Peru
- Alternate uses: Peru (disambiguation)
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| 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, 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 | |||
Peru (Spanish Perú) 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.
| Table of contents |
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2 Politics 3 Regions 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 International rankings 9 Miscellaneous topics 10 External links |
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.
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).
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,
Lima Metropolitana,
Lima Provincias,
Loreto,
Madre de Dios,
Moquegua,
Pasco,
Piura,
San Martín,
Puno,
Tacna,
Tumbes, and
Ucayali.
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.
History
Main article: History of PeruPolitics
Main article: Politics of PeruRegions
Main article: Regions of PeruGeography
Main article: Geography of PeruEconomy
Main article: Economy of PeruDemographics
Main article: Demographics of PeruCulture
Main article: Culture of PeruInternational rankings
Miscellaneous topics
External links
| [ Edit { | Countries in South America | |
| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Paraguay | Peru | Suriname | Uruguay | Venezuela | ||
| Dependencies: Falkland Islands | French Guiana | ||