The great diversity of regional cultures and cuisines in Peru reflects the country's natural and agricultural biodiversity. Millennia of geological and natural history are etched in wide range of ecosystems, from the rich fisheries of the Humboldt Current to the coastal desert, the craggy Andes Mountains and the tropical lowlands. Use the map at left to explore some of these systems, or follow these links to the coastal desert, Andes mountains and Amazon basin.
SuPer(u)Natural
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Natural PeruThe great diversity of regional cultures and cuisines in Peru reflects the country's natural and agricultural biodiversity. Millennia of geological and...Read More...
Coastal Desert
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Pacific coast Peru's coast is a long strip of desert cut in more than 50 places by seasonal rivers that flow from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean. But the coast has not always been arid. After South America broke away...Read More... -
Coastal current The coastal ecosystems and the civilizations that flourished on the Peruvian coast have been shaped by Pacific currents. The Peruvian or Humboldt Current flowing northward along the coast of South America,...Read More...
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Andes Mountains
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Andes Mountains The uplift of the Andes mountains over millions of years has been due to a combination of Read More...
Tropical glaciers The Andes are topped by the largest concentration of ice anywhere in the Earth’s tropics (the belt around the middle...Read More...- 1
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Amazon Basin
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Amazon basin The Amazon basin is the largest watershed on Earth. It provides about 20 percent of all fresh water...Read More... -
Water and winds The Amazon watershed lies in the tropics, the band around the equator from...Read More...
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Barbara Fraser is a freelance journalist based in Lima, Peru. With 20 years of experience in Latin America, she puts a human face on current events and public policy. She offers research, writing, editing and photography services, with particular expertise in Latin American, environmental, public health and social issues.