Geography of Peru
Location
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic Coordinates
10 00 S, 76 00 W
Geographical Area
Land
1,280,000 Sq Km.
Water
5,220 Sq Km.
Land Boundary
7,461 Km.
Border Countries
Bolivia
1,075 Km.
Brazil
2,995 Km.
Chile
171 Km.
Colombia
1,800 Km.
Ecuador
1,420 Km.
Length of Coastline
2,414 Km.
Terrain
Western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation Extremes
Lowest Point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest Point
Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural Resources
Copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land Use
Arable Land
3%
Permanent Crops
0%
Other
97%
Irrigated Land
12,000 Sq Km.
Natural Hazards
Earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environmental Issues
Deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes.
