25 facts about Peru

1. Peru is the third largest country in South America.

2. It is the last Spanish colony in South America, which gained independence. It happened on July 28, 1821.

3. Country's name derives from the word of Quechua language, which means "abundance" and is associated with prosperity and wealth of the Inca’s Empire.

4. Peru is the richest country in the world in mineral deposits. Thanks to booming mining the economic level and the international importance of the country are been growing steadily.

5. The country occupies the 6th place in world gold production.

6. Peru has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, but 13 different languages more are spoken to the east of the Andes, in the Amazon jungle region.

7. The highest city in the world, La Rinconada, Peru, is located at an altitude of 5099 m above sea level. It is a home for 30,000 people, the majority of which is occupied by gold mining.

8. More than 55 kinds of corn grow in Peru.

9. Potato, tomato and avocado are believed to have appeared in Peru.

10. The country cultivates more than 3000 different varieties of potatoes. Proud Peruvians use the phrase "Soy más Peruano que la papa" (I am more Peruvian than potatoes).

11. There are 84 of 103 existing ecosystems of the planet, and 28 of the 32 known climate zones on the blessed land of Peru. The country is one of 12 states with the richest biosphere.

12. Two-thirds of the territory of Peru are covered by rainforests.

13. Peru is a home of the second tallest dune in the world. The dune Cerro Blanco, reaching a height of 1176 m, is located in the desert of Sechura, near the Nazca lines.

14. The llama was domesticated on the territory of modern Peru. It happened about 1000 BC.

15. The Peruvian territory is inhabited by 135 species of hummingbirds. They are small birds, the size of which varies from 5 to 21 cm and the weight – from 1.6 to 20 g. The speed of hummingbird flight can reach 80 km/h.

16. A beautiful bird with bright plumage – the Andean cock-of-the-rock, or "tunkvi" in Quechua language – is considered a national symbol of Peru. The bird reaches a length of 38 cm.

17. Very rare, very ancient and enormous in size plant – Puya raymondii of bromeliads – is now living in the wild only in the Andes. You can meet its giant inflorescence-panicle of more than10 m height and 2.5 m of diameter. Puya raymondii is recognized as a plant with the largest inflorescence in the world.

18. 1625 species of orchids grow in Peru, 425 of which can be found directly in Machu Picchu. The hotel “Inkaterra” in Machu Picchu opened to visitors the biggest private collection of these flowers in South America, with 500 species.

19. The National University of San Marcos is the oldest in the Americas, it was founded on May 12, 1551.

20. The bridge, built in 1610 in Lima, the capital of the country, is built of cement mortar mixed not with water, but with whites of 10,000 eggs. The “egg” bridge stands to this day.

21. Pisco Sour is a Peru's national drink. It's made of lemon juice, sugar water, egg whites and ice.

22. Peruvian cuisine is included in the Guinness World Records as the most diverse. It has about 500 meals. Peruvian cuisine has developed under the influence of two cultures – Indian and Spanish.

23. By tradition, on the New Year's Eve all Peruvians dress in yellow – the color of good luck.

24. Peru is inferior in the number of shamans only to India.

25. If during your conversation the Peruvian turns his finger near his temple, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean that he calls you crazy. In Peru, this gesture means that the person thinks.