Editing Geography of Peru (section)

== Natural Regions ==
Despite the great diversity of Peruvian territory, the Spanish divided it into three main regions for political rather than geographical reasons: the Coast, adjacent to the [[Pacific Ocean]]; the Highlands, located in the [[Andes|Andean mountains]]; and the [[Amazon rainforest|Amazon Jungle]]. This division, despite its evident limitations, lasted until 1941, when the third General Assembly of the [[Pan American Institute of Geography and History]] approved the creation of eight natural regions, proposed by the geographer Javier Pulgar Vidal, to establish a physiographic map more adjusted to the biogeographical reality of the territory. Thus conceived, the Peruvian map comprises the following regions:

* '''La Chala or Coast''': <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://repositorio.une.edu.pe/bitstream/handle/20.500.14039/4337/Las%20regiones%20geogr%c3%a1ficas%20del%20Per%c3%ba.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y|title=The Geographical Regions of Peru: Classification and Diverse Theories|access-date=2024-06-17|archive-date=2023-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307161728/https://repositorio.une.edu.pe/bitstream/handle/20.500.14039/4337/Las%20regiones%20geogr%C3%A1ficas%20del%20Per%C3%BA.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y|url-status=dead}}</ref> This region is found in the western lands, which are relatively flat and extend along the coast from sea level up to 500 meters in elevation. In this region, [[Carob|carob trees]], [[Parkinsonia aculeata|palo verde]], [[Distichlis spicata|salt grass]], [[Mangrove|mangroves]], [[Phragmites australis|reeds]], and [[Gynerium|wild canes]] grow along the rivers, and [[Ismene amancaes|amancaes]], [[Solanum peruvianum|wild tomatoes]], [[Vasconcellea candicans|mito]], [[Tara spinosa|tara]], and others grow on the hillsides. The coastal fauna includes [[Sea lion|sea lions]], [[Anchovy|anchovies]], and seabirds.

* '''La Yunga''': <ref>Peru Atlas, 1989. Page 108. National Geographic Institute, Lima-Peru</ref> A region of fertile valleys and ravines where [[Pouteria lucuma|lúcumo]], [[cherimoya]], [[Psidium cattleyanum|guava]], [[avocado]], citrus fruits, and [[Sugarcane|sugar cane]] are cultivated, along with picturesque river canyons. Between 500 and 2300 meters on the western slope, it is known as Maritime Yunga, and between 1000 and 2300 meters on the eastern slope, it is called Fluvial Yunga. Fluvial Yunga has a warm climate with seasonal rains, while a desert climate predominates in Maritime Yunga. The flora includes [[Schinus molle|molle]], [[Furcraea andina|white agave]], [[Pitaya|pitahaya]], and [[Physalis peruviana|chuná]], and the fauna includes birds such as the [[Long-tailed mockingbird|chaucato]] and [[Fasciated wren|taurigaray]].

* '''Quechua''': A region of temperate lands that extend across both Andean slopes between 2300 and 3500 meters in altitude. The landscape alternates between valleys and watersheds feeding into the same basin, with limited summer rains. The flora includes [[Alnus jorullensis|alder]], [[Alnus acuminata|lambran or rambash]], [[Vaccinium meridionale|gongapa]], and [[Arracacia xanthorrhiza|arracacha]], and [[maize]], [[Cucurbita moschata|squash]], [[Passion fruit (fruit)|passion fruit]], [[papaya]], [[wheat]], and [[peach]] are cultivated. The fauna includes birds such as the [[Andean slaty thrush|gray thrush or chihuanco]].

* '''Suni or Jalca''': Lands with a cold and dry climate, with abundant summer rains, located between 3500 and 4100 meters, characterized by glacial valleys and slightly undulating bottoms. The landscape is covered by grasses and shrubs like [[Tara spinosa|taya-taya]], [[Buddleja incana|quishuar]], and [[Cantua buxifolia|cantuta]] (sacred flower of [[Inca Empire|the Incas]]). Despite the climate, [[quinoa]], [[Chenopodium pallidicaule|cañigua]], [[Lima bean|broad beans]], [[Ullucus|olluco]], and other crops thrive. The fauna includes the [[Chiguanco thrush|black thrush]] and [[guinea pig]].

* '''La Puna''': Covers the high plateaus and Andean cliffs between 4100 and 4800 meters, where a cold climate prevails. During the day, temperatures are positive, but they drop below 0 °C at night. The typical vegetation includes [[Cactus|cacti]] and, in lakes and swampy areas, [[Schoenoplectus californicus|totoras]]. The most common crops are [[barley]], [[potato]], and [[Lepidium meyenii|maca]]. The characteristic fauna includes [[llama]], [[alpaca]], [[vicuña]], [[guanaco]], [[Andean condor|condor]], [[Andean goose|huallata]], [[flamingo]], [[Muscovy duck|duck]], and other aquatic birds.

* '''La Janca''': Corresponds to the high frozen peaks, encompassing the domains of the [[Andean condor|condor]], where the climate is glacial and vegetation is very scarce, reduced almost to [[Yareta|yareta or yarita]].

* '''La Rupa Rupa or High Jungle''': Forested foothills located between 400 and 1000 meters on the eastern slope of [[Andes|the Andes]], characterized by narrow, elongated valleys and river canyons or pongos. The warm, humid, and rainy climate favors a diverse tropical flora and fauna, including the [[tapir]], [[White-lipped peccary|peccary]], and [[jaguar]].

* '''Omagua, The Amazon or Low Jungle''': A jungle plain that extends between 80 and 400 meters on the eastern Andean slope, through which the rivers of the [[Amazon River|Amazon]] basin flow, forming meanders, swamps, and lagoons. The flora includes trees like [[Açaí palm|chonta]], [[Cedrela|cedar]], [[Wettinia|palms]], [[Attalea (plant)|shapaja]], and shebo, and plants like [[Orchid|orchids]]. The fauna includes [[capybara]], [[giant armadillo]], [[Lontra|otter]], and [[White-tailed deer|red deer]], birds like [[Black-billed mountain toucan|toucan]], [[hoatzin]], [[jabiru]], and [[Scarlet macaw|macaw]], as well as fish like [[Arapaima gigas|paiche]] and other aquatic animals like the [[Amazonian manatee|manatee]] and [[Common Surinam toad|pipa toad]].