The Geography of Peru

Peru is located in South America and is, in area, the third largest country on that continent.  It ranks amongst the twenty largest countries in the world and stretches along the Pacific coast for some 1,500 miles (2,400 kms).

The Country divides itself into three very distinct areas, as shown on the second map.

The largest area (shown in green on the map) consists of the Amazon rainforest.   The area shown in brown is the Andes mountain range and the yellow coastal strip consists of arid desert.  

Because of the nature of these distinct areas, Peru has one of the most diverse geographical and eco-biological environments in the world, the desert, mountains and jungle all producing vastly different climates and ecosystems.  In fact, Peru has 28 of the world’s 32 climates; but more of this in future blogs. The Country is highly seismic with several volcanic regions and forms part of the so called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’.

The majority of Peru’s population of 34 million live in the narrow coastal strip of the Country, despite the fact that it is desert and varies in width between only 20 miles (30 kms) and 90 miles (140 km) and represents only around 10% of her total land mass.  The Country’s capital, Lima, is located in this coastal strip, as also is our orphanage.   The  population of this coastal area is increasing, as other parts of the Country become depopulated due to people relocating to look for greater economic opportunity, although often not finding it.

Over the past five years, there has been a surge in migration to Peru from Venezuela due to that Country’s faltering economy and political problems.  Peru hosts the second largest population of migrants from Venezuela worldwide, this migrant community is now thought to be approaching one million.

It is the great diversity of Peru which, directly or indirectly, often lays at the heart of many of her problems and this is something which we will try and explain over the coming weeks. 

DB – 30.8.2021