Additional Information about Peru
Current Events/ News:
• Lima, the capital of Peru, has a population of 12.1 million people and is the fourth largest city in South America. On October 7th the country held regional and municipal elections.
Culture/ History:
• After learning about the wealth of the indigenous Incan people, Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1631 to take over the country.
• Peru claimed independence form Spain in 1824, with many revolutions occurring in the next 100 years
Economy:
• Peru is classified as upper middle income and is the 39th largest in the world by total GDP
• As of 2017 it has a growth rate of 2.7%
Food:
• Peru is renowned for its amazing cuisine with a fusion of several different cultures combining the best and most varied foods on the continent
• The key to the amazing cuisine is the first class ingredients creating unforgettable dining experiences
Geography:
• The Amazon rain forest covers about half of Peru
• The Andes, the second highest mountain range in the world, also runs through Peru
Natural Resources:
• Peru is the 3rd largest producer of copper, silver, zinc and tin and the 7th largest producer of gold
• Mining is the country’s economic engine driver
• Copper accounts for 60% of exports
Wildlife:
• Peru has some of the greatest biodiversity in the world with a diverse range of habitats.
• Three quarters of the worlds population of alpacas live in Peru
• Some animals that might be seen in Peru include macaw parrots, the pink Amazon river dolphins, jaguars, and Humboldt penguins.