Editing Geography of Peru

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{{Country geography
|map=Peru_rel1991.gif
|name=Peru
|continent=South America
|region=
|km area=1285215.6 
|percent land= 99.6 
|percent water= 0.4
|km coastline=3080 
|area ranking=20th
|largest lake=[[Lake Titicaca]]
|highest point=[[Huascarán|Huascarán Sur]],<br>{{convert|6768|m|ft}}
|lowest point=[[Bayóvar Depression]],<br>{{convert|-34|m|ft}}
|borders=[[Land borders|Total land borders]]:<br />7,461&nbsp;km<br />[[Bolivia]]: 1,075&nbsp;km<br /> [[Brazil]]: 2,995&nbsp;km<br /> [[Chile]]: 171&nbsp;km<br /> [[Colombia]]: 1,800&nbsp;km<br /> [[Ecuador]]: 1,420&nbsp;km
|coordinates={{coord|10|00|S|76|00|W|type:country}}
|longest river=
|exclusive economic zone={{convert|906,454|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}

[[File:Regiones naturales del Perú.png|thumb|300px|Peruvian natural regions according to Javier Pulgar Vidal.]]
[[Image:Peru Blue Marble.png|thumb|Satellite imagery of Peru]]
[[Image:Peru Topography.png|thumb|250px|Topographic map of Peru]]
[[Image:Peru pol91.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Political map of Peru]]
[[Image:Peru veg 1970.png|thumb|right|Vegetation of Peru]]

[[Peru]] is a country on the central western coast of [[South America]] facing the [[Pacific Ocean]]. It lies wholly in the [[Southern Hemisphere]], its northernmost extreme reaching to 1.8 minutes of latitude or about {{convert|3.3|km|mi}} south of the [[equator]]. Peru shares land borders with [[Ecuador]], [[Colombia]], [[Brazil]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Chile]], with its longest land border shared with Brazil.

== 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]].

== Statistics ==

Peru has a total land area of 1,285,220&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> <ref>{{Cite web |title=Peru PE: Surface Area {{!}} Economic Indicators {{!}} CEIC |url=https://www.ceicdata.com/en/peru/land-use-protected-areas-and-national-wealth/pe-surface-area |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=www.ceicdata.com}}</ref> and a total water area of 5,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. In terms of maritime area, the country claims a continental shelf of {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}, a territorial sea of {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}} and an ''[[Exclusive economic zone]]'' of {{convert|857,000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brittany |first=Derrick |last2=Khalfallah |first2=Myriam |last3=Relano |first3=Veronica |last4=Zeller |first4=Dirk |last5=Pauly |first5=Daniel |date=2021-03-31 |title=Updating to 2018 the 1950- 2010 marine catch reconstructions of the Sea Around Us. Part II: The Americas and Asia-Pacific |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/facultyresearchandpublications/52383/items/1.0396430 |journal=Fisheries Centre Research Reports |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=270 |issn=1198-6727 |access-date=2023-12-27 |via=The University of British Columbia}}</ref> 

Only 3% of Peru's land is arable, with 0.5% being suitable for permanent crops. Permanent pastureland accounts for 21% of Peru's land use, and forests and woodland accounting for 66% of the landscape. Approximately 9.5% (1993 est.) of Peruvian land is attributed to population centers, coastal regions, and other space.

Natural hazards that Peru experiences include earthquakes, [[tsunami]]s, flooding, landslides, and mild volcanic activity. The geographic positioning of Peru adjacent to the adjoining Nazca and South American tectonic plates - converging in the Atacama trench off the Pacific coast - serves as the catalyst to many of Peru's natural hazards.

Peru's environmental issues include deforestation (some the result of [[illegal logging]]); [[overgrazing]] of the slopes of the coast and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes.

