Peru is a country on the western coast of South America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. It is famous for being home to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel set high in the Andes mountains. Peru is also one of the world's most biodiverse countries, encompassing Andean highlands, Amazon rainforest, and a Pacific coastal desert.
- Capital
- Lima
- Continent
- Americas
- Region
- South America
- Area
- 1,285,216 km²
- Coordinates
- 10° S, 76° W
Country facts
- The Inca Empire, which had its capital at Cusco, was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America.
- Peru is one of the world's leading producers of silver, copper, and gold.
- Spanish is the official language, but Quechua and Aymara are also recognized co-official languages.
- The Amazon River, one of the longest rivers in the world, has its headwaters in the Peruvian Andes.
- Peruvian cuisine is internationally celebrated, with dishes like ceviche and lomo saltado gaining global popularity.
Capital facts
- Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535.
- The historic centre of Lima is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its ornate colonial architecture.
- Lima is home to the Plaza Mayor, where the Government Palace and the Lima Cathedral face each other.
- The city sits on the Pacific coast in a coastal desert, making it one of the largest desert cities in the world.
- Lima's Larco Museum houses one of the finest collections of pre-Columbian art in Latin America.