bulk of the population of the Costa and the urban population of the Sierra and Selva, while the Indians inhabit rural areas Sierra and Selva. Foreigners, whose numbers are small, live in cities; most significant groups- Japanese and Chinese.

Largest in Latin America Indian people Quechua, in addition to Peru, also lives in Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. But Peru is the main area of ​​settlement. The second major Indian people of Peru, the Aymara, who also live in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, play a role national minority. The area of ​​the main settlement of the Aymara is now significantly reduced.

The forests of the Selva are a long-standing habitat of Indian tribes belonging to various linguistic groups (Arawak, Pano, Tupi-Guarani, etc.). Peruvian scientists now count more than 700 tribes and large tribal groups here, the exact number of which is unknown.

Between Spanish-speaking Peruvians and Indians there are significant differences in cultural and domestic relations.

Population

In 1997, it amounted to 24,371 thousand people. Density - 16.5 people per sq. km. The population growth every year is approximately 424 thousand people. The average annual population growth is 1.7%. 71% of the population lives in cities. 52% live on the coast total population countries, in Sierra (Andes) - 36%, Selva - 12%. The capital, Lima, is home to about 6 million people, including the population of Callao. Big cities account for 22% of the country's population.

Life expectancy for women is 71 years, for men - 65 years. Mortality - 158 thousand people a year. Infant mortality is 45 per 1,000 births.

- the city of Lima. The national currency of Peru is the new sol.

panorama city of Lima - the capital of Peru

Population

Almost 30 million people live in the state, 45% of which are Indians, 15% are whites, 37% are mestizos and 3% are blacks, Chinese, Japanese and other nationalities.

The official languages ​​in Peru are Spanish and Quechua, but Aymara and other Indian languages ​​are also widely spoken.

The religious preferences of Peruvians are Catholicism (more than 81% of the inhabitants), evangelism (12.5%) and other religions. About 3% of Peruvians have not decided on a religion or are staunch atheists.

State system and territorial division

The country of Peru is a republic headed by a president (he is also the head of government).

In administrative terms, the republic is divided into 24 regions and 159 provinces.

Relief features

The natural plain and mountain landscapes of the territory create an unusually contrasting geography of this country. The eastern part of the state is a low-lying Selva (Amazonian lowland), in the west there are coastal desert plains (Costa), which gradually give way to the high (up to 6768 m - Mount Huascaran) Andes (Sierra) to the east.

Water resources

Peru is a state water resources which are not only important objects National economy, but also one of the most impressive and memorable sights.

A large number of lakes, lagoons, waterfalls and rivers have a truly impressive effect on tourists who go on vacation to Peru. The largest river is great Amazon, the most impressive lakes in terms of size and beauty of the surrounding landscape are Titicaca and Khanin.

Climate

The climate map of Peru reflects the relationship between geographical latitudes, landforms and climatic conditions in different regions. The eastern part of the country is located in the subequatorial climate zone, on the western coast the climate is tropical desert, arid, precipitation is less than 50 mm per year, and altitudinal zoning is clearly traced in the mountains.

The average monthly temperatures on the plateaus and in the Andes are 5-16 °C, on the low coast 15-26 °C, in the selva 24-27 °C. The maximum humidity takes place in the mountains - up to 3 thousand mm of precipitation per year.

Flora and fauna

The composition of flora and fauna strongly depends on the region of the republic. For example, on the plateaus in the interior of the state, in the eastern and northern parts of Peru, the most characteristic ecosystems are high-altitude tropical steppes, the western slopes of the Andes are covered with cacti and rare shrubs, the southeast of the country is typical semi-desert, and in the Selva and on the eastern slopes of the Andes grow moist evergreen forests.

llama is a symbol of Peru

The fauna of Peru is typical for most regions of the continent. Of the mammals, the most common are llama, puma, anteater, monkeys, tapir, sloths, chinchillas, armadillos.

The country's bird world numbers hundreds of species (a total of 1856 bird species), of which 131 species are Peruvian endemics, 88 are endangered species. By species diversity birds of Peru ranks second after Colombia (20% of total species on the planet).

Sights of Peru

To date, tourism in Peru is just beginning to gain momentum. Although especially adventurous and thirsty vivid impressions tourists have long chosen this mysterious country that holds many testimonies of the past of ancient civilizations. Numerous monuments have been preserved on the territory of the republic. ancient empire Incas (Cusco, Quechua, Machu Picchu, Chavin, etc.) and the ancient culture of Nasca (Nasca lines visible from space).