Peru is a party to the following international environmental agreements:<br>[[Antarctic Treaty]], [[Antarctic-Environmental Protocol]], [[Biodiversity]], [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Climate Change]], [[Desertification]], [[Endangered Species]], [[Hazardous Wastes]], [[Nuclear Test Ban]], [[Ozone Layer Protection]], [[Ship Pollution]], [[Tropical Timber 83]], [[Tropical Timber 94]], [[Wetlands]], [[Whaling]]. Furthermore, the country has signed, but not ratified, the Climate Change-[[Kyoto Protocol]].

Peru shares control of [[Lake Titicaca]], world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McCaffrey |first1=Stephen C. |last2=Leb |first2=Christina |last3=T.Denoon |first3=Riley |title=Research Handbook on International Water Law |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-78536-808-0 |page=494 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CQyEDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>

== Urbanization ==
The most populated city in the country is [[Lima]], the capital of Peru. Lima's metropolitan area has a population of over 10 million. The country's second and third largest cities, [[Callao]] and [[Arequipa]], have around 1.3 and 1.2 million people, respectively. Peru's developed urban cities are found in coastal regions and to the north. There are 32.1 million people who live in Peru.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.populationpyramid.net/peru/2017/|title=Population Pyramids of the World from 1950 to 2100|website=PopulationPyramid.net|language=en|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref> The percentage of urbanization in Peru is 79.2%, and holds a yearly increase of 1.57%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indexmundi.com/peru/urbanization.html|title=Peru Urbanization - Demographics|website=www.indexmundi.com|access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref> Lima forms part of the [[largest cities in the Americas]], and holds 31.7% of the country's population.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newperuvian.com/major-cities-in-peru/|title=Major Cities in Peru: The Largest and the Most Popular {{!}} New Peruvian|date=21 December 2017|work=New Peruvian|access-date=2018-11-02|language=en-US}}</ref> The dense concentration of the population size of Peru is 25 people/km<sup>2</sup> or 57/mi<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/peru-population/|title=Peru Population 2018 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)|website=worldpopulationreview.com|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref> Lima is a pull factor that draws millions of Peruvians from the suburbs to the capital. This urban inland migration is the result of sprawling around Lima. These sprawling places are known as “Pueblos Jóvenes”. The young towns and Lima make up the metropolitan area that extend {{convert|125|mi|km|order=flip|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/17167/growing-pains-urbanization-and-governance-in-peru|title=Growing Pains: Urbanization and Governance in Peru|website=www.worldpoliticsreview.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref>

The urban growth brings issues to the metropolitan area and the environment. Lima is the most polluted city in Latin America.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.peruviantimes.com/08/world-health-organization-says-lima-has-worst-air-pollution-in-latam/22119/|title=World Health Organization Says Lima has Worst Air Pollution in LatAm|access-date=2018-11-20|language=en-US}}</ref> The overcrowding and growth of urbanization has caused Peruvians to use its green spaces for garbage disposal. This leads to the pollution of the river [[Rímac River|Rimac]] that supplies water to the metropolitan area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249962354|title=Water Contamination and its Impact on Vegetable Production in the Rimac River, Peru}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cueto |first1=Marcos |title=The Return of Epidemics : Health and Society in Peru During the Twentieth Century. |date=2001 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |location=Florence |isbn=9781351882897 |page=108 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTErDwAAQBAJ |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref>

The rise of urbanization forgets the historic sites, ruins or “[[huaca]]s”, which are being replaced for buildings, roads, etc. Lima is home of 400 sites of 46,000 in the country, the country itself only preserves 1%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://durangoherald.com/articles/197911|title=Ruins at risk: Peru's urban growth threatens to erase pre-colonial sites|work=Durango Herald|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en|archive-date=2018-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128122739/https://durangoherald.com/articles/197911|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Approximately 1.3 million [[Venezuelans]] have emigrated to Peru in search of residency.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-politics/bolsonaros-economic-guru-urges-quick-brazil-pension-reform-idUSKCN1N41EB|title=Bolsonaro's economic guru urges quick Brazil pension reform|last=Gaier|first=Rodrigo Viga|work=U.S.|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en-US}}</ref> This [[international migration]] is caused by various social, environmental and economic crises in their home country. This push factor migration has brought to Peru sustenance problems like instability and food shortage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-latin-america-45309049/venezuela-crisis-migrants-dash-to-cross-peru-border|title=Venezuelans dash to cross Peru border|work=BBC News |language=en|access-date=2018-11-08}}</ref>

