Portal:Peru

Republic of Peru
*República del Perú* (Spanish)
Republic of Peru República del Perú (Spanish)
	Flag Coat of arms
Capital	Lima; 12°2.6′S 77°1.7′W / 12.0433°S 77.0283°W
ISO 3166 code	PE

Introduction

Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil, to the southeast by Bolivia, to the south by Chile, and to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is a megadiverse country, with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west, to the peaks of the Andes mountains extending from the north to the southeast of the country, to the tropical Amazon basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon River. Peru has a population of over 32 million, and its capital and largest city is Lima. At 1,285,216 km² (496,225 sq mi), Peru is the 19th largest country in the world, and the third largest in South America.

Peruvian territory was home to several cultures during the ancient and medieval periods, and has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing its heritage back to the 10th millennium BCE Caral–Supe civilization, the earliest civilization in the Americas and considered one of the cradles of civilization. Notable succeeding cultures and civilizations include the Nazca culture, the Moche, Wari and Tiwanaku empires, the Kingdom of Cusco, and the Inca Empire, the largest known state in the pre-Columbian Americas. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and Charles V established a viceroyalty with the official name of the Kingdom of Peru that encompassed most of its South American territories, with its capital in Lima. Higher education started in the Americas with the official establishment of the National University of San Marcos in Lima in 1551.

Peru's population includes Mestizos, Amerindians, Europeans, Africans, and Asians. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechuan languages, Aymara, or other Indigenous languages. This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music. Peru has recently gained international recognition for its vibrant gastronomy, blending Indigenous, Spanish, African, and Asian influences. Lima is now considered a global culinary capital, home to award-winning restaurants like Central and Maido. (Full article...)

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Entries here consist of Good and Featured articles, which meet a core set of high editorial standards.

The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy (/ˈkeɪvi/ KAY-vee), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus Cavia, family Caviidae. Breeders tend to use the name "cavy" for the animal, but "guinea pig" is more commonly used in scientific and laboratory contexts. Despite their name, guinea pigs are not native to Guinea, nor are they closely related to pigs. Instead, they originated in the Andes region of South America, where wild guinea pigs can still be found. Studies based on biochemistry and DNA hybridization suggest they are domesticated animals that do not exist naturally in the wild, but are descendants of a closely related cavy species such as C. tschudii. Originally, they were domesticated as livestock, and specifically for their meat, in the Andean region, and they are still consumed in some parts of the world.

In Western society, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a pet since its introduction to Europe and North America by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature and friendly responsiveness to handling and feeding and the relative ease of caring for them have continued to make guinea pigs a popular choice of household pets. Consequently, organizations devoted to the competitive breeding and exhibition of guinea pigs have been formed worldwide. Through artificial selection, many specialized breeds with varying coat colors and textures have been selected by breeders. Studies indicate the importance of housing conditions, including cage size and environmental enrichment, for the welfare of guinea pigs. (Full article...)

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Photo credit: Ausum

Ceviche is a citrus marinated seafood dish. In addition to adding flavor, the citric acid causes the proteins in the seafood to become denatured, which pickles or "cooks" the fish without heat. The result tastes more like a cooked dish and less like raw fish preparations such as Japanese sashimi. Traditional style ceviche was marinated for up to three hours; modern style ceviche usually has a very short marinating period. (more...)

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The Battle of Miraflores occurred on January 15, 1881 in the Miraflores District of Lima, Peru. It was an important battle during the War of the Pacific that was fought between Chile and the forces of Peru. The Chilean army led by Gen. Manuel Baquedano defeated the army commanded by Nicolás de Pierola guarding the second defensive line of the Peruvian capital city. Two days later, Lima, the capital city of Peru was occupied by Chilean troops. Gen. Baquedano's forces marched into Lima triumphant, while Peru's president and his officers fled into the interior, leaving the country without any government. Although the fall of Lima, the war continued between the occupation army and the troops of Andres Caceres for another three years. During the occupation of Lima, Peru's National Library was set on flames, while a number of other monuments were ransacked by Chilean forces and taken as war trophies. (more...)

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In this month

May 2, 1866 - In the Battle of Callao during the Chincha Islands War a Spanish Fleet took on an alliance of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador.

May 12, 1551 - King Charles I of Spain charts by decree the National University of San Marcos making it the oldest university in the Americas.

May 15, 1544 - Blasco Núñez Vela entered Lima, the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, as the first of forty viceroys designated by the Spanish Crown.

May 20, 1929 - The Peruvian Air Force was created by merging the aviation divisions of the Army and the Navy.

May 26, 1880 - In the Battle of Tacna the alliance between Bolivia and Peru is broken by the Chilean General Manuel Baquedano near the city of Tacna..

