Peru

• Peru contains the second largest segment of the Amazon rainforest after Brazil.
  
  
• The Peruvian Amazon covers 60% of the country.
  
  
• The large biologically diverse area of Amazon in Peru is home to the most bird species in the world, the third largest number of mammals and a very high number of species of butterflies and orchids.
  
  
• Peru shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Bolivia.
  
  
• Modern day Peru has been home to many ancient civilizations, the largest and wealthiest of these was the Incas who's empire ruled for over 100 years until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.
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• The capital city of Peru is Lima which is home to more than a quarter of Peru's population.
  
  
• The Inca Empire was centered around highlands of the Andes mountain range and the civilization's capital city Cusco and mountain top citadel Machu Picchu are popular with visiting tourist to this day.
  
  
• Spanish is the main language in Peru although many also speak the Inca language Quechua. The third official language is Aymara.
  
  
• The currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol.
  
  
  
• While Peru remains a poor country it is one of the richest in terms of natural resources. It is one of the world's top producers of gold, silver, copper, lead, ironing zinc and also has reserves of oil and natural gas.
  
  
• Cut (Guinea pig) is a traditional meat used in Peruvian meals, it is estimated that 65 million guinea pigs are consumed in the country each year.

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