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*I am really sorry for being this late. The next articles won’t be on time but I am trying to make them as quick as posbile. I have 5 more articles to be on day : South Africa, Paraguay, Japan, Egypt and Bolivia .. so please bear with me.


General information

Population : 32.6 mil people (41st in the World, 4th in South America)
Total Area : 1,285,216 km^2 (19th in the World, 3rd in South America)
Official languages : Spanish,Quechua,Aymara
Official currency : Sol(PEN)
Capital : Lima
Population density : 23 people/km^2 (198th in the World, 5th in South America)
Top 5 biggest cities : Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo, Chiclayo,Huancayo


Peru is a country in South America, situated on the western side of that continent, facing the South Pacific Ocean and straddling part of the Andes mountain range that runs the length of South America. Peru is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, and Chile to the south. Peru is a country that has a diversity and wealth not common in the world.

Peruvian territory was home to several ancient cultures, ranging from the Norte Chico civilization in the 32nd century BC, the oldest civilization in the Americas, to the Inca Empire, the largest and most sophisticated state in pre-Columbian America. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and established a Viceroyalty that encompassed most of its South American colonies, with its capital in Lima. Peru formally proclaimed independence in 1821, and following the military campaigns of José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar, and the decisive battle of Ayacucho, Peru secured independence in 1824.

Peru is divided into 25 regions and the province of Lima. Each region has an elected government composed of a president and council that serve four-year terms.[64] These governments plan regional development, execute public investment projects, promote economic activities, and manage public property. The province of Lima is administered by a city council.[66] The goal of devolving power to regional and municipal governments was among others to improve popular participation. NGOs played an important role in the decentralization process and still influence local politics.








National sport : Football

Volleyball





National animal : Vicuna(Vicugna vicugna

Andean cock-of-the-rocks(Rupicola peruvianus)



National plant : Quina (Cinchona officinalis)


Qantuta(Cantua buxifolia)


Queen of the Andes(Puya raimondii)



National Instruments : Charango







The significance of the 28thof July

Peru was first colonised by the Spanish in the 15th century. Despite the wars of independence being fought across Latin America in the early 19th century, Peru remained loyal to the Spanish crown. There had been some insurrection but this had been quashed by the government.

The Viceroy of Peru then initiated a military campaign against Chile and their fight for independence. Despite some early success, the tide turned against the Viceroy and the Royalist forces. Argentina and Chile then signed a treaty to peruse the 'liberation' of Peru. On entering Lima, the Argentinian commander, Jose San Martin declared the independence of Peru on 28 July 1821.

However, it wasn't until 1824, following the decisive victory came at the Battle of Ayacucho, under the leadership of Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin, that independence was achieved.










Let’s go over some famous Peruvian mythological creatures:

Jarjacha


The Peruvian Andes are rumoured to be filled by many weird creatures. One of the most famous ones is the jarjacha. It is a type of were-creature; a human cursed to turn into a monster at night/on a full moon.

In the case of the jarjacha, the sin for which the human is cursed is incest. The monster he turns into is esentially...a were-llama. While llamas aren’t exactly initimidating (unless you dread being spitted on), the jarjacha supposedly has a paralyzing gaze. After it paralyzes its victim, the jarjacha then proceeds to eat the brain of its prey.


Amaru


In the mythology of the Andean civilizations of South America, the amaro, amaru (quechua) or katari (aymara) is a mythical serpent or dragon, mostly associated with the Tiwanaku and Inca empires.

In Inca mythology, the amaru is a huge double-headed serpent that dwells underground.Illustrated with the heads of a bird and pumas, amarus can be seen emerging from the Gateway of the Sun at Tiwanaku, Bolivia.

When illustrated on religious vessels, the amaru is often seen with bird-like feet and wings,so that it resembles a dragon. The amaru was believed capable of transgressing boundaries to and from the spiritual realm of the subterranean world.


