The highest mountains are located in the department of Ancash although in the south of the country there are also many high peaks. The Cordillera Blanca of Ancash is the highest tropical mountain range in the World with 27 snow covered peaks over 6,000 metres in height. Further to the East the mountains diminish and become the area known as the Selva Alta - a lush warm area ideal for the cultivation of cocoa, coffee, and coca. Finally to the East ,and in fact half of Peru's territory, is the jungle. Only 10% of the population of Peru live in this region. Transportation here is largely by river. Air transportation also is important to this area.

Being entirely within the tropics one might suppose that Peru maintains high temperatures throughout the year, but in fact various factors contribute to give regions very different climatic conditions. The northern coastal area receives little rain and in the south virtually none. The cold Humbolt Current keeps all but the extreme north relatively cool along the coast (55-80 degrees F.) The sierra has a rainy season between October and April and the temperature is directly in relation to the altitude. A town situated at 3,000 mts above sea level would have an average temperature of around 70 F during the day, dropping to perhaps 40 F or lower at night. In the jungle area it can rain at any time and conditions are of course usually hot and humid. Peru is perhaps unusual, but not unique, in the sense that one could find a location between these climatic extremes that be ideal for any personal preference at any time of the year.

The main national highway is the `Panamericana´ which was completed in 1941. The entire route of 2,700 kilometres between Tumbes (frontier with Ecuador) and Tacna (frontier with Chile) is asphalted. Roads of the sierra however are far more difficult to maintain because of the climatic conditions and for the difficult terrain. It can be dangerous to travel on certain routes during the rainy season due to landslides and rockfalls. According to the Direcion General de Caminos the road system totals 73,766 kms of which only 12% is asphalted.

There are two official languages in Peru - Castellano (Spanish) and Quechua (the Inca language).
The latest consensus establishes that 80% of the population speak Castellano as the mother tongue, 16% Quechua, and 4% other languages such as Aymara and tribal languages of the Amazonian jungle. The country's religion is predominately Catholic.

Peru is one of the top five countries in the World for biological diversity. Within its territory exist over 40,000 species of flora, of which only 20,000 have been scientifically registered. Peru has a variety of 1,700 bird species , 362 different mammals and 296 kinds of reptile.

The Peruvian people are usually friendly and interested in other cultures . Many families have a relative or two living abroad. The main motive for this is for economical advancement although many young people are studying abroad with the intention to return on completion of their course.

 

Some General Statistics

Official Name: Republica del Peru
Area: 1,285,216 Km2
Population: 27,544,000 (2004)
Capital: Lima
Currency: Nuevo Sol
Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara and Amazonian languages.
Ethnicity: Indiginous 45%, Meztizo 37%, Caucasian 15%, Negroid, Japanese, Chinese and other 3%
National Day: 28 July (day of independence from Spain)
President: Alan Garcia Perez (2006+)
Political Divisions: 24 Departments.
ECONOMICAL SUMMARY
G.N.P. 147million $ U.S. (2003)
PBI per capita: $5,200.
Current growth rate: 5.4%
Inflation: 2.2%
Unemployment: 13% (partial unemployment 35-55%)
Principal Industries:
Mining, oil, gold , silver , copper, fishing, textile, food processing, vehicle assembly, ship building (mainly fishing vessels), steel, clothing, breweries, tobacco, tyres, cement, timber, coal , natural gas, electrical energy, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION: Coffee, cotton, rice, cane sugar, wheat, potatoes, cocoa, maize, meat products, dairy products and wool.