Understanding the culture and the diversity of various nations is fun and essential for children. Here are 25+ Fun Facts About Peru that you should make your kids read!
Peru is among the most diverse, culturally rich places in the world and is a place that has a long tradition and exciting modern-day practices. There’s plenty to know about this fascinating country! There’s a wealth of interesting information about Peru.
From the stunning artificially-created Machu Picchu to the varied natural landscape with stunning lakes and mountains and traditional cuisine, we’ve cut it down to 29 interesting details concerning Peru to help you and your children learn about it.
Here are some basic knowledge facts and fun facts about Peru to help you get to know the basics about this amazing country.
Facts About Peru
1.) Peru’s capital, Peru is known as Lima. The population is 268,352. The population total in the nation is 313.
2.) Peru is the third-largest nation of South America, coming in third place, following Brazil in the South and Argentina. It is a total area of 1,285,216 square kilometers.
3.) Peru’s three official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Amaya. Also, it is believed indigenous tribes that live in the Amazon jungle speak around 13 languages in total.
4.) The currency that is used in Peru is known as Sol. One sol equals 0.22 pounds sterling.
Also, read Facts About South America
Machu Picchu Facts
The Machu Picchu is believed to have been constructed around 1400. The modern wonder in the world has a rich culture and link to Peru. Here are six interesting facts about the renowned Machu Picchu.
5.) Machu Picchu is one of the very few Inca towns that escaped the pillaging of Spanish conquerors. Machu Picchu is referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas” because it is believed that the Spanish never ever set foot upon its grounds.
6.) The belief is to be the case that Inca civilization was not equipped with wheels. This implies that the stone used in the construction of this city on the mountain was carried to the summit by hand or cut out of the mountains themselves.
7.) Machu Picchu sits on the top of two fault lines and experiences frequent earthquakes. But, the combination of its sophisticated design and the durable material means it has lasted through hundreds of thousands of years of earthquakes without scratching.
8.) The Incas constructed roads across the whole Empire, leading towards Machu Picchu. This transportation system comprised bridges, pathways along with mountain paths. Together, these roads cover 18,000 miles throughout Peru.
9.) There are more than 150 structures at this ancient site. These range from temples all the way to bathhouses. Perhaps one of the most stunning architectural highlights in Machu Picchu is the staircase featuring 100 steps that are carved from one piece of stone.
10.) Machu Picchu translates to English as “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain” in the Quechua Language.
Also, read Summer of Adventure |Ruins Facts!
Inca Empire Facts
The background and culture that surrounds the indigenous inhabitants of Peru is captivating. There was their unique faith and customs and innovations that can be studied by archaeologists and historians from all over the world to this day. Here are five interesting details concerning Inca culture. Inca civilization and the way they lived their lives.
11) Incas were polytheistic in that they believed in multiple gods. One instance of an Inca God is Pachacamac, who they believed created human beings and plants and supervised the harvests. The Incas frequently offered sacrifices and offerings, which included human and animal sacrifices to worship the gods and bless their communities.
12.) There are numerous similarities between Inca faith and Christianity. Prior to the time when the Spanish took over Peru and brought in Christianity, it was believed that the Incas were already living with their very own idea regarding Heaven as well as Hell and were governed by rules like that of the Ten Commandments.
13) The Incas were known to mummify their dead, put their bodies in upright graves, and carry gifts to the afterlife.
14) The Inca civilization didn’t have a written system but instead, they used to communicate and make records using the system known as “quipu”. This method involved the tying of various knots onto strings. The knots used along with the knot’s type and the color of the string were important in transferring the information. The method is still utilized by the Peruvian people of today, mostly by shepherds and farmers to track their livestock.
15) Females were fairly well valued in The Inca civilization. While they were generally assumed to fulfill household duties, they also could have positions as priestesses or officials. Children were expected to follow the example of their parents and perform the same duties as them.
Also, read 15 Fun Facts About Georgia
Peruvian Wildlife And Nature
Peru hosts one of the largest habitats and animal species found across South America. Here are some interesting facts about the wildlife of Peru and the incredible creatures you’ll discover in the region.
16.) Peru has the world’s most sand-dunes with the highest elevation. Its Cerro Blanco sand dune in the Sechura Desert measures 3,860 from top to bottom. That’s more than a kilometer deep! It is a popular choice to trek up to the top and then uses a sand-board slide back until you reach the lowest.
17) With an elevation of 11.436 feet (that’s 3.5 km) higher than sea level, Lake Titicaca in Peru is the most awe-inspiring lake in the world.
18.) Peru has one of the most diverse landscapes in the world With around 90 microclimates, the landscape in Peru spans across the Amazonian Jungle to the desolate desert. This implies that Peru is home to one of the largest species diversity across the world. The diverse ecosystems permit it to house more than 1,800 bird species and 500 mammal species and 300 species of reptiles.
19.) Peru is home to the biggest flying bird on the planet, the Giant Andean Condor. With wingspans that measure 10 feet across, the nature of these enormous birds wonders that they are still flying Their average weight is close to 30 pounds.
20) The deepest canyon in the world is located in Peru. Cotahuasi Canyon is nearly 10,605 feet (3.2 kilometers) deep. That’s near twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in Arizona!
21) There are around 10 million alpacas all over the world. A quarter of them calls Peru their homeland.
22) It is possible to climb rainbow-colored mountains in Peru. The vibrant multi-colored layers of this mountain are the result of weathering as well as the diverse types of rock that are found throughout Peru’s Peruvian landscape.
23) The highest flowers in the world is found in Peru. The Puya raimondii flower is fascinating and only occurs in the high peaks of the Andes This flower can grow to five meters tall and can take between 80 and 150 years to flower!
Peruvian Food And Culture
As with any culture across the world, food is at the core of daily life throughout Peru. Below are some facts regarding the tasty dishes that you can taste and purchase in Peru.
24) Peru’s national drink is the Pisco Sour. The pisco, a traditional drink, is made of grapes. The drink is believed to have been invented in the 1920s.
25) The dish Peru is most well-known for is ceviche, a meal made of fresh fish marinated with juice from lime or lemon.
26) Guinea pig is a traditional Peruvian dish from Peru. It is considered to be a culinary delight and you’ll often be able to see people enjoying the guinea pig which has been deep-fried or grilled.
27) Peru produces one of the most expensive cups of coffee worldwide! To make this particular beverage, it is fed with coffee beans to the plants and taken out of the excrement of a monkey mammal known as the coati. This cup could range from $20 to $65, and the people who drink it enjoy an extremely expensive flavor.
28) Peru is home to the Camu-Camu berry, which is special. It is a native of the Amazon Rainforest the berries are some of the greatest concentrations of vitamin C in the natural world. They’re so sweet that it’s rare to find them consumed raw. Rather, they are crushed and sold as a powder which has numerous health benefits.
29) The potato was initially grown in Peru. Over 3,000 varieties of the tasty crop are grown all over the country.