Chullachaqui


The Chullachaqui is generally described as short and ugly, with one leg shorter than the other and one foot either larger than the other, pointed backward or in the form of a hoof.

He is said to persuade his victims to follow him deep into the jungle where even experienced trackers can not find their way back. He does this by taking the form of a family member or a loved one long not seen, or disguising himself as a prey animal. His uncanny ability to replicate others makes him impossible to tell apart, except for his mismatched feet.

Others say that he appears in the shape of a very short man dressed in rags waving his closed fists in the air looking for a fight. In this case, the indigenous peoples believe a man must accept his challenge and beat him until he uncovers all the richness he has hidden in the jungle. He who declines this challenge is cursed with the inability to hunt and foul luck: family and friends turn into enemies, wife leaves with another man, etc.

Chullachaqui is said to have the ability to turn into any animal of the rainforest. He is a kind of forest spirit that guards the lands and the animals and punishes a man if he breaks a taboo or otherwise acts unwisely in the forest.

The village of Cachiche


The village of Cachiche is a community famous for witchcraft and alternative medicine.

Back during the Spanish Inquisition (which nobody expected 😃) , there was a witch trial, and the women who managed to get away from their death sentence fled to Lima and then settled in this village.

The palm tree in the picture (it is a single tree, but with 7 crowns), is said to be a work of the devil.






Top 5 places visited by tourists


Machu Picchu









As Peru’s most popular tourist attraction and one of the world’s most famous archaeological wonders, Machu Picchu is located 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) above sea level in the Andes Mountains. Although this magnificent Inca site provokes more mysteries than facts, it is believed that Machu Picchu was first built around the middle of the 15th century as a military fortress then later used as an estate for Inca royalty. Visitors can explore Machu Picchu and see well-preserved buildings that include houses, temples, fountains and baths in addition to agricultural terraces and evidence of an irrigation system.



Cusco










Often serving as a popular base to explore nearby famous ruins like Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Located in southeastern Peru, Cusco one of Peru’s most important tourist destinations. A city steeped in history, Cusco features many well-preserved buildings dating back to Inca and Spanish colonial times. The heart of the city is the main square, the Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by restaurants, cafes and churches. Just outside the city limits is an important Inca site known as Sacsayhuaman, an enormous walled complex constructed of large limestone boulders.


Arequipa










One of Peru’s most visited cities, Arequipa is surrounded by three picturesque volcanoes in the country’s Southern Coastal region. Arequipa embodies a rich mix of the indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures. Examples of Spanish colonial architecture can be found throughout the center of the city. Among the most significant of these is the Santa Catalina Convent, which is often described as a city within a city because of its charming streets, colorful buildings and flowers. Arequipa is also the gateway to Peru’s most visited natural attraction, the Colca Canyon.



Sacred Valley










Once the heartland of the Inca Empire, The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a valley in the Andes, close to Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. The valley was appreciated by the Incas due to its special geographical and climatic qualities. The region contains numerous archaeological remains and villages including the Inca cities of Písac and Ollantaytambo.



Lima












As Peru’s capital and largest city, Lima is a sprawling metropolis constituting an architectural blend of pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern infrastructure. The city was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and offers a rich history as well as exceptional food, a vibrant culture and lively nightlife. Lima’s historic district features the most interesting attractions with old churches, monasteries, Spanish palaces and one of the oldest universities in the Americas. Beaches at the north and south ends of the city are popular crowd-pullers, such as the popular Miraflores suburb that has an abundance of hotels and restaurants.





Top 3 locations suggested by the locals


7 color mountain in Cusco








Laguna Azul in Tarapoto









Cordillera Blanca












Inventions Peru/the Incas gave to the world!


*Domestication of the llama and alpaca!
*3500 BC


*Freeze-drying conservation method!



*The first liquid-fuel rocket engine!
*by Pedro Paulet, 1895


*Rope bridges!
*by Paul Janssen, 1958


*Domestication of the potato!







