Peru

Alternate uses: Peru (disambiguation)

Peru is a country of western South America, bordering the south Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador.

República del Perú

coat of arms (In Detail)
National motto: Libertad y Orden (Spanish; "Liberty and Order")
Official language	Spanish
Capital	Lima
President	Alejandro Toledo Manrique
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 19th 1,285,220 km² 8.8%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked 39th 27,949,639 22/km²
Independence  - Date	From Spain July 28, 1822
Currency	Sol
Time zone	UTC -5
National anthem	Somos libres, seámoslo siempre (We Are Free, Let Us Remain So Forever)
Internet TLD	.PE
Calling Code	51

History

Before the Spanish arrived, Peru was home to the Incan Empire. This was conquered by the 1840s and Peru became a Viceroyalty and a major source of gold and silver for the Spanish Empire. Peru declared independence from Spain on July 28, 1821.

Politics

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: Apra, 28 seats) and Lourdes Flores Nano led Unidad Nacional (17 seats).

Departments

Peru is divided into 24 departments and one constitutional province, Callao. The departments are

Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca,Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, and Ucayali.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Peru

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

The western coastal plains (costa) are seperated from the eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva) by the high and rugged Andes in center (sierra). On the border with Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca, the worlds highest navigable lake at 3821 [Metre].

Economy

Demographics

Culture

Holidays

Date	English	Local name	Remarks
January 1	New Year's Day	Año Nuevo
March-April	Holy Week	Semana Santa	Two days, working holiday
May 1	May Day, Labour Day	Día del Trabajo
July 28	Saint Peter and Saint Paul	San Pedro y San Pablo
July 28-July 29	Peruvian Independence Day	Día de la Independencia del Perú
August 30	Saint Rose of Lima	Santa Rosa de Lima
October 8	Battle of Angamos	Combate de Angamos
November 1	All Saints Day	Día de Todos Los Santos
December 8	Day of the Immaculate Conception	Día de la Inmaculada Concepción
December 25	Christmas	Navidad

• Music of Peru

International rankings

• world-wide press freedom index Rank 36 out of 139 countries (2 way tie)

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Peru
• Transportation in Peru
• Military of Peru
• Foreign relations of Peru
• List of famous Peruvians

Referenced By