Peru is blessed with a variety of climates, landscapes and ecosystems. Eighty four of the world's 103 known ecological zones and 28 different climates are present in Peru, which place it among the 5 countries with the greatest biological diversity in the world. Half the population is under 2l. Peru's official languages are Castillian Spanish and Quechua, the language of the Incas.The religion of the country is predominantly Roman Catholic, but country people maintain some Inca rituals and mix them with Catholic festivals.

The landscape is punctuated by 50 mountains of 6,000 meters or more above sea level and 1,679 glaciers. There are 12,000 lakes of varying sizes and depths, and 262 different river basins.

Peruvian culture is replete with the rich expression of Peruvian folklore and folk art, reflected for example, in the February 2 festivities for the patron saint of Puno, the Virgen de Ia Candelaria; see also Fiesta.

Airtime is about ten hours from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Lima.

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Links

• Andean Botanical Information System ABIS

• The Mountain Institute

• Parque Nacional y Reserva de Biosfera del "Manu"

• Peru On-Line Networks

• Reserva Nacional de Paracas

Lima | Cuzco | Machu Picchu | Lake Titicaca | Links