Famous people from Peru


Mario Vargas Llosa - Peruvian writer, politician, journalist, essayist and college professor. Vargas Llosa is one of Latin America's most significant novelists and essayists, and one of the leading writers of his generation. Some critics consider him to have had a larger international impact and worldwide audience than any other writer of the Latin American Boom. In 2010 he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, "for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat."

Vargas Llosa rose to fame in the 1960s with novels such as The Time of the Hero (La ciudad y los perros, literally The City and the Dogs, 1963/1966), The Green House (La casa verde, 1965/196😎, and the monumental Conversation in the Cathedral (Conversación en la catedral, 1969/1975). He writes prolifically across an array of literary genres, including literary criticism and journalism. His novels include comedies, murder mysteries, historical novels, and political thrillers. Several, such as Captain Pantoja and the Special Service (1973/197😎 and Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (1977/1982), have been adapted as feature films.



(born 1936)



Javier Pérez de Cuéllar - Peruvian diplomat who served as the fifth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1982 to December 31, 1991. He ran unsuccessfully against Alberto Fujimori for President of Peru in 1995 and following Fujimori's resignation over corruption charges, he was Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from November 2000 until July 2001. In September 2004, he stepped down from his position as Peru's Ambassador to France, where he formerly resided. He is also a member of the Club de Madrid, a group of more than 100 former Presidents and Prime Ministers of democratic countries, which works to strengthen democracy worldwide. At the age of 98 years, 199 days, Pérez de Cuéllar is currently both the oldest living former Peruvian prime minister and Secretary General of the United Nations.


(born 1920)


Claudio Pizarro - Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Werder Bremen and the Peru national team. He is well renowned for his goal scoring ability, especially when heading the ball.

He has spent most of his career playing in the Bundesliga, having two spells at Bayern Munich and four at Werder Bremen, during which he won 17 trophies, 16 of which occurred at Bayern. On 23 October 2010, Pizarro set a new record for most goals scored by a foreign player in the Bundesliga, surpassing Giovane Élber's record of 132 in a game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. As of 3 March 2016, Pizarro is the fifth highest goalscorer in Bundesliga history with 191 goals.

A full international since 1999, Pizarro represented the Peru national football team at four Copa América tournaments.



(born 1978)



Gastón Acurio - Gastón is Peru’s superstar celebrity mega-chef and all-around ambassador of Peruvian cuisine. He owns restaurants in some of the world’s major cities, including his La Mar ceviche rias in Lima, Bogota, New York, Panama, San Francisco, and São Paulo.



(born 1967)


Mario Testino - Peruvian fashion and portrait photographer. His work has featured internationally in magazines such as Vogue, V Magazine, Vanity Fair and GQ. He has also created images for brands such as Gucci, Burberry, Versace, Michael Kors, Chanel, Stuart Weitzman, Carolina Herrera and Estée Lauder.

Alongside his practice as a photographer, Testino has also worked as a creative director, guest editor, museum founder, art collector and collaborator and entrepreneur.

In 2007, he formed MARIOTESTINO+, which provides creative direction, art direction, brand strategy, graphic design, film and stills production, digital and social media, product development, books, exhibitions, licensing and partnerships.

Aaron Hicklin of The Observer described him as "the world's most prolific magazine and fashion trade photographer".



(born 1954)








Traditional food


Ceviche



Peru's national dish, and an immediate obsession for nearly all who try it. Though other countries may claim their own variations with shrimp, octopus, scallops, tomatoes, and even tostada chips, Peru started this cold-"cooked" fish craze with only five simple ingredients: sea bass (corvina) marinated for just minutes in lime juice, onion, salt and, of course, hot chiles (aji). The tenderness of super-fresh fish is heightened by crisp onion, and sides of starchy boiled corn (choclo) and creamy sweet potato (camote) to balance out the texture of the dish. Dry-roasted corn kernels (cancha) sprinkled around add a pleasing crunch.

