|
Lima, Peru
|
|
Surface Area
With an area of 1,285,215 square km, Peru is the third-largest country
in South America after Brazil and Argentina, ranking it amongst the
world's 20 largest nations. Peru also holds sway over the sea up to 200
miles from the Peruvian coast and has territorial rights to an area of
60 million hectares in the Antarctic. Peru is divided into 24
departments, plus the Constitutional Province of Callao. Lima is the
capital of Peru.
Language
Official languages:
Spanish: 80.3%
Quechua: 16.2%
Other languages: 3.0%
Foreign languages: 0.2% As part of its rich cultural tradition, Peru
features many different languages. Although Spanish is commonly spoken
across the country, Quechua is a major legacy of the Inca empire, and is
still spoken with regional dialects in many parts of Peru. In addition,
other languages are spoken such as Aymara (in Puno) and a startling
variety of dialects in the Amazon jungle, which are divided up into 15
linguistic families and 38 different languages.
Government
Peru is a democratic republic. The president and members of Congress are
elected every five years by universal suffrage. The current
constitutional president of Peru is Alejandro Toledo Manrique
(2001-2006).
Population
25,662,000 inhabitants
Urban: 72.3%
Rural: 27.7% Peru is a nation of mixed ethnic origins. Throughout its
history, Peru has been the meeting ground for different nations and
cultures. The indigenous population was joined 500 years ago by the
Spaniards. As a result of this encounter, and later enriched by the
migration of African blacks, Asians and Europeans, Peruvian man emerged
as the representative of a nation whose rich ethnic mix is one of its
leading characteristics.
|
|
|
Religion
Roman Catholic: 89%
Evangelical: 7%
Other religions: 4% Peru is a naturally religious country: a
diversity of beliefs and freedom of worship can be seen from the
wide range of festivals and rituals that feature both Catholic
fervor and the mysticism of age-old pre-Hispanic cultures.
Currency
The official currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol (S/.), which is
divided into 100 centimos. The currency includes coins for 5,
10, 20 and 50 centimos and0 1, 2 and 5 sol coins. There are
bills in the denomination of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 soles.
|
|
|
|
First Mission Trip to
Peru.
 March for peace in order to release hostages that
had been taken by Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. In a
stunning attack, a band of Peruvian rebels called Tupac Amaru stormed
the Japanese embassy in Lima. The attack occurred during a party
celebrating the Japanese emperor's birthday attended by diplomats,
Peruvian government officials and business leaders. The rebels continue
to hold almost 490 hostages and threaten to begin executions if their
demands were not met.
LIMA,
Peru (CNN) -- Tens
of thousands of people marched through the streets of Lima and other
Peruvian cities Sunday, showing support for 340 hostages held since
Tuesday night by Marxist rebels at the home of Japan's ambassador to
Peru.
The marchers chanted for peace, waving the
Peruvian flag, and called for peaceful dialogue between the Peruvian
government and members of the Tupac Amaru group inside the compound.
|
|
|
|
