GEOGRAPHY

Peru, in western South America, extends for nearly 1,500 mi (2,414 km) along the Pacific Ocean. Colombia and Ecuador are to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, and Chile to the south. Five-sixths the size of Alaska, Peru is divided by the Andes Mountains into three sharply differentiated zones. To the west is the coastline, much of it arid, extending 50 to 100 mi (80 to 160 km) inland. The mountain area, with peaks over 20,000 ft (6,096 m), lofty plateaus, and deep valleys, lies centrally. Beyond the mountains to the east is the heavily forested slope leading to the Amazonian plains.

FAST FACTS

• Republic of Peru / National name: República del Perú
• Capital and largest city - Lima (pop. 8,113,000) (est. 2003)
• Other large cities - Arequipa (pop. 837,300); Trujillo (pop. 725,200); Chiclayo (pop. 598,400)
• Area - 496,223 sq mi (1,285,220 sq km)
• Population - 27,925,628 (est. 2005)
• Languages - Spanish, Quéchua (both official); Aymara; many minor Amazonian languages
• Economic summary - Agriculture: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains,  grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish.
• Industries - mining and refining of minerals and metals, petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas, fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing, steel, metal fabrication.
• Natural resources - copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas. Exports copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee.
• Imports - petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper.
• Bishop of Peru - The Rt. Rev. William Godfrey