Lomo Saltado



Almost as popular as ceviche, this chifa dish represents a fusion of Chinese stir frying and classic Peruvian ingredients. Juicy strips of soy-marinated beef (or alpaca), onions, tomatoes, aji chilies, and other spices are stir-fried until the beef is just cooked and the tomatoes and onions start to form a robust, meaty gravy. It's then served with two starches, a happy mix of East and West: a mound of rice and french fries (often tossed with the meat). The crowd-pleasing dish is found nearly everywhere across Peru, and is equally popular in Peruvian restaurants abroad.


Aji de Gallina



Shredded chicken bathed in a thick sauce made with cream, ground walnuts, cheese, and aji amarillo. The sauce is mild but piquent, the aji's fruity, moderately hot bite softened by the nutty, creamy sauce to a comfortable warmth. The dish reflects Peru's love of sauces thickened with chilies, cheese, cream, or even bread, drenched over and often cooked with meats and vegetables. Here the sauce is mixed with the poultry and served over rice with boiled potatoes and black olives, making for a rich, bright yellow chowder that glistens on the plates of restaurants and households throughout Peru.


Papas a la Huancaina



In another instance of "meat or starch covered in creamy sauce," sliced yellow potatoes are drenched in a purée of queso fresco, aji amarillo, garlic, evaporated milk, lime juice and—you guessed it—saltine crackers. It's not a looker: a yellow sauce over yellow potatoes topped with yellow-yolked hard boiled eggs. But don't be deceived; this homely sauce packs a complex, slow-building burn, at once brightened by the queso fresco, lime, and salty cracker, and tamed by the earthy potato and cooling egg.

Usually served as a side dish to a meal, it's also a common appetiser, with tiny round purple potatoes boiled whole, enveloped by sauce and garnished with olives, eggs, and, yes, more crackers. Originating in the mountainous city of Huancayo, it's now an almost everyday staple throughout Peru.


Cuy (Guinea pig)



One of the Andean region's most popular sources of meat (the other being alpaca), this guinea-pig-as-food strikes fear in the hearts of Westerners who think of it more as a pet than a meal. But consider tender, smoky dark meat (almost like poultry!) beneath a glistening golden veneer of shatteringly crisp skin, and you can begin to grasp the appeal. Or think of it as a single-serving suckling pig.

The traditional recipe calls for stuffing the whole animal with local herbs, then roasting it over an open wood fire and serving it with potatoes. When served this way it tastes best with a dip of aji sauce and eaten by hand like fried chicken. But more refined restaurant-ready recipes, which may involve deep-frying or braising, are now regularly enjoyed from Cusco all the way to Lima.



Arroz con Pato



This seemingly simple Spanish Criollo recipe is a signature dish in Peru. Rice is cooked in cilantro paste, herbs, and dark beer, giving a deep, earthy flavor to the vegetal grain. A roasted thigh and leg or—if lucky—crisp-seared duck confit is added on top of a mound of the green rice. The dish is so popular, it's found on nearly every Peruvian family table as well as at the finest restaurants in Lima, and like much of Peruvian cooking, it's been adapted into countless variations of rice mixture, texture and duck parts—and even with chicken or other poultry.

Rocoto Relleno



Red aji rocoto chilies are stuffed with a cooked mix of ground beef, onions, garlic, olives, raisins, herbs, and spices, then topped with queso fresco and baked in an egg-and-milk sauce. Fair warning: despite its scarlet good looks, this dish is not the stuffed bell pepper you're used to—the rocoto is a little larger than a plum with a bright, fruity, tropical berry essence and almost twice the heat of an aji amarillo (or in gringo terms, about ten times hotter than an average jalapeño). So that first bite will wake you up. But the chili's initial burn is quickly tempered by the sweet and savory filling inside, and the melted queso fresco and eggy cream sauce in which it all cooks.

