Peru-Facts

General Facts

Population: 29 million
Language: Spanish
GDP: $245 billion
Currency: Nuevo Sol 
Capital: Lima
Time: PET – Peru Time, UTC-5
Religion: 75% of population is Roman Catholic

History

Before Peru became the major vice-royalty of Spanish South America, it was once part of the great Incan Empire. First confrontation with the Spanish came in 1531–1533 when Peru was conquered by Francisco Pizarro. Even though the country proclaimed its independence on July 28, 1821, the Spanish were not finally defeated until 1824. In the next century, unsuccessful wars with Spain in 1864-1866 and Chile in 1879-1883, as well as internal revolutions threatened the stability of a newly born country.
 
Democratic rule was first evident in 1945 with the inauguration of President Jose Luis Bustamente y Rivero during the first free election in several decades, which followed 20 years of military dictatorship. The second part of the twentieth century was a very bloody period in Peru’s history. With one military dictator overthrowing the other one, was the story for most of the century, with about 69,000 deaths that followed these coups and rebellions. In 2001, some degree of democracy was restored in Peru with the election of Alejandro Toledo as a president. A number of cabinet changes were made, thus better representing the voice of the people in the government. With Alan Garcia as the current president of Peru, the country is working towards being a democratic power of South America.

Demographics

Studying abroad program in Peru is full of new cultural experiences which involve constant interaction with people of different ethnical backgrounds. Out of all the countries in the Americas, Peru’s population includes the most Amerindians which contribute to about 45% of its entire people. The two major indigenous ethnic groups are Quechua-speakers, followed closely by the Aymara. European and Amerindian mix, also known as mestizos, constitute around 37% of the Peruvians. About 15% of the population is of European descent. Afro-Peruvians constitute 3% of the population with the rest of it being of Japanese and Chinese descent. Additionally, not very large presence of Arab Peruvians, mostly of Lebanese and Syrian origin, also reside.

Geography

Peru is in the West of South America and it borders with Colombia and Ecuador in the north, Brazil and Bolivia in the east, Chile in the south, as well as it is being washed by the Pacific Ocean in the west. Lake Titicaca, located in the southeastern part of Peru, is positioned to be the highest accessible lake in the world. The Andes Mountains divide the country into three highly differentiated zones. Which is a beautiful coastline in the west, magnificent mountain area in the center of Peru, and Amazonian Plains to the east; the combination of all of these will give you a chance to enjoy some of the scenery while volunteering in Peru.

Climate

The weather in Peru varies depending on which part of the country you visit. On the coast winter lasts from June to September. The average temperature in this region is in a 14-27°С range. During this period, the mountainous areas are often sunny during the day but cold at night. Average temperature in central Peru is around 9-18°С. The rain season in the mountains and the Amazonia lasts from December to April. On the coastline of Peru and its capital Lima, it very rarely rains at all. Dense fog around the capital of Peru is a common happening, which gives the city a British feel.