25 Amazing Facts About Peru That Will Blow Your Mind

Peru is a country located in the western part of South America.

As of now, the population of Peru is estimated to be around 33 million. A major part of the population lives in Lima, with an estimated nine million residents.

Because of its rich history, Peru has become a well-known country in the world. The country still houses the legends of the Inca civilization that prospered in ancient Peru.

The Incan empire is believed to be one of the largest empires during their reign. The Incas conquered the majority of the regions and thrived in their given situations.

They constructed massive buildings, temples, and a wide range of settlements. Archaeological findings have brought ancient relics to the forefront of the world and painted a picture of Peru's deep history and culture.

Sites like Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca are widely known because of their historical and geographical importance in modern-day studies. The maintenance of these sites is done by Peru's government. Interestingly, the world's largest river, the Amazon River, actually starts in Peru! Keep reading to learn many more interesting facts about Peru!

If you liked reading this article, you must check out facts about Belarus and facts about Botswana here at Kidadl.

Facts About Peru's Food

Potatoes, legumes, corn, and tomatoes are popular Peruvian food types. Kiwicha and quinoa are the two most common grains.

Peru is the birthplace of potatoes, and to nobody's surprise, the country has over 4,000 different types of potato-related dishes. Potatoes come in all sizes, colors, and shapes! Interestingly, one such restaurant in Peru serves at least seven types of potato base in its traditional food.

Cuy is the name of a traditional dish popular in Peru, and the main ingredient in it is a guinea pig! Guinea pigs have been a part of traditional food in Peru, where they are served fried with the complete body intact.

Llama meat is another popular part of Peruvian cuisine as these animals are quite common in the region.

Ceviche is Peru's national dish. It is made by curing raw fish with citrus juice and mixing it with salt, coriander, chili peppers, and onion. Ceviche is accompanied by Coca-Cola or Inca Cola.

Pisco sour, an alcoholic drink, is the national drink of Peru. It is made from grapes, and the origin of this beverage dates back to the 1920s.

Peru is home to one of the most expensive coffees in the world, kopi luwak. To produce this coffee, an animal called 'Coati' is fed coffee beans, and then the undigested beans are processed from the excrement of the animal. One cup of this coffee costs anywhere between $20-65.

The Camu-Camu fruit that grows in the Amazon Rainforest is sold in powdered form as it has health benefits.

Facts About Peru's Culture

Lima is the capital city of Peru. The city was founded in 1535 by a 16th-century Spanish colonizer named Francisco Pizarro, and the city was made to be the foundation of power for Spanish settlers.

At present, out of all the Peruvian cities, Lima is the only one with a population of one million. At an accurate rate, the city is home to almost 10 million people.

Peru does business with most countries in the world. Natural gas, iron ore, coffee, petroleum, and fish products are some of the main exports of Peru. Natural resources like copper, lead, gold, rare metals, and hydropower are also exported by Peru.

Peru recognizes three official languages. Aymara, Quechua, and Spanish are recognized as official languages in the regions. An estimated 80% of the population speaks Spanish.

Machu Picchu, a major tourist attraction in Peru, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World that are scattered across the world. Travelers visit the country to undertake the Inca Trail, a hiking trail that lasts for four days where people hike from the Andes Mountain range to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is popular in Inca architecture. Machu Picchu is also known as the 'Lost City of the Incas.'

The Vicuna, a member of the Camelid family, is the national animal of Peru. These camelids can be found in many South American regions.

Even with the rise of Catholicism in the country, it still has many old traditions. Festivals like Christmas are combined with traditional festivals by the Amerindian people, and the festival of Inti Raymi is celebrated to praise the sun god for the happy times.

The National University of San Marcos was founded in 1551 in Lima, the capital city, and this university is one of the oldest universities on the South American continent. The university was established by royal order and, in modern times, serves as a scientific research center.

More Facts About Peru

Apart from being known as the country where the Amazon River begins, Peru is also known for the famous Nazca lines. Geoglyphs, or the huge drawings that can be seen in the Nazca desert, are believed to have been constructed anywhere between 500 BC-500 AD.

These lines portray humans, various patterns, and animals. A fraction of the population believes that aliens used the Nazca lines as an alien landing strip!

Many historians and archeologists hold a fascination with the Qenqo Temple. The temple is believed to have been built by the Incans.