The rocoto chili originated in the southern region of Arequipa, and while it's now ubiquitous throughout the country, it's still hard to find beyond Peru's borders, which makes rocoto relleno a dish that homesick Peruvians pine for when abroad.


Causa



This ubiquitous Quechan dish has taken on countless European-style variations, often served as a cake roll, terrine, casserole, or in colorful individual servings. Whatever the presentation, it starts with meaty mashed yellow Peruvian potatoes blended with lime, oil and spicy aji amarillo sauce. Shredded tuna, salmon, or chicken are mixed with mayo, followed by layers of avocado, hardboiled eggs, and olives. That surface is topped again with more potato mix, and so on, making as many lasagna-like layers as one dares. This bright, barely-spicy dish is served cold as a salad course or side dish.




Traditional desserts

Picarones



Resembling a sticky doughnut, this confectionary is made by frying a mix of sweet potato and squash and thereafter toppling it with “chancaca”, a syrup prepared of raw unrefined sugar, and usually flavored with the essence of orange and cinnamon.


Tres Leches



Tres leches has become a typical dessert in Peru over the last years. It's a simple sponge cake soaked in a milk syrup made of three different kinds of milk: sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and whole milk (or cream). Tres leches is an extremely sweet and heavy dessert more a pudding than a cake, but absolutely delicious and addicting. And, even though it looks complicated, it's really very easy to prepare.


Crema Volteada



Crema Volteada, literally meaning "upside down cream", is probably better known as the Peruvian version of Crème Caramel. Sweet and rich while at the same time being so simple and somehow light, this addictive dessert is loved around the country. And even though it originally isn't Peruvian, it became one of the most popular comfort foods in the country.



Mazamorra Morada



Mazamorra Morada is a typical Limeñan dessert. Made from Peru's unique purple corn which gives Mazamorra Morada not only its color but also its unique flavor, it's like a thick jelly with lots of different fresh and dried fruits.


Torta de Chocolate



Chocolate Cake might not originate from Peru, but the Peruvian version is truly sensational. The extremely sweet and rich Torta de Chocolate is full of the exceptional Peruvian cacao flavors and aromas. And if this wouldn't be enough the cake is covered with a heavy and creamy fudge. A cake to die for - at least if you like to indulge ...

Suspiro a la Limeña



Suspiro a la Limeña is a classic Limeñan dessert. The bottom layer is made of manjar blanco, a sweat, caramel like, sticky reduction of milk and sugar, and egg yolks which is covered by a huge portion of meringue.

Manjar Blanco - Dulce de Leche



Manjar Blanco, also known as Dulce de Leche isn't a dessert for itself. But as it's popular throughout South America and used in numerous cakes like Pionono, pastries, cookies like Alfajores and even ice cream in Peru, this sweat, caramel-like, sticky reduction of milk and sugar just belongs here.


Traditional drinks

Inca Kola

Inca Kola (also known as "the Golden Kola" in international advertising) is a soft drink that was created in Peru in 1935 by British immigrant Joseph Robinson Lindley using lemon verbena (verbena de Indias or cedrón in Spanish). The soda has a sweet, fruity flavor that somewhat resembles its main ingredient, lemon verbena. Americans compare its flavor to bubblegum or cream soda. Sometimes categorized as a champagne cola, it has been described as "an acquired taste" whose "intense color alone is enough to drive away the uninitiated."

The Coca-Cola Company owns the Inca Kola trademark everywhere but in Peru.In Peru, the Inca Kola trademark is owned by Corporación Inca Kola Perú S.A., which since 1999is a joint venture between the Coca-Cola Company and the Lindley family, former sole owners of Corporación Inca Kola Perú S.A. and Corporación José R. Lindley S.A..

