An Introduction to Peru

Peru is located in Western South America, and it borders the nations of Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. Peru also shares a border with the Pacific Ocean to the West. Peru has a very dynamic landscape that is divided into three longitudinal-based regions: The Costa, The Sierra, and Amazonia. The Costa (Peru’s coastline) contains all the nation’s beaches which gradually get smaller as you go further down South. The Sierra, the Andes, dominates the central zone of Peru, and the rugged turain has essentially become the division between the East and West parts of the nation. The Amazonia compensates for three-fifths of Peru’s landmass, and it is part of the greater Amazon Basin that covers much of South America. Peru’s climate varies between the regions: The Costa is dry, The Sierra is cool and wet, and Amazonia is troical and humid. Economically, Peru is still in the modernization process, and their economy is heavily influenced by mining and agriculture. Peru for the most part partakes in primary activities, and the extent of the nation’s manufacturing industry is solely located in the greater Lima area. The three major population groups of Peru are Europeans, mestizos, and Quechuan Indians. The Europeans and mestizos make-up the upper and middle classes, and the Quechuan Indians live in poverty and are relatively segregated by the the other two groups. The national population of Peru is around 29,550,000 citizens, and the national per capita GDP is $10,600. 43% of Peruvians live under the poverty line, and 7.5% are unemployed.

The Peruvian National Flag