== Climate ==
{{main article|Climate of Peru}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map PER present.svg|thumb|left|300px|Peru map of Köppen climate classification zones]]
The combination of tropical latitude, mountain ranges, topography variations and two ocean currents ([[Humboldt Current|Humboldt]] and [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation|El Niño]]) gives Peru a large diversity of climates. Peru has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Perú Travel|url=https://www.peru.travel/en/useful-data/climate#:~:text=From%20Tacna%20to%20Piura:%20warm,April,%20particularly%20on%20higher%20ground.|access-date=2021-02-24|website=www.peru.travel|language=es-ES}}</ref>

=== Amazon Basin or Low Amazon ===
The eastern portions of Peru include the [[Amazon Basin]] or ''selva baja'', a region that is larger in the north than in the south. Representing roughly 60% of Peru's national territory, this area includes the [[Amazon River|Amazon]], [[Marañón River|Marañón]], [[Huallaga River|Huallaga]] and [[Ucayali]] Rivers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/228027409/Horizontal-en-Blanco|title=Horizontal en Blanco {{!}} Earth & Life Sciences {{!}} Earth Sciences|website=Scribd|language=en|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref>

Almost 60% of the country's area is located within this region,<ref>{{cite book|author1=Instituto de Estudios Histórico-Marítimos del Perú| author2= Rosa Graciela Ponce de León Bardalez |title=El Perú y sus recursos: Atlas geográfico y económico| year=1994| page=16|location=Lima|publisher=Auge}}</ref> ({{convert|700000|km2|sqmi|disp=or|abbr=on}}) giving Peru the fourth largest area of tropical forest in the world after Brazil, [[Democratic Republic of Congo|Congo]] and [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{cite news| last = Painter| first=James| title = Peru aims for zero deforestation| work = BBC News| date = 7 December 2008| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7768226.stm}}</ref>

=== Andean mountain ranges ===
The Andes shelter the very largest variety of climates in the country. The climate is semi-arid in the valleys and moist in higher elevations and towards the eastern flanks. Rainfall varies from {{convert|200|to|1500|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} per year. The monsoonal period starts in October and ends in April. The rainiest months are January through March where travel can be sometimes affected.

The western slopes are arid to semi-arid and receive rainfall only between January and March. Below the {{convert|2500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} mark, the temperatures vary between {{convert|5|and|15|°C|°F}} in the night versus {{convert|18|to|25|°C|°F|1}} in the day.

Between {{convert|2500|and|3500|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, the temperatures vary from {{convert|0|to|12|°C|°F|1}} in the night and from {{convert|15|to|25|°C|°F}} during the day. At higher elevations from {{convert|3500|to|4500|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, the [[Puna grassland|Puna]] ecoregion, the temperature varies from {{convert|−10|to|8|°C|°F|1}} during the night versus {{convert|15|°C}} during the day.

The northernmost regions of the Andes around [[Cajamarca]] and [[Piura]] regions have [[Páramo]] climates.

=== Coast ===
The Peruvian coast is a microclimatic region. The region is affected by the cold [[Humboldt Current]], the [[El Niño Southern Oscillation]], [[tropical]] [[latitude]], and the [[Andes]] mountain range.

The central and southern coast consists mainly of a subtropical desert climate composed of sandy or rocky shores and inland cutting valleys. Days alternate between overcast skies with occasional fog in the winter and sunny skies with occasional haze in the summer, with the only precipitation being an occasional light-to-moderate [[drizzle]] that is known locally as ''[[garúa]]''.  These regions are usually characterized by mildly cold lows ({{convert|14|°C|1|disp=or}}) and also mild highs ({{convert|29|°C|disp=or}}). Temperatures rarely fall below {{convert|12|°C|1}} and do not go over {{convert|29|°C}}. An exception is the southern coast, where it does get a bit warmer and drier for most of the year during daytime, and where it can also get much colder during winter nights ({{convert|8|to|9|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}).

