Interesting facts about Peru

Peru is the third largest country in South America, which ranks nineteenth in the world's twenty largest countries. It was here in the twelfth century BC the ancient Inca state was formed. Then in this territory a monarchy was born, which lasted until 1533, until it was captured by the Spaniards. This mysterious country is famous for historical events, many of which are not solved to this day - so let's learn more in detail the most interesting facts about Peru.

Unusual and interesting facts about the country of Peru

Customs and traditions

1. Peruvians can often turn their fingers around their temples during a conversation. Do not think that they want to offend you - no, it means that the interlocutor simply thought about the situation.
2. Aborigines live rather poorly, but it is worth noting that the literacy rate is quite high. The country has free secondary and primary education, so over ninety per cent of Peruvians have diplomas.
3. Under the new year in the country there is such a tradition , when as a gift for the holiday friends and relatives give yellow cowards. It is believed that this color brings good luck.
4. The electoral system in the country is strict and mandatory. Persons who are eighteen years old can not issue a passport or refuse many state services if they do not vote.
5. In the forests of the Amazon, a real tribe of Indians was recently discovered in Peru, which does not even suspect the existence of civilization. Their location is carefully hidden so as not to stop them from living. This decision was made by the government together with the scientific council.
6. The country ranks second after India in the existence of powerful shamans in it. Here they are treated with respect and trepidation and often seek help.

National cuisine

1. The guinea pig Cuy is considered a traditional dish. There are entire farms for breeding this animal and there are a huge number of ways to prepare it.
2. In Chinche in the south of Peru, the local population can afford to eat a cat.
3. Only in this country you can taste a drink made from an alive frog. It is believed that this national dish helps cure bronchitis, asthma and improve male strength.
4. Peru is home to such delicious fruits and vegetables as tomatoes and avocados.

sights

In the State of Peru, a huge number of different historical and natural attractions. Some of them are listed in the Guinness Book of Records, others are the World Heritage of UNESCO.

1. The highest navigable lake on the planet is Lake Titicaca . It is also considered the largest in all of Latin America.
2. One of the most important sights of the country is, of course, Machu Picchu . It is the former capital of the ancient Incas, its history is estimated in tens of millennia.
3. The deepest in the world is the canyon Cotahuasi (Kotauasi) , which is located in the Arequipa region. Its depth is 3535 meters - it is twice deeper than the famous Grand Canyon in the USA (1600 meters).
4. One of the hitherto unsolved places on the planet is the Nazca desert . On its entire surface there is a very clear, without errors, figure. Its bizarre shape reminds several runways. This suggests that they are abandoned by an alien aircraft.
5. In the city of Lima , the capital of Peru , rich in attractions , there is an unusual fountain, instead of water from it flows vodka. During its existence, tourists drank more than two thousand liters of "fire water".
6. The city of Cusco was considered the most important in the Inca empire, it preserved the buildings of the ancient civilization ( Saksayuaman , Korikancha , Puka-Pukara and many others), which are in harmony with medieval colonial architecture. The whole city is the World Heritage of UNESCO.

Nature

1. Rainforest forests occupy two-thirds of the country's territory. Also in Peru, there are more than ninety different microclimate, so the country is one of the most biologically unique in the world.
2. In Peru, 1625 different species of orchids grow, of which 425 varieties grow in their natural environment near the legendary city of Machu Picchu. In one of the hotels in Peru , Hotel Inkaterra, is the largest private collection in Latin America. It has about five hundred varieties of orchids.
3. In the Huascaran National Park there are about twenty seven snow-capped peaks, the height of which is more than 6000 meters above sea level. The highest is El Huascarán, its height is 6768 meters.