Peru

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For other uses, see Peru (disambiguation).
República del Perú
Republic of Peru
Image:Flag of Peru.svg Image:Escudo nacional del Perú.png
(National Flag) (National Coat of Arms)
National motto: None
Image:LocationPeru.png
Official languages Spanish (main)1
Capital and largest city Lima
President Alejandro Toledo Manrique
Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski
Area
- Total
- % water 		World ranking: 19th
1,285,220 km²
8.80%
Population
- Total (2002)
- Density 		World ranking: 39th
27,925,628
22/km²
Independence
 - Declared 		From Spain
28 July 1821
Currency Nuevo Sol (S/.)
Time zone UTC -5
National anthem "Somos libres, seámoslo siempre" "We are free, may we always be so"
Internet TLD .pe
Calling Code 51

1 Quechua, Aymara and other regional languages are also recognized in the areas where they are predominant.

The Republic of Peru, (Spanish: República del Perú), or Peru, is a country in western South America, bordering Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Peru is rich in cultural anthropology, and is well-known as the cradle of the Inca empire.

Contents

History

Main article: History of Peru

Before the Spanish arrived, Peru was home to various Pre-Inca cultures and later, to the Inca Empire. Francisco Pizarro landed on the Peruvian coast in 1532, and by the end of the 1530s Peru became a Viceroyalty and a major source of gold and silver for the Spanish Empire. Peru declared its independence from Spain on July 28, 1821 thanks to an alliance between the Argentine army of José de San Martín, and the Neogranadine Army of Simón Bolívar. Its first elected president, however, was not in power until 1827. From 1836 to 1839 Peru and Bolivia were united in the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy, dissolved only after an armed conflict with Chile and Argentina. Between these years, political unrest didn't fade away, with the Army as an important political force. Once again, between 1879 and 1883, Peru and Bolivia made an alliance and fought against Chile in the War of the Pacific. After the war (and with the loss of the department of Tarapacá and the province of Arica), political stability was achieved, during the early years of the 1900s; until Augusto Leguía and his dictatorship arrived. It is said that the country received its name from a Spanish pronunciation of the Belu river. [1]

Regions

Main article: Political division of Peru

Peru's territory is divided successively into regions (25) (Spanish: regiones; singular: región), provinces (180) and districts (1747).

The Lima Province, located in the central coast of the country, is unique in that it doesn't belong to any of the twenty-five regions. The city of Lima is located in this province, which is also known as Lima Metropolitana (Metropolitan Lima).

Until 2002, Peru was divided into 24 departments (departamentos) plus one constitutional province (Callao), and many people still use this term when referring to today's regions, although it is now obsolete.

Current Peruvian regions are:

Geography

Main article: Geography of Peru

Image:Pe-map.png

Image:Huayna Picchu.jpg Image:Rainbow at Cuzco's Plaza.jpg Image:Arequipa Plaza de Armas.jpg Image:Cumbemayo aqueduct.JPG Image:Cusco church la compania.jpg

Peru is located in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador. It also shares borders with Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia.

The western coastal plains (costa) are separated from the eastern lowland jungle of the Amazon Basin (selva) by the high and rugged Andes in the center (sierra). On the border with Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 3821 m.

A land rich in cultural heritage and a variety of natural environments, harbors 84 of the 118 known life zones of the earth. Peru is a land rich in minerals, and its three types of land (Costa, Sierra y Selva) proportionate wonderful sights.

Peru's various Geography permits the development of various activities, such as: (In the Costa)Surfing, Sandboard, 4*4 and sandbuggy, (In the Sierra) alpinism, rafting, rappelling, downhill and rally, and in the Selva you can enjoy hard excursions.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Peru

The current president is Alejandro Toledo, leader of Perú Posible. This governing party is, with 45 seats, the largest in the 120-seat parliament.