The northern coast, on the contrary, has a curious tropical-dry climate, generally referred to as [[Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands|tropical savanna]]. This region is a lot warmer and can be unbearable during summer months, where rainfall is also present. The region differs from the southern coast by the presence of shrubs, equatorial dry forests ([[Tumbes–Piura dry forests]] ecoregion), [[mangrove]] forests, tropical valleys near rivers such as the [[Chira River|Chira]] and the [[Rio Tumbes|Tumbes]]. The average temperature is {{convert|25|°C}}.

==== Central and southern coast ====
The central and southern coast have a [[subtropical]] desert climate, despite this region being located in the tropics. The [[Humboldt Current]], serving as one cause of climatic differentiation, is {{convert|7|to|8|C-change|F-change}} colder than normal tropical seas at {{convert|14|to|19|°C|°F}}, thus preventing high tropical temperatures from appearing. Additionally, due to the height of the Andes cordillera, there is no passage of hot clouds from the Amazon to the coast, the climate is cooler than that of similar tropical latitudes. This can create a great deal of humidity and fog during winter months.

Moreover, the Andes mountains are very close to the coast, a geographic factor that prevents [[cumulus]] or [[cumulonimbus]] clouds from appearing. Therefore, a shade effect is created, causing very low annual rainfall in this region.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Moseley| first1= M. E.| year=1992| title= The Incas and their ancestors: the archaeology of Peru|url=https://archive.org/details/incastheirancest0000mose|url-access=registration| location= London| publisher= Thames and Hudson| isbn= 9780500050637}}</ref>

Rainfall averages {{convert|5|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} per year near the Chilean border to {{convert|200|mm|in|abbr=on}} per year on the northern coast and nearer the Andes.

The central coast is composed of regions including [[La Libertad Region|La Libertad]], [[Ancash]] and [[Lima]], which have a spring-like climate for most of the year. Foggy and sunny days intermingle around the humid sand dunes during most of the year.

Most summers (February–April) have pleasant temperatures ranging from {{convert|19|to|21|°C|°F}} during the night to about {{convert|28|to|29|°C|°F}} during the daytime. Winters (August–October) are very humid, and range from {{convert|12|to|15|°C|°F}} during the nights to around the {{convert|17|to|18|°C|°F}} during the day. The spring (November–January) and autumn (May–July) months have a pleasant climate that ranges from {{convert|23|°C}} during the day to around {{convert|17|°C}} during the night. Moving inland into the ''Yunga'' valleys, the climate tends to be ~{{convert|3|C-change}} drier and warmer during any given month.

The ''southern coast'', composed of the [[Ica region|Ica]], [[Arequipa]], [[Moquegua]] and [[Tacna]] regions, has a drier and warmer climate during the day for all seasons, although colder in winter. There are regions famous for their sand dunes and impressive deserts that are, in part, caused by the drier and hotter climate. Temperatures in this region can reach up to {{convert|36|°C}} in the [[Nazca]] region while inland regions can fall to {{convert|8|or|9|°C|°F}} during the winter months. During the day, temperatures rarely go below the {{convert|22|or|23|°C|°F}} for all months of the year. This purports the idea that the southern coast has a more desert-like climate, although daily temperature variations exist as they do in other regions within tropical latitudes. Clear skies are often present in desert areas and, although less common, near the coastal cliffs as well, which are home to a variety of fish and marine mammals.

==== Northern coast ====
The northern coast consists of the eastern region of [[Lambayeque Region|Lambayeque]], the [[Piura Region]] and the [[Tumbes Region]].
They are characterized by having different climate and geography from the rest of the coast. Right between the 3-hour drive on the [[Sechura Desert]], which is located north of the [[Lambayeque Region]] and south of the [[Piura Region]], is the evidence of [[climate change]] from the common subtropical desert found on the south to visible tropicalization effects of the tropical dry climate or [[tropical savanna]]. Examples of this are the tropical dry forests that begin to appear. They are composed of shrubs, thorny trees, carob trees, faique trees, guayacan{{typo help inline|reason=similar to guayacan|date=March 2022}} trees, hualtaco trees, palo santo trees, ceibo trees and on the coast
mangrove forests. It is also a biodiverse area where typical wildlife can be observed such as crocodiles, reptiles, iguanas, boas, pava aliblanca, anteater, bear, sloth (bearh) and many more.

