Peru+(Craig)

toc Peru is a country located in South America. Much like other formerly colonized nations it is the sum of several very different cultures. Depending on the location the inhabitants shift from native people in the forrests, to the more modernized in the costal region. A large portion of it's people are of mixed race between the native Americans and the Spanish who conquered them. Peru has a rather unique act for hanging onto the past as much of the ancient culture still permiates through to the modern world. Peru's Economy is a mixture of foriegn investments, Agriculture, and a booming banking industry.

=**General Information**=


 * **Full name:** Republic of Peru[[image:http://www.livingamused.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/peru-flag.jpg width="332" height="251" align="right" caption="National Flag"]]
 * **Population:**29.4 million (UN, 2011)
 * **Capital:** Lima
 * **Area:** 1.28 million sq km (496,225 sq miles)
 * **Major languages:** Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
 * **Major religion:** Christianity
 * **Life expectancy:** 72 years (men), 77 years (women) (UN)
 * **Monetary unit:** 1 nuevo sol = 100 centimoses
 * **Main exports:** Fish and fish products, copper, zinc, gold, crude petroleum and by-products, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton
 * **GNI per capita:** US $4,700 (World Bank, 2010)
 * **Ethinic groups:** Amerindian 45%, Mestizo (mixed Ameridian and white) 37%, White 15%, Black, japanese, Chinese, and other 35%

=Culture=

Peru has a mixture of Inca and Spanish influence. Peru Celebrates about 3,000 festivles a year, Many of which include Pagan influence. Peru has its cuisine influenced by Spain, Italy, Japan, and China. The problem with this being that the original recipes call for ingredients that are not common in Peru. Much of Peru's dishes are modified versions of the original, most include corn, or potatoes. Women in Peru traditionally wore flamboyant dresses with hats that protect the entire head from the sun. Older men wear wool pants, and blanket-like shirts. The modern generation is becoming more westernized in it's attire, no longer adhering to the original clothing. Peru has had music for almost the amount of time that people have inhabited it. Shells and other natural items were used for instruments, but these as well are becoming more modern as well. Art is available everywhere in Peru, from the clothing that it's people wear, to the ancient creations that are being uncovered by archeologist, Peru is a culture rich with the Arts.

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=Geography=

Peru has a vast array of different geographical formations. It also has problems of flooding, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Occasionally mild volcanic activity may occur as well. Peru's Geographic can be divided up into three main categories.

Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin encompases over 60% of Peru's Territory. While it is not extensivley populated, the region's inhabitants tend to stay toward the traditional Peru lifestyle. With temperatures in the low to mid 80’s and humidity over 75%, the Amazon Basin isn’t for the everyday traveler. Much of the rainforest remains fully untouched, despite the rise in tourism to this area. As a rain forrest it receives an excessive amount of water leading to a great amount of biodiversity, still much of which is undocumented.

Costal Region
This region has an oppresive humidity at over 90%. It lies between 0 and 1,650 feet above sea level. The majority of Peru's inhabitabitents live here. Lima is located on the costal region as well. Many people in this region rely on fish as not only a source of food, but as their income as well. 60% of Peruvians live in this region

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Andrean Mountain Ranges
This mountain range can reach an excess of 20,000 feet above sea level and is so vast that it can be divided into several sub-regions each with a different microclimate supporting a large number of different types of animals and plants. The moutains are host to much agriculture in the valleys between them. Animals are usually grazed on the adjacent plains. = = =Government=

Peru is governed by a Constitutional Republic, where voting is required between the ages of 18-70. This includes not only a president (Ollanta Humala), but a prime minister (Oscar Valdes) as well. In Peru officials are elected in a direct election, where the people's votes are the only ones that matter. Peru happens to be divided into twenty five regions in addition to the province of Lima. Each region elects its own president and council. Lima on the other hand only has a city council. It (Peru) usually is in good standing with it's neighbors, besides the occasional Chilean mishap. It's government is having border trouble, much the same as the US. In fact the US gave many hundreds of millions of dollars to the Peruvian Government for border protection. Internal Peru recently went through much political turmoil, specifically in 2000, where the president was forced to hold election, where, because of a scandal on his part, he was not allowed to participate.