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General images

The following are images from various Peru-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Peruvian girls (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 2Demonstration in Lima against Manuel Merino, 12 November 2020 (from History of Peru)
Image 3The Main Square of Lima during the attempted coup of 1909. (from History of Peru)
Image 4Colonial tapestry, late 17th or early 18th century. It was woven by indigenous weavers for a Spanish client, incorporating then-fashionable Chinese imagery. (from History of Peru)
Image 5Plan of the City of Kings (Lima), 1674. (from History of Peru)
Image 6Peruvian Paso (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 7Peru's football team in 1970; the ethnic diversity of Peruvians is visible, with players showing African, Amerindian and European ancestry in various mixes. (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 8Territorial changes after the war (from History of Peru)
Image 9Battle of Junín, 6 August 1824 (from History of Peru)
Image 10The flag of Peru flies over the port of Leticia after the takeover (from History of Peru)
Image 11Territorial changes after the war (from History of Peru)
Image 12Map showing the Tacna-Arica dispute and its solution (from History of Peru)
Image 13The Main Square of Lima during the attempted coup of 1909. (from History of Peru)
Image 14Demonstration in Lima against Manuel Merino, 12 November 2020 (from History of Peru)
Image 15Historical population of Peru (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 16Population map of Peru in 2007 (regional) (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 17Chinatown in Lima (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 18Life expectancy in Peru since 1940 (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 19Battle of Junín, 6 August 1824 (from History of Peru)
Image 201882-83 Sierra Campaign (from History of Peru)
Image 21Dissolution of Peru-Bolivia:
  Peru-Bolivia
  Controlled by the United Restoration Army
  First Provisional Government of Peru
  Northern Peruvian Republic
  Second Provisional Government of Peru
  Provisional Government of Bolivia
  New Peruvian State
  New Bolivian State
  Controlled by the United Restoration Army during the restoration
  De facto borders after the dissolution
  Disputed between Peru-Bolivia and Argentina
  Disputed between Bolivia and Argentina
(from History of Peru)
Image 22Sánchez Cerro during the signing ceremony of the new constitution on April 9, 1933. (from History of Peru)
Image 23Sánchez Cerro during the signing ceremony of the new constitution on April 9, 1933. (from History of Peru)
Image 24The flag of Peru flies over the port of Leticia after the takeover (from History of Peru)
Image 25Life expectancy in Peru since 1960 by gender (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 26Dissolution of Peru-Bolivia:
  Peru-Bolivia
  Controlled by the United Restoration Army
  First Provisional Government of Peru
  Northern Peruvian Republic
  Second Provisional Government of Peru
  Provisional Government of Bolivia
  New Peruvian State
  New Bolivian State
  Controlled by the United Restoration Army during the restoration
  De facto borders after the dissolution
  Disputed between Peru-Bolivia and Argentina
  Disputed between Bolivia and Argentina
(from History of Peru)
Image 27Colonial tapestry, late 17th or early 18th century. It was woven by indigenous weavers for a Spanish client, incorporating then-fashionable Chinese imagery. (from History of Peru)
Image 28Amerindian woman with child (from Demographics of Peru)
Image 29Plan of the City of Kings (Lima), 1674. (from History of Peru)
Image 301882-83 Sierra Campaign (from History of Peru)
Image 31Map showing the Tacna-Arica dispute and its solution (from History of Peru)

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Inés Melchor at the 2012 Summer Olympics Marathon

Inés Melchor (born August 30, 1986) is a Peruvian long-distance runner. She competed in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, placing 25th with a time of 2:28:54. In September 2014 she placed 8th at the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:26.48, new Peruvian national record and the South America area record. Melchor also holds Peruvian records for the 5000 and 10,000 metres on the track.

She won numerous youth and junior medals at the continental level and competed at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics and the 2004 Summer Olympics while still a teenager. She won a gold medal double in the 5000 m and 10,000 m at the 2009 South American Championships in Athletics. She also won the bronze medal in the 5000 m at the 2011 Pan American Games. She is a three-time champion at the South American Cross Country Championships. (Full article...)

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... that the white-tailed jay found in Ecuador and Peru was once thought to have been brought to Mexico by pre-Columbian trade?
... that some prisoners in Peru get tattoos of Sarita Colonia for alleged protection?
... that Swedish naval officer Axel Lagerbielke was imprisoned in Lima for over a year, held in Callao and eventually escaped from Panama on an English packet boat to Jamaica?
... that a bust of former Peruvian president Justiniano Borgoño was stolen from its pedestal by thieves?
... that the Shining Path used squatting as a tactic to gain support during the internal conflict in Peru?
... that the Saxe–Goldstein hypothesis has been used to explain burial practices in Greece, Australia, Madagascar and Peru?
... that sisters Talia and Tori DellaPeruta, college teammates at North Carolina, play soccer professionally for Sampdoria?
... that Peru's fishing industry is the world's largest producer of fishmeal and fish oil?

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“

It isn't true that convicts live like animals: animals have more room to move around.

”

Peruvian writer, politician, journalist, and essayist Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa

Wikiquote

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Basic facts & figures

National Symbol	Capital	Currency	Time zone	National Anthem	Language	Population census

Symbols of Peru	City of Lima	Sol		Somos libres	Spanish	33,726,000

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More did you know...

...that the city of Cusco (pictured), the former capital of the Inca Empire, has the highest ultraviolet light level on Earth?
...that in the 1990s, the Peruvian economy underwent a process of liberalization which discarded protectionism and privatized state companies?
...that in the 1941 Ecuadorian–Peruvian war a Peruvian paratroop unit carried out the first airborne combat operation in the Western Hemisphere?
...that it has been suggested that climate changes provoked by an El Niño event played an important part in the collapse of the Moche civilization?
...that in 1984, during the internal conflict in Peru, members of the Peruvian Army massacred 123 men, women and children in the town of Putis?

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