There are various beliefs that the Qenqi temple, carved from huge monoliths, served as a sacrificial ground for the Sun or Moon gods. However, this belief is yet to be proven as there are no clues left that can help in figuring out the real use of this temple.

The canal cut had a zig-zag formation that was used to drain liquid.

Sacsayhuaman, a solid rock formation, is another one of the many things that were left behind by the ancient civilizations. These massive blocks of stone fit perfectly with each other. The formation is believed to be even better than what remains.

Machu Picchu is also known as the 'floating city amidst the clouds'. Machu Picchu stands at a soaring 11,000 ft (3352.8 m) above sea level. The design and intention behind which the Machu Picchu site was founded are still unclear to this day.

Peru's History

If you plan to visit Peru, the best times to do so would be during May and September, as this is the driest period in the country.

Peru is the third-largest country in South America, and it takes its spot right after Brazil and Argentina, the largest and second-largest countries in South America, respectively.

Machu Picchu is believed to have been built by the Inca emperor as a summer retreat. The region was lost when the Spanish invaded and took control of it. Most of the roads that were created throughout the empire would lead to Machu Picchu.

The Cotahuasi Canyon is one of the world's deepest canyons and it is located in Peru. It has a depth of 11,811 ft (3,600 m), which is twice the depth of the Grand Canyon in the United States.

In ancient times, Peruvians practiced the Quipu, a method of color-coding knots. When the Spanish arrived, Quipu was forgotten and was replaced with writing.

Lake Titicaca is one of the most popular lakes in the world. Lake Titicaca stands 12,500 ft (3810 m) above sea level and is situated between Bolivia and Peru. The lake is deep and huge. Today, the original inhabitants of the Quechua group live on the floating islands in the region that was once called the 'lost city'.

An archaeological discovery was made back in the year 2000 when a temple was discovered underwater. The temple is estimated to be around 1000-1500 years old and was built by pre-Inca people known as the Tiwanaku.

Peru has one of the most diverse landscapes in South America and the world. The lush ecosystem of the country is home to various animal species.

An estimated 300 reptiles, 500 mammals, and over 1,800 bird species are believed to live in these dense forest regions of Peru. Geographically, the Pacific Ocean is situated to the west of the country.

Two of the world's deepest canyons are located in Peru! The Colca Canyon and the Cotahuasi Canyon are situated in southern Peru and battle for the title of the deepest canyon on the continent.

Both of these canyons are deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States.

Colca Canyon is very popular because of the easily organized tours that are held in the region, as Cocla can be reached in four hours from the city, whereas Cotahuasi requires a 12-hour bus ride. Since the Inca civilization is not known for using wheels, it is assumed that the structures at the mountaintop were carved into the mountain.

The world's largest river, the Amazon River, actually starts in Peru! It begins at the Mantaro River.

The Amazon basin part of Peru covers 60% of the region and is home to various species of flora and fauna. The city of Iquitos is known to be the largest city in the world that has no access by road. Traveling to the city can only be done via river or air.

Peru ranks among some of the world's most diverse countries biologically. It is estimated that the country has 90 different types of eco-climates restricted to small areas. The Manu National Park is one such place to visit as it is home to at least 1,000 bird species, 287 reptile species, and 1,200 butterfly species.

Based on archaeological findings, Peru is considered to be the home of some of the most ancient cities in both North and South America. The Caral archaeological site is believed to hold some amazing ancient ruins that were used by the Norte Chico civilization.

The site is spread over massive land and has streets, buildings, and temples! The site was considered to be a bustling hub as a metropolis and is thought to be the basis on which the Andean civilization started.

The Serro Blanco dune is estimated to be 3858.2 ft (1,176 m) high and is considered to be amongst the highest dunes in the world. The dune easily overlooks the Sechura Desert.

The dune is located between the Pacific Coast and the Andes Mountain ranges. It is located near the Nazca valley, which is home to the world-renowned Nazca lines.

Vilicunca, also known as the Rainbow Mountain, is known for its colorful nature and is located high in the Andes mountains. The seven-color formations are a result of the different minerals that are in the soil. Rainbow Mountain is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country.

The Inca Empire began to grow in stature and power by the 13th century, and this empire stretched from the modern-day regions of southwest Colombia and extended up until the south-central parts of Chile. It is understood that the alliance consisted of various laws and an official language, and the entire region was commanded by one emperor.

The city of Cusco served as the capital of the Inca empire and was located in the Sacred Valley.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about Peru, then why not take a look at facts about Dublin, or facts about Guyana?