Editing Peru, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|67.4|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|67.1|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.3|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.41%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500353050| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212155115/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500353050| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Peru town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 16, 2013}}</ref> Peru lies on the eastern border of Berkshire County, and is bordered by [[Windsor, Massachusetts|Windsor]] to the north, [[Cummington, Massachusetts|Cummington]] to the northeast, [[Worthington, Massachusetts|Worthington]] to the east, [[Middlefield, Massachusetts|Middlefield]] to the south, [[Washington, Massachusetts|Washington]] to the southwest, and [[Hinsdale, Massachusetts|Hinsdale]] to the west. Peru is {{convert|13|mi}} east of [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts|Pittsfield]], {{convert|40|mi}} northwest of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] and {{convert|118|mi}} west of [[Boston]].

Peru has the highest mean altitude in Massachusetts and, along with neighboring [[Windsor, Massachusetts|Windsor]], is one of only two municipalities in the state with a mean elevation above 2,000 feet.<ref>[[Windsor, Massachusetts]]</ref> It lies on high ground in the [[Berkshire Hills]], with three main peaks in the town. Much of Peru is forested, with a large portion of the northern third of town covered by a wildlife management area, and much of the southern third covered by the Peru and Middlefield State Forests. To the west of town, Ashmere Lake flows out into Bennett Brook, eventually reaching the East Branch of the [[Housatonic River]]. To the east, many brooks, including Trout Brook, flow south and east towards the [[Westfield River]], part of the [[Connecticut River]] watershed (Trout Brook is actually one of the main sources of the river).

Peru is bisected by [[Massachusetts Route 143]], passing from east to west. No other state roads pass through the town. The nearest interstate, [[Interstate 90]] (the [[Massachusetts Turnpike]]), can be accessed approximately {{convert|20|mi}} away in [[Lee, Massachusetts|Lee]]. The nearest bus stop is in the center of Hinsdale. The nearest coach and rail services can be found in Pittsfield, as can the closest regional airport (at [[Pittsfield Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)|Pittsfield Municipal Airport]]). The nearest national service is located at [[Bradley International Airport]] in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]].