Geography of Peru
Peru is a country of unparalleled geographic and biological diversity. Of the 32 defined climate zones in the world Peru has 28, and of the 104 biological zones 84 can be found within it’s borders. In a general sense, Peru can be defined by three distinct regions, the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Basin and the strip of desert along the coast.
The Peruvian Andes have become world famous among hikers, trekkers, and mountaineers. The second largest mountain chain in the world after the Himalayas, many of it’s glacier clad mountains have peaks of over 18,000 feet. These Andean highlands are home to the graceful Vicuña and the giant Andean Condor, the largest flying bird in the world. The Andes are also home to millions of highland Indians, who still speak in ancient tongues such as Quechua.
More than half of Peru’s land area lies in the western Amazon Basin, that is home to monkeys, macaws and countless other species of wildlife. It is arguably the most biologically diverse region on Earth. The thick tropical cloud forest on the eastern edge of the Andes are home to the greatest variety of birds on Earth, a lush realm of giant tree ferns, thick mosses, orchids, bromeliads and riot of tropical flora.
The coastal deserts of Peru are some of the driest regions on Earth, and while seemingly void of wildlife, the coastline is home to an abundance of wildlife, including sea lions and astounding colonies of pelagic birds. |
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