Peru

Alternate uses: Peru (disambiguation)

República del Perú
Piruw

(In Detail)
National motto: Libertad y Orden (Spanish; "Liberty and Order")
Official language	Spanish, Quechua, Aimara
Capital	Lima
President	Alejandro Toledo Manrique
Prime Minister	Carlos Ferrero Costa
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 19th 1,285,220 km² 8.8%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked 39th 28,409,897 22/km²
Independence  - Date	From Spain July 28, 1821
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

The Republic of Perú (Spanish: Perú; Quechua: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with 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.

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.

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

Regions

Main article: Regions of Peru

Peru's territory, under Law No. 27867 of 16 November 2002, is divided in 26 regions:

Amazonas, Ancash, Apurímac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, El Callao, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Metropolitana de Lima, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, San Martín, Puno, 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 separated 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 m.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Peru

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Peru

Culture

Main article: Culture of Peru

• Music of Peru

International rankings

• Reporters without borders world-wide press freedom index 2002: Rank 36 out of 139 countries (2 way tie)
• UN Human Development Index 2002: Rank 82 out of 173 countries

Miscellaneous topics

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

External links

• Destination: Peru Explore the regions of

Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Cusco, Lima, Lake Titicaca, and Northwern Peru (http://www.destination360.com/peru.htm)

• Peruvian Tourism Authority's Official Site (http://www.promperu.gob.pe)

Organization of American States (OAS)

Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina | Bahamas | Barbados | Belize | Bolivia | Brazil | Canada | Chile | Colombia | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | El Salvador | Grenada | Guatemala | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras | Jamaica | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Paraguay | Peru | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | St. Kitts and Nevis | Suriname | Trinidad and Tobago | United States | Uruguay | Venezuela

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