Fascinating discoveries and a sea of ​​emotions will be experienced by travelers who set off for the Peruvian alpine lake Titicaca, located on the border with Bolivia. Fascinating surrounding landscapes, the remains of ancient Inca burials, temples and museums on the coast - all these sights can slightly lift the veil of mystery over history and the sudden disappearance of ancient civilizations from the face of the Earth.

The capital city of Lima, where, despite the arid climate and unfavorable due to high air pollution ecological situation foreign tourists aspire to get in, designate as their main attractions the area of ​​​​restaurants and theaters Miraflores, the Plaza de San Martin, on which rises the beautiful statue of San Martin, central square Plaza de Armas, the bohemian nightlife center of the city's Barranco quarter, Cathedral, the Church of San Francisco, the Archbishop's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and many others.

the modern city of Lima is the capital of Peru

In the photo of Peru, you can also see such sights that are not objects of mass visits, but can give a more complete impression of the nature, history and culture of the country. First of all, in this context, we can talk about the "capital" of the Costa Trujillo, the unique ecosystem of El Inferno Verde in the Peruvian Selva, the "gates of the Amazon" the city of Iquitos, etc.

In continuation of the article, we watch a video guide to the sights of Peru.

Peru

Official name

Republic of Peru.

Geographical position

The state is located in the western part of South America. The total area is 1,285,200 km2. Peru borders Ecuador and Colombia in the north, Chile in the south, Brazil and Bolivia in the east, and the Pacific Ocean in the west.

natural conditions

Peru is characterized by a contrasting relief. In the west, along the Pacific coast, a narrow desert coastal plain(Costa). In the center of the country are high and steep mountain ranges of the Andes (Sierra). The highest point in Peru is Mount Huascaran (6,768 m). There are many volcanoes in the south of the Andes. Peru also owns part of the mountain lake Titicaca. In the east is the Amazonian lowland (Selva), passing in the south into the foothill plain of Montagna.

The country's climate is also characterized by deep contrasts. It is dry and hot on the coast (average monthly temperatures are +15°-+25°C), in mountainous areas - a temperate climate, on the plateaus from +5 to +16°C. There is a lot of rainfall between December and May. High in the mountains, the air is discharged, the temperatures are low. On the plain, the temperature is +24-+27 "C, precipitation is up to 3000 mm per year.

The largest river in the country is the Amazon with tributaries.

The bowels of Peru are rich in such minerals as lead, copper, gold, silver, zinc, oil, and iron ore.

Flora

The vegetation of the costa is sparse. On the western slopes of the Andes - rare shrubs, cacti. The eastern slopes are covered with moist evergreen forests. Here mainly grow tree ferns, huge bamboos, as well as many lichens, mosses and a huge number of orchids. In the north and east of the inner plateau - high-altitude tropical steppes, in the southeast - semi-deserts. The selva plains are occupied by tropical forest. There are about 20,000 plant species here.

Fauna

The fauna of Peru is rich in such individuals as monkeys, puma, llama, jaguar, anteater, sloths, tapir, armadillo, crocodile. Many poisonous snakes live here (among them the largest on Earth is the anaconda), lizards, a huge number of birds, including those with bright plumage (parrots, hummingbirds), and insects. Peru is one of the richest countries in the world in fish, especially anchovies.

Population

Population 26,100 thousand people. (2001). Average density- 20.4 people per 1 km 2. Among ethnic groups - Indians (45%), mestizos (37%), whites (15%), Africans, Chinese, Japanese also live. The official languages ​​are Spanish, Quechua and Aymara; English is widely spoken among other languages.

Religion

Catholicism.

Political structure

Peru is a member of the UN, OAS. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the chairman of the Council of Ministers. The legislative branch is the unicameral National Congress. Peru is a republic divided into 25 departments. The capital of the country is Lima (6,000 thousand people). Big cities: Callao (750 thousand people), Arequipa (700 thousand people), Trujillo (600 thousand people), Chiclayo (480 thousand people), Cusco (300 thousand people). Main political parties: People's Action, People's Christian Party, "New Majority - Change 90", Peruvian communist party, Christian Democratic Party.