Peru

South America 

Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador.

10 00 S, 76 00 W

President Alan Garcí	Prime Minister José Antonio Chang

Capital

Lima

Government

Presidential republic

Religion

Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified or none 2.9%.

Population

29,907,003

Ethnic group

Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%.

National Language                     

Spanish 84.1% (official), Quechua 13% (official), Aymara 1.7%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages 0.7% (includes a large number of minor Amazonian languages), other 0.2%.

            

National Day

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Anthem

"Himno Nacional del Perú" (Spanish),"National Anthem of Peru"

Currency

Nuevo Sol (PEN)

Attractions

Amazon Rain Forest [with Brazil],  Chavin de Huantar,  Cuzco,  Lake Titicaca [with Bolivia],  Machu Picchu,  Nazca Lines 

Website   

Art & Cultural

The ICON

Machu Picchu                       Machu Picchu (Machu Pikchu "Old Peak") is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World. The Incas started building the "estate" around AD 1400 but abandoned it as an official site for the Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction.