10/07/2024
Facts you probably didn’t know about PERU 🇵🇪
1. Machu Picchu was built without mortar using a technique called ashlar. The stones are so precisely cut that not even a sheet of paper can fit between them, showcasing the advanced engineering skills of the Incas.
2. The Amazon River, the largest by volume in the world, originates from the Peruvian Andes.
3. The Nazca Lines, a series of large ancient geoglyphs in the Nazca Desert, remain a mystery to researchers. They were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
4. Peru is the birthplace of the potato, with over 3,000 varieties. Potatoes were first domesticated in Peru around 8,000 to 5,000 B.C.
5. Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture.
6. Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America and the highest navigable body of water in the world, lies on the border between Peru and Bolivia.
7. The Peruvian Amazon covers 60% of the country, making it one of the most biodiverse areas in the world.
8. Pisco, a type of brandy, is Peru's national drink and the key ingredient in the famous Pisco Sour cocktail.
9. Peru has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. Quechua was the language of the Inca Empire.
10. The Andean condor, one of the largest flying birds in the world, is a national symbol of Peru.
11. The city of Caral, north of Lima, is considered the oldest civilization in the Americas, with structures dating back to 2600 B.C.
12. The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, with its administrative, political, and military center in Cusco.
13. Peru's culinary scene is globally recognized, with traditional dishes like ceviche (raw fish cured in citrus juices) and lomo saltado (stir-fried beef).
14. Inti Raymi, or the Feast of the Sun, is an ancient Inca ceremony honoring the sun god Inti, celebrated in Cusco on June 24 each year.
15. The Maras salt mines, used since Inca times, are terraced pools where salt is harvested by evaporating salty water from an underground stream.
16. The biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest in Peru is immense, with the country being home to one of the largest numbers of bird species in the world, along with hundreds of mammals, reptiles, and freshwater fish.
17. Huascarán National Park in Peru is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Huascarán, the highest mountain in Peru at 6,768 meters (22,205 feet) above sea level.
18. The archaeological site of Chan Chan in northern Peru is the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas and was the capital of the ChimĂş Kingdom.
19. Túcume, in northern Peru, features an extensive complex of adobe pyramids, reflecting the Lambayeque (or Sicán) culture.
20. Peruvian literature has a long and rich history, with Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa being one of the country's most famous authors.
21. The Uros people live on floating islands made of reeds on Lake Titicaca. The islands and homes are constructed from totora reeds that grow in the lake.
22. Peru has firmly established itself as a global culinary powerhouse, earning accolades and recognition as one of the world’s top gastronomic destinations. From its diverse landscapes to its rich cultural heritage, the country’s cuisine is a vibrant fusion of flavors, ingredients, and culinary traditions.
Additional Facts:
- The Andes Mountains, the longest mountain range in the world, stretch 8,500 kilometers and traverse Peru from north to south, dividing it into different natural regions. The range enters Peru from the south in two separate chains, one from Chile and the other from Bolivia, which converge in Cusco to form the Vilcanota knot.
- The Andes range comprises three main mountain ranges: the Western Cordillera to the west, the Central Cordillera in the center, and the Eastern Cordillera to the east. The Western Cordillera, running southeast-northwest, forms the boundary between the central Peruvian highlands and the Pacific piedmont region.
- Peru is home to three of the deepest canyons on the planet. Following the world's deepest canyon, Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon (5,590 m) in China, Peru's canyons rank among the deepest. The second deepest canyon in the world is the ApurĂmac Canyon (4,691 m), located between the ApurĂmac and Cusco departments. In third place is the Kali Gandaki Gorge (4,375 m) in Nepal. The fourth is the Colca Canyon (4,160 m), located in the Caylloma province, Arequipa, Peru. The fifth is the Cotahuasi Canyon (3,535 m), also in Arequipa, located in the La UniĂłn province.
