7 UNIQUE FACTS ABOUT PERU
With its incredible mountains, hidden alpine lakes and unique biodiversity, Peru is an ideal trekking destination, and the perfect place for Tusker Trail’s next adventure! Tusker is scouting this ancient land full of architectural wonders, wildlife, and culture in August 2015. If you’re an adventure-seeker with an appreciation for history and nature, Peru should be on your bucket list.
Get to know Tusker’s next destination with some unique facts about this amazing country:
1. Peru is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world
It is home to over 90 different micro-climates, offering unique precipitation levels, temperature, and wildlife in each. As elevation changes dramatically across the landscape, so does the flora and fauna, making for great adventure at every turn.
2. The city of Cusco was the capitol of ancient Inca
Cusco is home to some of the oldest architecture on the continent making it a real hot-spot for archeologists and adventurers. Some ancient Inca customs are still practiced in the city, such as Inti Raymi, an Incan celebration of the winter solstice and the power of their sun god.
3. Peru has three official languages
Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara are the three state-sponsored tongues in the country. While the first may be familiar to travelers, the second two are most often totally foreign. They are the native languages of the original dwellers of the Andes mountains and have between 10 and 13 million speakers in South America. In addition to these official languages, there are 13 other indigenous languages spoken in Peru.
4. Machu Picchu remains a mystery
Despite being carefully studied and visited on a regular basis, the origins of Machu Picchu remain unknown. Its intriguing architecture and alignment with astronomical signs have led many theorists to point to a ceremonial significance. Yet there’s no real answer, and the mystery just makes Machu Picchu all that more awe-inspiring.
5. Two-thirds of Peru is covered by rainforest
Peru hosts the western edge of the Amazon rainforest which covers 60% of the country. With 2.5 million kinds of insects, over 2,000 types of birds and mammals, and tens of thousands of species of plants, the Amazon is one of the most species-rich biomes in the entire world. Spanning nine different countries, it is over two million square miles.
6. Caral-Supe is the oldest known human settlement in the Americas
North of Lima, this ancient settlement goes back 5,000 years. This dates it around the same time as the construction of Stonehenge, early development of agriculture in Egypt, and the founding of Troy. Some of the most important archeological findings have come from this site.
7. Peru has over 55 kinds of corn
More varieties of corn are grown in Peru than anywhere else in the world. As a main staple of the Peruvian diet, you can find corn in almost every meal and many different colors, including yellow, black and purple!