The second and third largest parties are in opposition; respectively Partido Aprista Peruano (short: PAP, 28 seats), which is led by Alan García Pérez, and Unidad Nacional (short: UN, 17 seats), which is led by Lourdes Flores Nano.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Peru

The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990; in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. Thanks to strong foreign investment and the cooperation between the former Fujimori administration, the IMF, and the World Bank, growth was strong in 1994–97 and inflation was brought under control. In 1998, El Niño's impact on agriculture, the financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets undercut growth. And 1999 was another lean year for Peru, with the aftermath of El Niño and the Asian financial crisis working its way through the economy. Lima did manage to complete negotiations for an Extended Fund Facility with the IMF in June 1999, although it subsequently had to renegotiate the targets. Pressure on spending grew in the run-up to the 2000 elections. Growth up to 2004 has been driven by construction, investment, domestic demand, and exports to different world regions. Peru's economy is one of the better-managed in Latin America. Over the next few years, the country is likely to attract both domestic and foreign investment in the tourism, agriculture, mining, petroleum and natural gas, and power industries.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Peru

About 40 % of the total population is mestizo. This means that most Peruvians are roughly either half, a quarter or partly a mix out of Amerindian aboriginal, Spanish European, African or Asian ancestry. Most Mestizos belong to the Amerindian and Spanish ancestry mixing; yet Mulatos, Zambos and Quaterones, also form large parts of the mestizo people.

Peru is one of five countries in Latin America whom have large populations of unmixed Amerindians - the other five being Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and Guatemala. Close to 38% of the population is purely Amerindian.

The two major indigenous ethnic groups are the various Quechua-speaking populations, followed closely by the Aymará. There are also several dozens of small Amerindian ethnic tribes scattered throughout the country beyond the Andes Mountains and in the Amazon basin.

Amerindians who live in the Andean highlands speak Quechua and Aymara (Puno), and are ethnically distinct from either the diverse indigenous groups who live on the eastern side of the Andes or the tropical lowlands adjacent to the Amazon basin and ones from the northern coasts of either La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura and Tumbes (hence that the Mochicas, Chimues, Tacllanes and Tumpis are of either Caribbean or Amazonic lowland origin).

As for coastal-Amerindians belonging to past Nazca, Paracas, Caral, Lima, Chimu, Moche, Tacllan, Vicus and Tumpi cultures; they are very few. Most have mixed with the Spanish conquistadors and the influx of African slaves.

An important fact is that most of the coastal Amerindians that you see today are immigrants from the Andes belonging to the major indigenous groups already mentioned. They are most common in Lima´s pueblos jovenes or new towns that stand around the Lima Region.

About 15 % of Peruvians are Creole, Spanish or European descendants. Most of them descend directly from Spanish conquistadores. Cities where there high concentrations of white Peruvians are Lima, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Piura, Ica, Arequipa and Cajamarca.

It is important to mention that there are also people of partly Italian descent around Ica, Pisco, Moquegua and Tacna since many immigrants of that origin came during the republic to farm vineyards in the southern coast. There are also several hundred Palestinian and Syrian descendants, mostly common in Lima and northern cities like Trujillo and Chiclayo. Jewish descendants are common in Lima.

Another interesting note, are the several thousands of descendants of Austrian and German origin found living on tropical valleys of the high Amazon in thePasco Region: Oxapampa, Posuzo and Villarica. They descent from pilgrims that came in two waves: in search of wealth or finding new lands and others escaping world war two.

Although many Peruvians do not consider it as important, around 5 % to 6 % of the total Peruvian population is of pure African ancestry. This fact is important to mention since most ethnic studies in Peru have located African dispora as unimportant or at 2% similar to Asian immigrants, a big mistake. Trying to ignore that the third ethnic building block of Peruvian society has been common in the last years. Let us remember, that African slaves where already part of Pizarro´s crew when he landed in Tumbes.

Regions where afro Peruvians are mostly common are the Callao Province, Lima Region, Ica Region, Lambayeque Region and Piura Region.

Ica and Nazca regions are most famous for their afro communities, yet in the Morropon Province of Piura, the town of Yapatera is the region where we find the highest percentage of pure afro Peruvians. Another important region where there are high concentrations of afro Peruvians is the city of Zaña in Lambayeque. There are also small % of African ancestry in Huanuco Region, probably the only region far in to the Andes and high Amazon Jungle where African slaves settled in Perú. Most of them settled either in the northern or southern coast.