=Current Events=

Thousands march in Peru against US-backed mining project
A large protest including thousands of people was held on Friday February 10th. The protests were protesting the expansion to one of the world's largest gold mines. The investment made to expand the mine will be the largest ever for mining in Peru. Part of the controversy includes several rivers which will be drained to store waste. The protests consisted of the people that would be affected by the expansion.

Colorful Peruvian lizard surprises scientists
the cold mountains of Peru. The Scientist proceeded to search many days and nights for more species, and a new species of lizard has been found in Peru. It is a significant discovery due to the fact that it was found in eventually found some. The scientists were unsure how the lizards were able to produce energy in the cold. The lizards were also able to swim for extensive periods of time in even cooler mountain streams. This just shows how much is left to be discovered in Peru.

Japan to finance $800 million dollar project in Peru
A new investment has been made in peru. While the reasons behind it seem to be mainly for making money, it will help rural areas in places such as the jungles. It will help develop sanitation in the rural areas. It will also aid in developing irrigation systems four country farmers. This could be of great benefit to the people of Peru, and help bring them into the modern world.

=History=

Sometime around 1200 BC the Chavín, Chimú, Nazca, and Tiahuanaco migrated into the region from the north. Much of the history between that and 1,000 A.D. was lost. From 1100 to 1300 the Inca moved north into the Cusco Valley, where they proceeded to take over their neighbor's land. After a devastating civil war, the Inca's  were left almost powerless. This is the time that the Spanish showed up. The Spanish Arranged a meeting with the leader of the winners of the war, Atahualpa. The Spanish then proceeded to ambush and capture him for ransom. He paid the largest ransom in history for his own release, but was killed anyway. The Spanish the proceeded to  kill thousands of his followers. The Spanish then proceeded to destroy the roads, and irrigation systems that the Incas so desperately relied on.

The Inca's began to die off from Spanish disease, for which they had no immunity to. After the last of their cities were destroyed the remaining Inca's, along with what was left of their government took refuge in the mountains of Peru. For about 40 years they were able to sustain their country there until their leader was finally executed, along with his advisers. The Capital, (Lima in present day), was then established on the banks of the Rímac River the Peruvian capital city of Ciudad de los Reyes.

The Spanish began to treat the native land, and people very poorly. Their main goal was to get minerals and resources for Spain. In 1542 a Spanish council created a new piece of legislation called New Laws for the Indies. These Laws were meant to end the cruelty towards the native americans, although they were never able to be enforced. The Spanish then created the Viceroyalty of Peru, which was made up of all Spain's South American Territory, and Panama. In 1780 tens of thousands of natives rebelled in an initially successful attempt at freedom, but this was shortlived and the spanish supressed it, as well as another revolt in the 19th century.

Peru's Freedom can be attributed not to itself, but to outside help. In September of 1820 an Argentinian soldier Jose de San Martin launched an invasion. In July 28, 1821 Peru was official free of the Spaniards who had ruled for so long.

=Tourism=

If one were to travel to Peru for recreational means, there are several places that they should go. The first being Machu Picchu. This ancient mountain top city is a truly magnificent site for anyone. It is a tribute to the people who once inhabited the area, and a display of the feats people were willing to undertake to ensure their saftey. For the more adventerous there are many amazon tours including those that take you deep into the jungles, were you can meet and interact with the native Peruvians. One other exciting opportunity is to visit the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco. This world heritage site has no lack of cultural experiences to be had. Near Cusco is another interesting travel destination, The Sacred Valley of the Inca's. This contained much of the Inca Empire, as well as being the main source for resources for the empire. Today it even remains an agricultural area, great to travel to.



=References=


 * BBC
 * Flag
 * [|About.com]
 * [|About Peru History]
 * How Stuff Works
 * Mapa_Peru
 * World book 'Peru'
 * WSWS
 * MSNBC
 * Bernama
 * History
 * State.gov
 * Peru Tourism
 * Language Destinations
 * Peru Facts
 * My Peru