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Country Guide > South America > Peru | |
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General Information Area 1,285,216 sq km (496,225 sq miles).
Population 27,148,101 (2003). Population Density 21.1 per sq km. Capital Lima. Population: 7,748,528 (2002). Geography Peru is a large, mountainous country on the Pacific coast of South America. It has borders with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, and Chile to the south. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west. There are three natural zones, running roughly north to south: Costa (Coast), Sierra (the Highlands) and Selva (Amazonian rain forest). The Costa region, which contains Lima (the capital), is a narrow coastal plain consisting of large tracts of desert broken by fertile valleys. The cotton, sugar and rice plantations and most of the so-far exploited oil fields lie in this area. The Sierra contains the Andes, with peaks over 6000m (20,000ft), most of the country’s mineral resources (silver, zinc, lead, copper and gold) and the greater part of its livestock. The Selva, an area of fertile, subtropical uplands, lies between the Andes and the border with Brazil. Sections of a proposed international highway are at present being built through it, with some sections already in use. The Amazonian jungle has vast natural resources. The absence of land communications, however, left the area largely uncharted until full-scale oil exploration began in 1973. The population is largely Indian and Mestizo with a noticeable influence from African, Chinese and European (mainly Spanish) settlers. Government Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1824, having declared it in 1821. Head of State: President Alejandro Toledo Manrique since 2001. Language Spanish and Quechua are the official languages. Aymará is spoken in some areas of the region of Puno. Many other dialects exist in the jungle regions. English is spoken in major tourist areas. Religion 89 per cent Roman Catholic, 7 per cent Evangelical and 4 per cent other denominations. Time GMT - 5. Electricity 220 volts AC, 60Hz. (110 volts AC is available in most 4- and 5-star hotels). Communications Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 51. Outgoing international code: 00. City code for Amazonas: 41, Arequipa: 54, Ayacucho: 66, Cajamarca: 76, Chiclayo: 74, Cusco: 84, Huaraz: 43, Ica: 56, Iquitos: 65, Lima: 1, Piura: 73, Puerto Maldonado: 82, Puno: 51, Tacna: 52, Tarapoto: 42, Trujillo: 44 and Tumbes: 72. Direct calls are possible from public phones. Telephone cards are available in the main cities. Mobile telephone GSM 1900 network operated by TIM (website: www.tim.com.pe). Cellular phones can be rented in Lima and the main cities. Fax Telefónica del Perú offers a fax service throughout the country. Small public booths and services are found in commercial areas. The majority of hotels in Lima and the main cities also have facilities. Internet Public Internet booths and Internet cafes are widely available in the main cities. Telegram Facilities are available at Lima and main hotels (for guests), with services run by Telefónica del Perú. Their offices are at Pasaje Piura 25, Lima and are open Mon-Sat 0800-2000, Sun 0800-1400. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week. Postal facilities are limited outside Lima. First-class airmail from Europe or North America addressed to PO boxes in Peru usually takes four days, but may be subject to delay. The main post office (Correo Central de Lima) is near the Plaza de Armas. Press Newspapers are in Spanish. Morning dailies include El Bocón, El Comercio, Expreso, Gestión and La República. The English-language monthly, Lima Times, is available in main hotels and bookstores, as are major international newspapers and magazines. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