Finally, 1 % to 2% of the population is of Asian origin; be it Japanese immigrants that came during this last 19 century or Chinese coolies that came to the coast to replace African slaves as farmers in the rice fields of La Libertad and Lambayeque. It is said that after slavery close to 500,000 settled in the central north coast. So today Peru has the largest Chinese colony in South America; their cultural influence is manifested in the Peruvian Chifa.

Language

Peru has two official languages - Spanish and the foremost indigenous language, Quechua. Spanish is used by the all coastal Peruvians, the government, the media, in education and commerce; although there is an increasing and organized effort to teach Quechua in public schools.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Peru

The most popular Peruvian sport is soccer (World Cup assistings: 30,70,78 and 82 and 2 Copa America Cups). Although soccer has proven unhealthy for the national team, when the internationally acclaimed World Cup occurs, almost the entire population of Peru turns out to watch on television. Other popular sports include Women’s Volleyball and Surfing (Sofia Mulanovich current Women’s Surf Champion is Peruvian).

Folklore and Music

Peru is home to thousands of dances of pre Inca, Andean and mestizo origin. The southern Andean region is famous for the Huayno and Cusco for its Muliza.

Arequipa is the proud creator of the famous Yaravi Arequipeño (sang by many brothers of the Andes) and the Pampeñas. The Huaylas is a happy the dance of the central Andes.

The coast has a different feel to the Andean, more rhythm yet it just as melancholic and interesting. Coastal have big Romany gypsy music and African influences, along other more romantic tunes like the well know Peruvian Valse; probably representing the ethnical coastal mix of Perú and especially Lima.

Lima is famous for the Señor de lo Milagros Procession and Bullficking; Plaza de Acho is the oldest of the Americas

Commonly known Peruvian Valse tunes are:

Alma Corazon y Vida, Odiame, Mi Propiedad Privada, El Plebeyo, La Flor de La Canela and Devuelveme El Rosario de Mi Madre, some of which are sang by Caribbean artists in the Bolero or Salsa version.

Out of the resulting mix most coastal rhythms is sang and played by duos of Creole guitars, the Peruvian Cajun and spoon rhythms. African derived rhythms like the Festejo or Landó are common in the black communities of the southern coast.

The central and north coast Trujillo, Lambayeque and Piura; are most famous for guitar hymns like the piuran Tondero, the Limeñan Zamacueca, the Resbalosa and the bands of Marinera.

The Amazon has its own music. Chicha Music from the Amazon is unique since it mixes and intermingles Cumbia, Huayno and the tragic Peruvian Valse.


Cuisine

Peruvians are so proud of their cuisine they would not hesitate on calling theirs as the best in Latin America.

The coast is most famous for the national dish Cebiche.

Various variations are known like the Tiradito. Lima is most famous for the Aji de Gallina, Carapulcra, Tacu Tacu and Suspiro de Limeña sweets. Many of the sweets are made from Chirimoya or Lucuma and other Peruvian original fruit

Chifa: Peruvian Chinese Creole food is unique to all Latin American nations.

The northern coast is famous for its exquisite marine food, fruits, Chicha Drinks and goat stews like the Seco de Cabrito or the piuran Seco de Chavelo.

The Andes are famous for its soups, potatoes, corns and Rocotto Rellenos (Arequipa especially) or Cuy (guinea pig).

The Amazon has exuberant fruits, varieties of plates from Amazon fish like the Paiche and popular chicken & rice Juanes.

Perú Cultural

International rankings

Miscellaneous topics

External links

Travel guide to Peru from Wikitravel

Wikimedia Commons has more media related to:


Countries in South America
Image:South America.png Argentina · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile · Colombia · Ecuador · Guyana · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Uruguay · Venezuela

Dependencies: Falkland Islands (UK) · French Guiana · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK)

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