Peru
|
| Basic Facts |
| Country name |
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru local long form: Republica del Peru local short form: Peru |
| Gevernment type | constitutional republic |
| Capital |
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Flag description | three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath |
| Currency | nuevo sol (PEN) |
| Internet country code | .pe |
| Ports and terminals | Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note - Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its tributaries |
| Agriculture products | asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish, guinea pigs |
| Industries | mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing |
| Geography |
| Location | Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador |
| Coordinates | 10 00 S, 76 00 W |
| Continent | South America |
| Area |
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km |
| Boundaries |
total: 7,461 km
border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km, Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km |
| Coastline | 2,414 km |
| Climate | varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes |
| Terrain | western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva) |
| Natural resources | copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas |
| Natural hazards | earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity |
| People |
| Population | 28,302,603 (July 2006 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3% |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.) |
| Languages | Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages |
