Map of Peru
Peru is a country in South America with its capital at Lima, home to about 34.58 million people across 1.29M km². The interactive map below plots 90 cities and towns, 16 rivers, 1 lakes, 3 mountain summits and 17 ports recorded for Peru in YearMaps.
- Population
- 34.58 million
- Area
- 1.29M km²
- Capital
- Lima
- Continent
- South America
Interactive Map of Peru
Centred on Lima at 12.0461° S, 77.0520° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
Great Monument of Peru
Machu Picchu is marked on the map above. Click a pin or use "Show on map" to fly to it.
Machu Picchu
Inca Empire (Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui) · Late Postclassic
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a mountain ridge at 2,430 meters (7,970 ft). It is situated in the Machupicchu District of Urubamba Province about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Cusco, above the Sacred Valley and along the Urubamba River, which forms a deep canyon with a subtropical mountain climate.
Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu is one of the most iconic symbols of the Inca civilization and a major archaeological site in the Americas. Estimated to be built around 1450, it is believed to have served as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, though no contemporary written records exist to confirm this. The site was abandoned roughly a century later, likely during the Spanish conquest. Modern radiocarbon dating places its occupation between c. 1420 and 1530.
Machu Picchu was constructed in the classical Inca style, featuring finely crafted dry-stone walls. Notable structures include the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the Intihuatana ritual stone. Although the site was known locally and reached in the early 20th century by the Peruvian explorer Agustín Lizárraga, it was brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham III. The original Inca name of the site may have been Huayna Picchu, after the mountain on which part of the complex stands.
Designated a National Historic Sanctuary by Peru in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu was also named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. As of 2025, the site receives over 1.5 million visitors annually, making it Peru's most visited international tourist destination.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Machu Picchu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Built by
- Inca Empire (Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui)
- Built
- 1450 CE
- Era
- Late Postclassic
- Type
- Imperial Palace Complex
- Status
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Coordinates
- 13.1631° S, 72.5450° W
Architectural Significance
Precision ashlar masonry where irregular granite stones fit so tightly a knife blade cannot slip between them, paired with stone agricultural drainage terraces.
Photos of Machu Picchu
bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0 
bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0 
Martin St-Amant ( S23678 ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
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History & architecture of Machu Picchu
History
Machu Picchu’s early chronology continues to be a matter of scholarly debate. Earlier chronological models, based mainly on John H. Rowe's historical reconstruction of the reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, have placed the beginning of construction around 1450, 10 years after his takeover. However, a 2021 study led by Richard L. Burger, professor of anthropology at Yale University), reporting 26 AMS radiocarbon measurements from human remains concluded that Machu Picchu was occupied from around 1420 to 1530. Similar conclusions supporting an earlier 15th-century chronology have been reported by other radiocarbon studies. Construction appears to date from two Sapa Incas, Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui (1438–1471) and Túpac Inca Yupanqui (1472–1493).
A consensus among archaeologists is that Pachacutec ordered the construction of the royal estate after his conquest of the middle and lower Urubamba; this has been interpreted as part of a broader program of establishing royal estates along the Urubamba River. Machu Picchu’s palace complex is thought to have functioned as a seasonal royal retreat. Although Machu Picchu is considered to be a royal estate, it would not have been passed down in the line of succession. Rather, it was used for 80 years before being abandoned, seemingly because of the Spanish conquests in other parts of the Inca Empire. It is possible that most of its inhabitants died from smallpox introduced by travelers before the Spanish conquistadors even arrived in the area.
During its use as an estate, it is estimated that about 750 people lived there, with most serving as support staff (yanaconas) who lived there permanently. Though the estate belonged to Pachacutec, religious specialists and temporary specialized workers (mayocs) lived there as well, most likely for the ruler's well-being and enjoyment. During winter, which was usually the harsher season, staffing was reduced to a few hundred servants, and a few religious specialists focused on maintenance alone.
Site
The site is divided into two main sectors: an agricultural sector to the southeast composed of terraces (andenes), and an urban sector to the northeast containing residences, places of worship, and warehouses. The urban sector is further split into an upper town (Hanan) and a lower town (Hurin).
The Hanan contains the Sacred Plaza (Plaza Sagrada), a courtyard complex incorporating the Main Temple and the Temple of the Three Windows and capped by a pyramid-like stone platform on which the Intihuatana stands. In contrast, the Hurin is marked by trapezoidal doorways and small rectangular kanchas, including three large, symmetrically arranged kanchas with housing and workshops overlooking the Main Square (Plaza Principal), and a large single-entrance building interpreted as an Acllahuasi; nearby is the Temple of the Condor, which includes ritual caves and a large carved stone often interpreted as a condor.
The architecture is adapted to the mountains. Approximately 200 buildings are arranged on wide parallel terraces around an east–west central square. The various compounds, called kanchas, are long and narrow in order to exploit the terrain. Sophisticated channeling systems provided irrigation for the fields. Stone stairways set in the walls allowed access to the different levels across the site. The eastern section of the city was probably residential. The western section, separated by the square, was for religious and ceremonial purposes. This section contains the Torreón, the massive tower which may have been used as an observatory.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Machu Picchu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
About Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil, to the southeast by Bolivia, to the south by Chile, and to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is a megadiverse country, with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west, to the peaks of the Andes mountains extending from the north to the southeast of the country, to the tropical Amazon basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon River. Peru has a population of over 32 million, and its capital and largest city is Lima. At 1,285,216 km2 (496,225 sq mi), Peru is the 19th largest country in the world, and the third largest in South America.
Peruvian territory was home to several cultures during the ancient and medieval periods, and has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing its heritage back to the 10th millennium BCE Caral–Supe civilization, the earliest civilization in the Americas and considered one of the cradles of civilization. Notable succeeding cultures and civilizations include the Nazca culture, the Moche, Wari and Tiwanaku empires, the Kingdom of Cusco, and the Inca Empire, the largest known state in the pre-Columbian Americas. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and Charles V established a viceroyalty with the official name of the Kingdom of Peru that encompassed most of its South American territories, with its capital in Lima. Higher education started in the Americas with the official establishment of the National University of San Marcos in Lima in 1551.
Peru formally proclaimed independence from Spain in 1821, and following the military campaigns of Bernardo O'Higgins, José de San Martín, and Simón Bolívar, as well as the decisive battle of Ayacucho, it completed its independence in 1824. In the ensuing years, the country first suffered from political instability until a period of relative economic and political stability began due to the exploitation of guano that ended with the War of the Pacific (1879–1884). Throughout the 20th century, Peru grappled with political and social instability, including the internal conflict between the state and guerrilla groups, interspersed with periods of economic growth.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Peru (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Peru
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peru declared its independence in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces were defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980 but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, an economic slump and the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his resignation in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw a new election in 2001 that installed Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of indigenous ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, presided over a robust economic rebound. Former army officer Ollanta HUMALA Tasso was elected president in 2011 and carried on the market-oriented economic policies of the three preceding administrations. Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard won a very narrow runoff in the 2016 presidential election. Facing impeachment after evidence surfaced of his involvement in a vote-buying scandal, KUCZYNSKI offered his resignation in 2018, and First Vice President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo was sworn in as president. In 2019, VIZCARRA invoked his constitutional authority to dissolve Peru's Congress after months of battling with the body over anticorruption reforms. New congressional elections in 2020 resulted in an opposition-led legislature. The Congress impeached VIZCARRA for a second time and removed him from office after accusations of corruption and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of vacancies in the vice-presidential positions, the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel MERINO, became the next president. His ascension to office was not well received, and large protests forced his resignation later in 2020. Francisco SAGASTI assumed the position of President of Peru after being appointed President of the Congress the previous day. Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones won presidential election in 2021 but was impeached and ousted the following year; his vice president, Dina BOLUARTE, assumed the presidency by constitutional succession in 2022.
- Location
- Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador.
- Climate
- Varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes.
- Terrain
- Western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
- Highest point
- Nevado Huascaran 6,746 m.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 2,414 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 7,062 km; border countries: Bolivia 1,212 km; Brazil 2,659 km; Chile 168 km; Colombia 1,494 km; Ecuador 1,529 km.
- Major rivers
- Amazon river source (shared with Brazil [m]) - 6,400 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Major lakes
- Fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Bolivia) - 8,030 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 19.1% (2023 est.); arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 14.2% (2023 est.); forest: 52.9% (2023 est.); other: 28% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (5,672 m) is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane; see note 2 under "Geography - note".
- Geographic note
- Note 1: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316-m (17,441-ft) peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River note 2: Peru is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: on 19 February 1600, Mount Huaynaputina in the southern Peruvian Andes erupted in the largest volcanic explosion in South America in historical times; intermittent eruptions lasted until 5 March 1600 and pumped an estimated 16 to 32 million metric tons of particulates into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface and affecting weather worldwide; over the next two-and-a-half years, millions died around the globe in famines from bitterly cold winters, cool summers, and the loss of crops and animals.
- Languages
- Spanish (official) 82.9%, Quechua (official) 13.6%, Aymara (official) 1.6%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes many minor Amazonian languages) 0.8%, other 0.2%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.7% (2017 est.)
- Religions
- Catholic 76%, Evangelical Christian 15.7%, no religion 5.1%, other religions 3.2% (2017 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 60.2%, Indigenous 25.8%, White 5.9%, African descent 3.6%, other (includes Chinese and Japanese descent) 1.2%, unspecified 3.3% (2017 est.)
- Economy
- Upper-middle-income South American economy; strong post-COVID rebound tempered by political uncertainty and climate risks; exports driven by mineral extraction and agriculture; large informal sector and uneven access to public services; stable fiscal position and financial sector.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Peru in Numbers
- Population
- 34.58 million
- GDP
- US$334.9 billion
- GDP per person
- US$9,684
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years
- Population growth
- 1.04% a year
- Population density
- 27 per km²
- Urban population
- 85.6%
- Surface area
- 1,285,216 km²
- Forest cover
- 52.7%
- Arable land
- 3.1%
- Access to electricity
- 96.5%
- Internet users
- 82.0%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Peru in Depth
History
The earliest evidences of human presence in Peruvian territory have been dated to approximately 12,500 BCE in the Huaca Prieta settlement. Andean societies were based on agriculture, using techniques such as irrigation and terracing; camelid husbandry and fishing were also important. Organization relied on reciprocity and redistribution because these societies had no notion of market or money. The oldest known complex society in Peru, the Caral-Supe civilization, flourished along the coast of the Pacific Ocean between 3,000 and 1,800 BCE. These early developments were followed by archaeological cultures that developed mostly around the coastal and Andean regions throughout Peru.
Geography
Peru is located 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 3.3 km (2.1 mi) south of the equator, covers 1,285,216 km2 (496,225 sq mi) of western South America. It borders Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Andes run parallel to the Pacific Ocean; they define the three regions traditionally used to describe the country geographically.
The costa (coast), to the west, is a narrow, largely arid plain except for valleys created by seasonal rivers.
Economy
Peru's economy is the 46th largest in the world (ranked by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)). The World Bank classifies its income level as upper middle. Peru was, as of 2011, one of the world's fastest-growing economies owing to an economic boom experienced since the 2000s. However, by 2026, following the conclusion of the commodity boom in 2014, Peru experienced a substantial deceleration in its per capita GDP growth. It has an above-average Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.794 (as of 2023), which has been steadily improving over the years. Historically, the country's economic performance has been tied to exports, which provide hard currency to finance imports and external debt payments.
Demographics
With a population of 33,396,698 inhabitants according to estimates and projections of the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics until the year 2022, Peru is the fourth most populous country in South America. Its population density is 25.79 inhabitants per square kilometre (66.8/sq mi) and its annual growth rate is 1.1%. 58.8% of the Peruvian population lives on the coast, 27% in the mountains, and 14.2% in the jungle. In 2020, 27 million Peruvians lived in urban areas, which represents 80% of the population.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Peru (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Peru: Key Facts
| Currency | Nuevo sol |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Spanish, Aymara, Quechua |
| Head of state | Keiko Fujimori |
| Form of government | presidential system |
| Calling code | +51 |
| Internet domain | .pe |
| Highest point | Huascarán |
| Lowest point | Depresión de Sechura |
| Established | 28 July 1821 |
Facts from Wikidata Q419 (CC0).
History of Peru: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Peru, from Chimu Empire in 1188 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Chimu Empire | 1188–1481 CE | A small part |
| The Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) | 1450–1539 CE | Most |
| The Spanish Empire | 1540–1852 CE | Nearly all |
| Gran Colombia | 1822–1833 CE | A small part |
| Republic of Peru | 1822–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Peru
Peru on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Peru
Peru (Spanish: Perú) is without a doubt one of the most captivating countries in South America. Home of the epic lost Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the mind-blowing Nazca Lines, this country's unique past awakens the adventurer in travellers of all sorts. Its awe-inspiring scenery varies from the wild Amazon jungles to vast coastal deserts and the icy peaks of the Andes. Peru hosts a biodiversity rarely seen within the limits of a single country, with a list of spectacular wildlife far beyond the well-known llamas and circling condors. On top of all that, Peru's friendly, multi-ethnic people are a cultural treasure on their own. The enchanting mix of dozens of distinct indigenous groups, mestizos and criollos, all with their own colourful traditions and food delicacies, is an encounter you won't easily forget.
In short, this is a country of unimaginable extremes where choosing your trip destinations may prove a true challenge.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Peru (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Peru
90 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lima | 8.01 million | Lima | National capital |
| 2 | Callao | 876,877 | Lima | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Arequipa | 815,000 | Arequipa | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Trujillo | 765,171 | La Libertad | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Chiclayo | 596,792 | Lambayeque | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Iquitos | 458,729 | Loreto | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Huancayo | 412,733 | Junín | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Piura | 396,932 | Piura | Admin-1 capital |
| 9 | Cusco | 361,182 | Cusco | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Chimbote | 349,846 | Ancash | Populated place |
| 11 | Pucallpa | 310,750 | Ucayali | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Tacna | 280,098 | Tacna | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Ica | 279,420 | Ica | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Juliaca | 245,675 | Callao | Populated place |
| 15 | Ayacucho | 166,314 | Ayacucho | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Sullana | 160,789 | Piura | Populated place |
| 17 | Huánuco | 158,145 | Huánuco | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Chincha Alta | 153,076 | Ica | Populated place |
| 19 | Cajamarca | 142,665 | Cajamarca | Admin-1 capital |
| 20 | Cerro de Pasco | 137,232 | Pasco | Admin-1 capital |
| 21 | Puno | 116,552 | Callao | Admin-1 capital |
| 22 | Tumbes | 109,223 | Tumbes | Admin-1 capital |
| 23 | Talara | 99,074 | Piura | Populated place |
| 24 | Chosica | 88,606 | Lima | Populated place |
| 25 | Huaraz | 86,934 | Ancash | Admin-1 capital |
The other 65 (population, region, role)
- Pisco · 81,207 · Ica · Populated place
- Huacho · 80,474 · Lima · Populated place
- Chulucanas · 68,835 · Piura · Populated place
- Puerto Maldonado · 67,155 · Madre de Dios · Admin-1 capital
- Paita · 56,151 · Piura · Populated place
- Abancay · 55,111 · Apurímac · Admin-1 capital
- Moquegua · 54,517 · Moquegua · Admin-1 capital
- Ilo · 53,476 · Moquegua · Populated place
- Tingo María · 53,177 · Huánuco · Populated place
- Jaén · 52,493 · Cajamarca · Populated place
- Tarma · 51,350 · Junín · Populated place
- Ferreñafe · 50,184 · Lambayeque · Populated place
- Mollendo · 49,033 · Arequipa · Populated place
- Moyobamba · 47,734 · San Martín · Admin-1 capital
- Huancavelica · 44,388 · Huancavelica · Admin-1 capital
- Huaura · 40,400 · Lima · Admin-1 capital
- Pacasmayo · 39,282 · La Libertad · Populated place
- Juanjuí · 37,715 · San Martín · Populated place
- Sicuani · 33,575 · Cusco · Populated place
- La Oroya · 33,345 · Junín · Populated place
- Pativilca · 31,905 · Lima · Populated place
- Huamachuco · 30,835 · La Libertad · Populated place
- Casma · 30,000 · Ancash · Populated place
- Tocache · 29,029 · San Martín · Populated place
- Chancay · 26,958 · Lima · Populated place
- Chachapoyas · 25,978 · Amazonas · Admin-1 capital
- Nasca · 23,556 · Ica · Populated place
- Sechura · 23,020 · Piura · Populated place
- Jauja · 21,057 · Junín · Populated place
- Camaná · 20,956 · Arequipa · Populated place
- Ayaviri · 19,310 · Callao · Populated place
- Contamana · 18,921 · Loreto · Populated place
- Huanta · 18,627 · Ayacucho · Populated place
- Requena · 18,000 · Loreto · Populated place
- Huarmey · 16,172 · Ancash · Populated place
- Ilave · 16,033 · Callao · Populated place
- Pimentel · 15,552 · Lambayeque · Populated place
- Satipo · 15,532 · Junín · Populated place
- Junín · 15,320 · Junín · Populated place
- San Ramon · 14,708 · Junín · Populated place
- Chota · 14,240 · Cajamarca · Populated place
- Lamas · 13,693 · San Martín · Populated place
- Motupe · 13,681 · Lambayeque · Populated place
- Cajabamba · 13,486 · Cajamarca · Populated place
- Chilca · 12,884 · Lima · Populated place
- Puquio · 10,491 · Ayacucho · Populated place
- Santiago · 10,449 · Ica · Populated place
- Otuzco · 10,134 · La Libertad · Populated place
- Salaverry · 10,066 · La Libertad · Populated place
- Olmos · 9,800 · Lambayeque · Populated place
- Sechura · 8,602 · Amazonas · Populated place
- Putina · 8,118 · Callao · Populated place
- Urubamba · 7,540 · Cusco · Populated place
- Coracora · 7,420 · Ayacucho · Populated place
- Desaguadero · 5,329 · Callao · Populated place
- Santo Tomas · 4,134 · Cusco · Populated place
- Caballococha · 3,195 · Loreto · Populated place
- Nauta · 2,500 · Loreto · Populated place
- Tarapoto · 936 · San Mart · Populated place
- Nuevo Rocafuerte · 40 · Loreto · Populated place
- Puca Urco · 10 · Loreto · Populated place
- Andoas · 10 · Loreto · Populated place
- Soldado Bartra · 10 · Loreto · Populated place
- Gueppi · 10 · Loreto · Populated place
Highest Mountains in Peru
3 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevado Huascarán | 6,768 m | 22,205 ft | South America |
| 2 | Nevado Coropuna | 6,425 m | 21,079 ft | South America |
| 3 | Nevado Auzangate | 6,372 m | 20,906 ft | South America |
Nevado Huascarán
Mountain · 6,768 m
Nevado Huascarán is a mountain rising to 6,768 metres (22,205 ft) in Peru, in the South America region.
Huascarán (Spanish pronunciation: [waskaˈɾan], wass-ka-RAHN; Quechua: Waskaran), Nevado Huascarán or Mataraju is a mountain located in Yungay Province, Ancash Department, Peru. It is situated in the Cordillera Blanca range of the western Andes. The southern summit of Huascarán (Huascarán Sur), which reaches 6,768 metres (22,205 ft), is the highest point in Peru, the northern Andes (north of Lake Titicaca), and in all of the Earth's tropics. It is the fourth highest mountain in South America after Aconcagua, Ojos del Salado, and Monte Pissis. Huascarán is ranked 25th by topographic isolation.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Huascarán (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 6,768 m (22,205 ft)
- Global rank
- #28 of 641 indexed
- Region
- South America (#3)
- Country
- Peru
- Coordinates
- -9.1214°, -77.6090°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Nevado Huascarán ranks #28 by elevation, below Nevado Ojos del Salado (6,880 m) and above Ak Tag (6,748 m).
- Ranges:
- Wilhelmina Gebergte (South America), Tumuc-Humac Mountains (South America)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Chimborazo (6,267 m), Nevado Coropuna (6,425 m), Nevado Illimani (6,402 m)
More about Nevado Huascarán
Geography
The mountain has two distinct summits, the higher being the south one (Huascarán Sur) with an elevation of 6,768 metres (22,205 ft). The north summit (Huascarán Norte) has an elevation of 6,654 meters (21,831 ft). The two summits are separated by a saddle called la Garganta. The core of Huascarán, like much of the Cordillera Blanca, consists of Cenozoic-age granite.
Huascarán gives its name to Huascarán National Park which surrounds it, and is a popular location for trekking and mountaineering. The mountain's summit is one of the farthest points on the Earth's surface from its center, closely behind the farthest point at Chimborazo in Ecuador. It is also the place on Earth with the smallest gravitational force, with an estimated acceleration of 9.76392 m/s2.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Huascarán (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nevado Huascarán: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,776 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Cordillera Blanca |
Facts from Wikidata Q200935 (CC0).
Nevado Coropuna
Mountain · 6,425 m
Nevado Coropuna is a mountain rising to 6,425 metres (21,079 ft) in Peru, in the South America region.
Coropuna is a dormant volcano located in the Andes mountains of southeast-central Peru. The upper reaches of the compound volcano consist of several perennially snowbound conical summits, lending it the name Nevado Coropuna in Spanish. The complex extends over an area of 240 square kilometres (93 sq mi) and its highest summit reaches an altitude of 6,377 metres (20,922 ft) above sea level. This makes the Coropuna complex the third-highest of Peru. Its thick ice cap is the most extensive in Earth's tropical zone, with several outlet glaciers stretching out to lower altitudes. Below an elevation of 5,000 metres (16,000 ft), there are various vegetation belts which include trees, peat bogs, grasses and also agricultural areas and pastures.
The Coropuna complex consists of several stratovolcanoes. These are composed chiefly of ignimbrites and lava flows on a basement formed by Middle Miocene ignimbrites and lava flows. The Coropuna complex has been active for at least five million years, with the bulk of the current cone having been formed during the Quaternary.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Coropuna (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 6,425 m (21,079 ft)
- Global rank
- #37 of 641 indexed
- Region
- South America (#7)
- Country
- Peru
- Coordinates
- -15.5166°, -72.6500°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Nevado Coropuna ranks #37 by elevation, below Nevado Sajama (6,542 m) and above Nevado Illimani (6,402 m).
- Ranges:
- Serra Geral (South America), Cuchilla Grande (South America)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Nevado Sajama (6,542 m), Nevado Illimani (6,402 m), Aucanquilcha (6,176 m)
More about Nevado Coropuna
Geography and geomorphology
Coropuna lies in the Andes of Peru, on the border between the Castilla and Condesuyos Provinces of the Arequipa Department. Towns around the volcano belong to the Chuquibamba, Machaguay, Pampacolca and Viraco Districts. The volcano can be reached on paved roads through the town of Andahua, either from Arequipa or through Aplao from the Pan-American Highway. Roads also pass along the northern and western sides of the volcano.
The Andes stretch along the western coast of South America from Tierra del Fuego northwards to Venezuela, forming the longest mountain chain in the world. More regionally, the volcano is in the Cordillera Ampato, a mountain range which lies at an average of 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the Pacific coastline, and contains nearly one hundred glaciers.
Geology
Off the coast of Peru, the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate at a rate of five–seven centimetres per year (2.0–2.8 in/year) or nine centimetres per year (3.5 in/year). This subduction process, along with the subduction of the Antarctic Plate also underneath the South American Plate, is responsible for the volcanism in the Andes and the uplift of the mountain chain. In the Cordillera Occidental (Western Cordillera) uplift commenced about 50 million years ago in the Eocene, paused until 25 million years ago in the Oligocene, and increased substantially after about 10 million years ago in the Miocene. Andean uplift in the area of Coropuna is ongoing.
Coropuna is part of the volcanic arc of southern Peru and is considered to be a member of the Barroso volcanic arc.
Eruption history
The beginning of Coropuna's growth has variously been placed over 5 million years ago, during the Pliocene or late Miocene, but most of its structure developed during the Quaternary. Volcanic activity has been subdivided into two stages: explosive eruptions during the now mostly eroded Coropuna I stage produced volcanic ash, pyroclastic flows and pumice but also lava flows, while Coropuna II above 6,000 m (20,000 ft) elevation erupted lava flows from the now snow-covered vents. The existence of a Coropuna III sequence has been proposed. The most recent eruption products have been described as the "Andahua Group".
Climate
Coropuna lies between the semi-humid Altiplano and the arid western slope of the Andes. Its climate is semi-arid, with precipitation at 6,080 m (19,950 ft) elevation reaching 390 millimetres per year (15 in/year). Lower down the mountain, at altitudes between at 3,000 and 4,000 m (9,800 and 13,100 ft), annual precipitation levels increase to between 226 and 560 mm/a (8.9 and 22.0 in/year) (semi-humid). Even further down, at altitudes around 2,000–3,000 m (6,600–9,800 ft), they decrease again to 98–227 mm/a (3.9–8.9 in/year) (desert).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Coropuna (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nevado Coropuna: Key Facts
| Mountain range | Cordillera Ampato |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q946035 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Peru
1 lake recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lago Titicaca | 8,135 km² | Lake |
Lago Titicaca
Lake · 8,135 km²
Lago Titicaca is a lake in Peru and Bolivia, with a mapped surface area of about 8,135 km². About 62% of its surface lies in Peru, and the rest in Bolivia.
Lake Titicaca (; Spanish: Lago Titicaca [ˈlaɣo titiˈkaka]; Quechua: Titiqaqa and Aymara: Titiqaqa) is a large lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It is often called the highest navigable lake in the world. It is often listed as a freshwater lake, though its waters are slightly brackish. Titicaca is the largest lake in South America, both in terms of the volume of water and surface area. It is the 18th largest lake in the world. It has a surface elevation of 3,812 m (12,507 ft).
Adapted from Wikipedia: Lake Titicaca (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Surface area
- 8,135 km²
- Area rank
- #25 of 756 indexed
- Type
- Lake
- Countries
- Peru, Bolivia
- Coordinates
- -15.7370°, -69.5127°
Among the 756 water bodies with a mapped extent in YearMaps, Lago Titicaca ranks #25 by surface area, after Lake Eyre North (8,144 km²) and ahead of Lake Athabasca (8,047 km²). Areas are computed from the mapped outline and are approximate.
More about Lago Titicaca
Geology
The Tinajani Basin, in which Lake Titicaca lies, is an intermontane basin. This basin is a pull-apart basin created by strike-slip movement along regional faults starting in the late Oligocene and ending in the late Miocene. The initial development of the Tinajani Basin is indicated by volcanic rocks, which accumulated between 27 and 20 million years ago within this basin. They lie upon an angular unconformity which cuts across pre-basin strata. Lacustrine sediments of the Lower Tinajani Formation, which are exposed within the Tinajani Basin, demonstrate the presence of a pre-Quaternary, ancestral Lake Titicaca within it between 18 and 14 million years ago (Mya).
Ecology
The lake holds large populations of water birds and was designated as a Ramsar Site on August 26, 1998. It has also been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA), in both Bolivia and Peru, by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of many bird species. Several threatened species such as the huge Titicaca water frog and the flightless Titicaca grebe are largely or entirely restricted to the lake.
Overview
The lake is located at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. The western part of the lake lies within the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side is located in the Bolivian La Paz Department.
The lake consists of two nearly separate subbasins connected by the Strait of Tiquina, which is 800 m (2,620 ft) across at the narrowest point. The larger subbasin, Lago Grande (also called Lago Chucuito), has a mean depth of 135 m (443 ft) and a maximum depth of 284 m (932 ft). The smaller subbasin, Wiñaymarka (also called Lago Pequeño, "little lake"), has an average depth of 9 m (30 ft) and a maximum depth of 40 m (131 ft). The overall average depth of the lake is 107 m (351 ft).
Five major river systems feed into Lake Titicaca.
Climate
Lake Titicaca has a cold subtropical highland climate. The average annual precipitation is 610 mm (24 in) mostly falling in summer thunderstorms. Winters are dry with very cold nights and mornings and warm afternoons.
The cold sources and winds over the lake give it an average surface temperature of 10 to 14 °C (50 to 57 °F). In the winter (June – September), mixing occurs with the deeper waters, which are always between 10 and 11 °C (50 and 52 °F). Below are the average temperatures of the town of Juliaca, in the northern part of the lake.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Lake Titicaca (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Lago Titicaca: Key Facts
| Surface area | 8,372 km² |
|---|---|
| Maximum depth | 489 m |
| Volume | 893 km³ |
| Surface elevation | 3,812 m |
| Inflows | Suches River, Ramis River, Coata River, Huancané River, Ilave River |
| Outflows | yuca guasi, evaporation |
| Drainage system | Titicaca basin |
Facts from Wikidata Q35342 (CC0).
Rivers in Peru
16 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon River | River | Brazil, Colombia |
| Huallaga | River | — |
| Javari | River | Brazil |
| Juruá | River | Brazil |
| Madre de Dios | River | Bolivia |
| Marañón | River | — |
| Napo | River | Ecuador |
| Ocoña | River | — |
| Pisco | River | — |
| Purús | River | Brazil |
Ports in Peru
17 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iquitos | 45.7 m | Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 2 | Salaverry | 42.1 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 3 | Puerto del Callao | 38.4 m | Minor | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 4 | Paita | 38.4 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 5 | Bahia San Nicolas | 31.1 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 6 | Bahia de Matarani | 31.1 m | Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 7 | Caleta Lobitos | 31.1 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | point_of_interest |
| 8 | Pimental | 31.1 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | medium vessels |
| 9 | Talara | 20.1 m | Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 10 | Puerto Ilo | 16.5 m | Very Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
The other 7 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Puerto de Chimbote · 9.1 m · Very Small · Pacific Coast of South America · large vessels
- Bahia de Ancon · Very Small · Pacific Coast of South America · medium vessels
- Puerto Bayovar · Very Small · Pacific Coast of South America · large vessels
- la Pampilla Oil Terminal · Very Small · Pacific Coast of South America · point_of_interest
- Conchan Oil Terminal · Very Small · Pacific Coast of South America · large vessels
- Puerto Supe · Very Small · Pacific Coast of South America · large vessels
- Puerto Cabo Blanco · Very Small · Pacific Coast of South America · large vessels
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Peru
12 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Historic centre of Cusco | 1983 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 2 | Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu | 1983 | Mixed | (i) (iii) (vii) (ix) |
| 3 | Chavin de Huantar | 1985 | Cultural | (iii) |
| 4 | Huascarán National Park | 1985 | Natural | (vii) (viii) |
| 5 | Chan Chan | 1986 | Cultural | (i) (iii) |
| 6 | Manu National Park | 1987 | Natural | (ix) (x) |
| 7 | Historic Centre of Lima | 1988 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 8 | Río Abiseo National Park | 1990 | Mixed | (iii) (vii) (ix) (x) |
| 9 | Nazca Lines | 1994 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (iv) |
| 10 | Historic Centre of Arequipa | 2000 | Cultural | (i) (iv) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Peru
8 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South America | 17.91M km² | Continent | South America |
| 2 | Amazon Basin | 4.65M km² | Basin | South America |
| 3 | Andes | 549,211 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 4 | Altiplano | 339,339 km² | Plateau | South America |
| 5 | Cord. Central | 207,175 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 6 | Cordillera Occidental | 153,080 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 7 | Cordillera Oriental | 24,985 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 8 | Selvas | 4,808 km² | Foothills | South America |
States and Provinces of Peru
13 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Peru
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in South America
Peru: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Peru?
- The capital of Peru is Lima.
- What is the population of Peru?
- Peru has a population of about 34.58 million, the #48 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Peru?
- Peru covers 1.29M km², ranking #21 by area, with about 27 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Peru in?
- Peru is in South America.
- Which countries border Peru?
- Peru shares a land or maritime border with Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia.
- What is the largest city in Peru?
- Lima is the largest city in Peru, with a metropolitan population of about 8.01 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Peru?
- The highest summit recorded for Peru in YearMaps is Nevado Huascarán at 6,768 m (22,205 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Peru?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Peru is Lago Titicaca, at roughly 8,135 km².
- What are the famous wonders and monuments of Peru?
- Peru's great monuments in YearMaps are Machu Picchu. Each is written up on this page with photographs and its history.