PERUPERU

Peru is the third-largest country in Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and South America after Brazil and Argentina, ranking it amongst the Argentina, ranking it amongst the

world's 20 largest nations.world's 20 largest nations.

Population:Population:

• 27.000.000 inhabitants.27.000.000 inhabitants.

• Spaniards came to the Peru to join the Spaniards came to the Peru to join the indigenous people of Peruindigenous people of Peru

• After this, the Peruvians were met by After this, the Peruvians were met by African Americans, Europeans and AsiansAfrican Americans, Europeans and Asians

• The Peruvian population is well-known for The Peruvian population is well-known for their rich ethnic mix. their rich ethnic mix.

Official languages:Official languages:

• Spanish: 80.3%Spanish: 80.3%Quechua: 16.2%Quechua: 16.2%Other languages: 3.0%Other languages: 3.0%Foreign languages: 0.2% Foreign languages: 0.2%

• Quechua is a major legacy of the Quechua is a major legacy of the Incan EmpireIncan Empire

Government:Government:• Democratic RepublicDemocratic Republic

• The president and members of The president and members of Congress are elected every five Congress are elected every five years by universal suffrage. years by universal suffrage.

• The current constitutional president The current constitutional president of Peru is Alan Garcia Pérez (2006-of Peru is Alan Garcia Pérez (2006-2011). 2011).

Religion:Religion:• Roman Catholic: 89.03%Roman Catholic: 89.03%

Evangelical: 6.73%Evangelical: 6.73%Other religions: 2.56%Other religions: 2.56%Any Religion: 1.65% Any Religion: 1.65%

Church at the Plaza de Armas in Cusco

Important Historical Sites:Important Historical Sites:• IquitosIquitos - Amazon River - Amazon River

• LimaLima (The Capital) (The Capital)

• MachuMachu PicchuPicchu

MACHU PICCHU!!MACHU PICCHU!!

• LOCATION: The Andes Mountains in LOCATION: The Andes Mountains in PeruPeru

Geography:Geography:

• The elevation of Machu Picchu is The elevation of Machu Picchu is 7,710 feet above sea level 7,710 feet above sea level

• Surrounded by mountains, the site Surrounded by mountains, the site sits upon a cliffsits upon a cliff

• beneath is the Urubamba Riverbeneath is the Urubamba River

History:History:

• Built between 1460 and 1470 AD by Built between 1460 and 1470 AD by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, an Incan ruler Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, an Incan ruler

• Most likely a royal estate and religious Most likely a royal estate and religious retreatretreat

• After Pachacuti’s death, Machu Picchu After Pachacuti’s death, Machu Picchu became the property of his became the property of his allusallus, or , or kinship group, which was responsible for kinship group, which was responsible for it’s maintenance, administration, and any it’s maintenance, administration, and any new constructionnew construction

So… Then What?So… Then What?• Machu Picchu was rediscovered on July 24, 1911 Machu Picchu was rediscovered on July 24, 1911

by Hiram Bingham by Hiram Bingham

• With the help of the National Geographic Society, With the help of the National Geographic Society, Bingham returned in 1912 and 1915, excavating Bingham returned in 1912 and 1915, excavating the site and producing a number of literary the site and producing a number of literary accounts, the most popular of which was accounts, the most popular of which was Lost City Lost City of the Incasof the Incas

• It is improbable that he was the first individual to It is improbable that he was the first individual to "re-discover" the mountain estate; a number of "re-discover" the mountain estate; a number of Hispanic names were found etched into the Incan Hispanic names were found etched into the Incan masonry prior to Bingham's arrival masonry prior to Bingham's arrival

What Is It Now?What Is It Now?• Used for tourism because of its Used for tourism because of its

beauty and carefully constructed beauty and carefully constructed structuresstructures