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(Opposite) Machu Picchu, the ancient Peruvian city located in the Andes, was once an Inca fortress. Though the power of the Incas was destroyed by Spanish invaders during the 16th century, Peru today still has a strong native culture. (Right) The town of Pevas on the Río Ampiyacu, in the Amazon River basin. 1

Land of Contrasts

PERU IS A LAND of great contrasts. It has lush tropical rain forests , coastal deserts, and soaring mountains. Located in the west-central part of South America, Peru shares borders with Chile (to the south), Bolivia and Brazil (to the east), and Colombia and Ecuador (to the north). Peru’s 496,223 square miles (1,285,220 square kilometers) of territory make it slightly more than three times the size of California. In South America, only Brazil and Argentina are larger. From north to south, Peru is 1,554 miles (2,501 km) long. It has three natural regions—the costa , or coast; the sierra , or Andean highlands; and the jungle or rain forest region east of the Andes. The Dry Coast The coastal region accounts for 11 percent of Peru’s territory. It’s a narrow strip only 12 to 62 miles (19 to 100 km) wide. The altitude varies from

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