This climatic change is caused by the presence of the warm [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation|El Niño Current]] during the summer months (December to April), the eventual [[El Niño]] Phenomenon and the passing of Amazon Jungles clouds due to mountain openings and lower altitudes of the Andes Chain. These are the causes for a climate change in a short two- or three-hour trajectory that is visible between the [[Lambayeque Region]] and the [[Sechura Province]], where not only geography changes but a temperature rise of {{convert|6|C-change|1}} or more depending on the month. It is directly off the shores of the [[Sechura Province|Sechura Region]] where the cold Humboldt current and warm El Niño current meet, at about 5° to 6° south of the equator. From this point, warm temperatures are most common, and there are no true winters. Average temperatures range between {{convert|24.5|-|27|°C|°F|1}}.

Summer (December through March) is more humid and very hot, with average temperatures that vary from {{convert|25|°C}} during the night to around {{convert|34|°C|1}} during the day, although north of Lambayeque it can reach the {{convert|40|°C}}. Winters (June–September) are cooler during the nights; around {{convert|16|°C|1}} during the night, to around {{convert|27|°C|1}} during the daytime.

There are protected areas in [[Tumbes, Peru|Tumbes]] and [[Department of Piura|Piura]] such as the [[El Angolo Game Reserve|Coto de Caza El Angolo]] and the [[Cerros de Amotape National Park]], with [[Tumbes–Piura dry forests|tropical dry forests]] that extend to the south of Ecuador. The eastern areas of [[Department of Lambayeque|Lambayeque]] also have tropical dry forests, where the Chaparrí Private Conservation Area is located in Chongoyape. These forests have the particularity of connecting with the [[Amazon basin]] through the [[Marañón River|Marañón]] pass (an area where there are also tropical dry forests). 

[[Mangrove forest|Mangrove forests]] are located in four specific areas from [[Sechura Province|Sechura]] to [[Tumbes, Peru|Tumbes]]. In these regions, the mangrove forests are at the ending strips of the Piura River in the [[Sechura Province]] (the southernmost mangroves in the Pacific Ocean). To the north, the ending strips of the [[Chira River]], [[Tumbes River]], and [[Zarumilla River]] also have mangrove forests that flow into the ocean.

'''Terrain:'''
western [[coastal plain]] (costa), high and rugged Andes in center ([[Geography of Peru#Andean Mountain Ranges|sierra]]), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva).

'''Natural resources:'''
[[copper]], [[silver]], [[gold]], [[petroleum]], [[timber]], [[fish]], [[iron]] ore, [[coal]], [[phosphate]], [[potash]], [[hydropower]].

== Extreme points ==
This is a list of the extreme points of Peru, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

* Northernmost point: [[Putumayo River]] ({{coord|00|02|21.42096|S|75|11|33.909|W|region:PE_type:landmark|name=Putumayo River (North)}}) in the [[Teniente Manuel Clavero District]], [[Putumayo Province]], [[Loreto Region]]
* Southernmost point: [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific shore]]  ({{coord|18|21|00.41832|S|70|22|34.7538|W|region:PE_type:landmark|name=Pacific Ocean (South)}}) in the [[La Yarada-Los Palos District]], [[Tacna Province]], [[Tacna Region]]
* Westernmost point: either [[Punta Pariñas]] ({{coord|04|40|45|S|81|19|35|W|region:PE_type:landmark|name=Punta Pariñas (West)}}) in the [[La Brea District]], [[Talara Province]], [[Piura Region]] or [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific shore]] ({{convert|1.27|km|mi|0|sp=us|abbr=}} south of [[Punta Pariñas]]) ({{coord|04|40|56.6238|S|81|19|41.64924|W|region:PE_type:landmark|name=Pacific Ocean (West)}}) in the [[La Brea District]], [[Talara Province]], [[Piura Region]]
* Easternmost point: Mouth of the [[Heath River]] ({{coord|12|30|09.20916|S|68|39|11.07468|W|region:PE_type:landmark|name=Mouth of the Heath River (East)}}) in the [[Tambopata District]], [[Tambopata Province]], [[Madre de Dios Region]]

