Are you curious to learn some weird and wonderful facts about Peru?
If so, excellent! You are in exactly the right place my friend…
It’s time to chat about Peru facts.
Let’s dive right in…
Facts About Peru
1 – Peru is a country in South America that borders with five other country – including Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador.
2 – Peru has a population of 33 million and the capital is Lima (which has a population of 9.7 million).
3 – Lima, the capital of Peru, was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro who invaded and conquered it on behalf of Spain.
4 – The Inca Empire was one of the largest empires ever to exist on Earth and it spanned from Ecuador all the way up to Chile. The Inca Empire was established in 1438 and lasted until 1533 when it fell to Spanish conquistadors.
5 – Its currency is called Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN).
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6 – The Andes Mountains are home to most Peruvian cities, including Lima and Cuzco.
7 – Lima is home to one of the world’s oldest universities – University of San Marcos, which was founded in 1551.
8 – Peruvian food includes ceviche (which consists of raw fish or seafood that has been marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime), papa a la huancaina (potatoes cooked in cheese sauce), aji de gallina (a spicy dish made with chicken and yellow peppers), and tamales de pollo (chicken-filled steamed corn dough).
9 – The official lanuages of Peru are Spanish, Quechua and Alymara. Within the Amazon Rainforest there are also 40 languages spoken.
10 – Today’s economic activity includes agriculture (especially sugar cane), fishing, mining (copper), oil production, and manufacturing.
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11 – Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan citadel built high up in the Andes mountains, built by the Incas and it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of South America today
12 – One-quarters of Peruvians live below poverty line
13 – The Inca Empire was one of the most powerful empires in history and controlled much of South America until its collapse by Spanish conquistadors
14 – There are many different indigenous cultures that live in Peru today such as Quechua and Aymara
15 – Potatoes come from Peru and there are more than 4000 varieties in the country.
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16 – The highest sand dune in the world is located in Peru. It is called Cerro Blanco and it can be found in Sechura Desert – it is 3860 feet from the base to top.
17 – Machu Picchu was once home to Incan emperor Pachacuti who ruled for 40 years. Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
18 – Cusco, a city in the Andes Mountains, has been continuously inhabited by humans since around 1200 BC. It was the capital of the Inca Empire and is an important centre for the indigenous people.
19 – One-third or more of Peruvian territory consists either partly or entirely on natural reserves such as national parks, wildlife refuges, sanctuaries for birds, which are protected areas set aside for conservation purposes.
20 – About 25% of Peruvian land has been deforested since 1950 due to agriculture expansion and mining for precious metals like gold or silver.
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21 – The name “Peru” comes from an ancient Quechuan word meaning “land alongside water” or “river valley.” It refers to its geography as well as it’s rich history with rivers like Amazonas and Titicaca.
22 – Peruvians celebrate their independence on July 28th every year by eating traditional foods such as humitas (sweet corn tamales) and alfajores (a cookie made of two round shortbread-type cookies with dulce de leche filling between them).
23 – The Amazon River flows through northern part of Peruvian territory which makes up about 10% of it’s total area.
24 – Cusco is important site for tourists because it’s where many believe that Pachacuti founded his empire by building temples dedicated to Inti (sun god), Viracocha (creator god), Tiahuana (goddess earth mother), Wiraqucha (god creator water/sea) among others.
25 – Lima, Peru is home to the oldest university in South America.