Inca Kola is a source of national pride and patriotism in Peru, a national icon. Inca Kola is available in parts of South America, North America and Europe, and while it has not enjoyed major success outside Peru, it can be found in Latin American specialty shops worldwide. Inca Kola is sold in glass and plastic bottles of various sizes and cans of the same color with an Inca motif.





Chicha Morada



Chicha morada is a beverage originated in the Andean regions of Perú but is actually consumed at a national level.

The base ingredient of the drink is corn culli or ckolli, which is a Peruvian variety of corn known commonly as purple corn which is abundantly grown and harvested along the Andes Mountains. This beverage serves as the main component of chicha de jora, which also originated in Peru.

Its history and consumption was already widespread in pre-Columbian times, prior to the establishment of the Inca Empire. The current preparation can be traced through different works of the nineteenth century as those of Juan de Arona, and Carlos Prince. The oldest references to its preparation as we know it today come from the writings produced in the mid-1870s by the French Camille Pradier-Fodéré.


Pisco Sour



Pisco is a colorless or yellowish-to-amber colored brandy produced in winemaking regions of Peru and Chile. Made by distilling fermented grape juice into a high-proof spirit, it was developed by 16th century Spanish settlers as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain. It had the advantages of being produced from abundant domestically grown fruit and reducing the volume of alcoholic beverages transported to remote locations.






Interesting facts about Peru


1.Peru grows over 55 varieties of corn, and consumers can find it in colors ranging from yellow to purple, white, and black. Ancient Peruvians used corn for bartering and as a form of currency as well as for food.
2.About 65 million guinea pigs are consumed in Peru every year. The guinea pig, or cuy, dates back to Incan times, when commoners would dry out guinea pig skin and use it in soups and stews. Every July, the Incas would sacrifice 1,000 guinea pigs along with 100 llamas, to protect their crops from drought and floods.
3.Peru is home to the highest sand dune in the world. Cerro Blanco is located in the Sechura Desert near the Nazca Lines and measures 3,860 feet (1,176 m) from base to summit.
4.Peru’s national animal is the vicuña, a small camelid like the alpaca or llama. It has the finest wool for weaving and it comes in 22 natural colors. Clothing made from its wool, considered the world’s most luxurious fabric, can cost several thousand dollars.
5.The world’s worst soccer riot occurred in Peru in May 1964 during a Peru vs. Argentina match in Lima, after an unpopular decision by a referee. In all, 300 fans were killed and more than 500 injured.
6.Mt. Huascarán(6 768m) is the highest point in Peru and is part of the western Andes. It is also the fourth-highest peak in South America. The Andes Mountains are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas.
7.The Incas had no formal system of writing. Instead, they developed a system of record-keeping using a complicated system of knots called quipus. Made out of wool or cotton strings fastened at one end to a cross cord, each quipu was different from the other in size or color. Each simple or compound knot and its size and color represented details of crop measures, thefts, debt, and even events.
8.Peru is home to the Puya raimondii, the world’s tallest flowering plant. A bromeliad, relative of the pineapple, it can take up to a century or more to bloom. In full bloom, each plant flaunts up to 8,000 white flowers resembling lilies. It blooms only once in its lifetime and then dies.
9.At its peak, the Incan Empire was larger than imperial Rome and boasted 24,855 miles (40,000 km) of roads. A network of chasquis (runners) kept the kingdom connected, relaying fresh-caught fish from the coast to Cuzco in 24 hours.
10.Peru is the largest exporter of asparagus in the world, with over 117,000 metric tons in 2012.




My 5 words when I hear about Peru:
#Inca,#MachuPicchu,#Llama,#GuineaPig,#Lima

What are your 5?





Special thanks to EBM, and I will leave you with his message :








I leave you with some Peruvian memes:


















Waiting for feedback , comments , opinions and if there is anyone that thinks I missed something , I could do something better or just wants to help me with this project , PM me !

Special thanks to Kariky for the spacers !!




Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

P.S. Article 66/74!







P.S.2. Don't forget to push the flags !