==Agriculture==
Peru's agricultural lands make up 18.5% of Peru's total surface area, a substantially lower percentage compared to its neighbors who average at around 22% agricultural land.<ref name="Chile Land Use">{{cite web |title=Chile |url=http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=CHL |website=www.fao.org |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="Ecuador Land Use">{{cite web |title=Ecuador |url=http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=ECU |website=www.fao.org |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref> Common crops include, but are not limited to root vegetables like potatoes and cassava; peppers including chilies and paprika; vegetables like asparagus, tomatoes; quinoa; kiwicha; and fruits like mangoes, passion fruit, citrus, and bananas.<ref name="About Peru:Agriculture">{{cite web |title=About Peru:Agriculture |url=http://www.peruinformation.org/agriculture-c1x01 |website=www.peruinformation.org |publisher=CERMAL-EDITIONS |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref> Levels of undernourished citizens and children who suffer from undernourishment has dramatically decreased from just under six million to just over two million between 2000 and 2017, while food availability has increased from an energy percentage of 105 to 117 between 2000 and 2017.<ref name="Peru's food and Agriculture statistics"/>

===Environmental degradation===
As food production in Peru increases, farmers saturate the soil with nutrients with nitrogen and phosphorus bases. Oversaturation of nutrients leads to eutrophication in nearby water bodies, resulting in dead zones. Carbon emissions due to manufacturing and food processing leads to reduced air quality which contributes to the global warming that increases severity of natural disasters and acidifies the ocean, leading to mass bleaching in coral reefs, which in turn tends to destroy oceanic ecosystems.<ref name="Peru's food and Agriculture statistics">{{cite web |title=Peru |url=http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/170 |website=fao.org |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="What is Eutrophication">{{cite web |title=What is Eutrophication |url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/eutrophication.html |website=oceanservice.noaa.gov |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="What is Acidification">{{cite web |title=What is Acidification |url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/acidification.html |website=oceanservice.noaa.gov |publisher=National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

*{{Cite book|title=Compendio académico de Geografía |trans-title=Academic Compendium of Geography |language=es |last=Aduni Institute | year=2003 |publisher=Lumbreras}} 
*{{Cite book|title=Las regiones geográficas del Perú, clasificación y teorías diversas. |trans-title=The Geographical Regions of Peru: Classification and Diverse Theories |language=es |last=Baca Zuta |first=Davis | year=2019}} 
*{{Cite book|title=Geografía del Perú 2do año de Secuandaria |trans-title=Geography of Peru for 2nd Grade of Secondary School |language=es |last=Benavides Estrada |first=Juan| year=1999|publisher=Escuela Nueva}} 
*{{Cite book|title=Geografía del Perú |trans-title=Geography of Peru (9th ed.) |language=es |last=Pulgar Vidal |first=Javier| year=1987|publisher=PEISA|ISBN=84-599-6883-9}} 
*{{Cite book|title=Atlas del Perú |trans-title=Atlas of Peru |language=es |last=National Geographic Institute| year=1989}} 

== External links ==
*[https://unseendestination.com/south-america/peru-travel-guide/ Ancient Inca History]{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from Information about Ancient Inca History
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131106220433/http://www.ign.gob.pe/ Instituto Geografico Nacional] National Institute of Geography, Peru 
*[https://www.gob.pe/ign IGN] [[National Geographic Institute of Peru]]
{{Commons category|Geography of Peru}}

{{Peru topics}}
{{Geography of South America}}

[[Category:Geography of Peru| ]]