NIE ACTIVITY
GEOGRAPHY CONNECTIONS
PERU
COUNTRY VIEW
This year-long series is presented in collaboration with the Connecticut Geographic Alliance.
TAKE 5
By Lauren Bitterman
Internship: Hill Central Elementary School New Haven, CT
Ancient people, called the Chimú, Moche
and the Nasca, first inhabited this region
about 15,000 years ago. One of the most
important Peruvian cultures was the Inca,
who were also called people of the sun, lived
in Peru around 600 years ago. Their capital,
Cusco, is still a major city today. The Inca also
built Machu Picchu, a famous and mysterious
ancient city in the Andes. They thrived for
centuries before being conquered by the
Spanish in 1532.
Peru is made up of a variety of landscapes,
from mountains and beaches to deserts and
rainforests. Most people live along the coast of
the Pacific Ocean, where the capital, Lima, is
located.
The world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon,
covers nearly half of Peru. Called the Selva in
Spanish, this huge jungle, which also covers
half of Brazil, is home to plants and animals
that do not live anywhere else on Earth.
The second highest mountain range in the
world runs through Peru. These peaks, called
the Andes, are so tall and forbidding that the
ancient Inca people thought they were gods.
They run from north to south and can be seen
from Peru’s beaches 50 miles to the west. The
highest peak, Mount Huascarán, is 22,205 feet
high.
Location: Peru is located in
the western side of South
America, and borders with
Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil,
Bolivia and Chile.
Place: The official language
of Peru is Spanish. Quechua
(language of the Inca Empire)
is also widely spoken, mostly
in the highlands. Aymara,
which is the national language,
is spoken mostly in the
southern highlands.
Human-Environment/Interaction:
The Incas built an empire
without markets and money.
They based their system on
trade and service.
Movement: Peru’s major
exports are gold, copper ore,
refined petroleum, lead ore,
and refined copper.
Region: It lies just below the
Equator and is the thirdlargest country in South
America
Common Core
Curricular Connections
S.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7
Fun Facts about Peru:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/
sciencefacts/countries/peru.html
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/
subjects/ancientcivilizations.htm
http://www.peru-explorer.com/history.htm
Current Events:
http://www.peruviantimes.com/
46916-01
DID YOU KNOW?
● Peru is divided into 25 regions. Lima (the capital) is considered the only province and its
population is 7,605,742.
● Two-thirds of Peru is covered in the Amazon Rain Forest.
● The Inca fortress of Machu Picchu was lost to the Amazon Jungle for hundreds of years,
until it was re-discovered by Hiram Bingham the American explorer.
● Lake Titicaca in Southern Peru is the world’s highest accessible lake, and South America
largest lake.
● The potato is originally from Peru, and there are over 3,000 different varieties. Proud
Peruvians use the phrase “Soy mas Peruano que la papa” (I am more Peruvian than the
potato).
MAPPING ACTIVITY
Peru is known for the re-discovering of Machu Picchu, which was part
of The Inca Empire. The Andean region was one of the many ancient
civilizations; can you find where the others were located?
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•
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Andean Region (Incas)
Nile Valley (Egypt)
Mesopotamia
Huang Ho River Region (Shang)
Indus River Region (Harappa)
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/ancientcivilizations.htm
Using the News
Scientists and government officials from Peru along with eight neighboring countries
met in Cusco to start a new plan for the continent’s cultural heritage. The Peruvian
government has been looking into putting stricter limits of numbers visiting Machu Picchu.
The Chan Chan Archaeological Zone in La Libertad is at higher risk of erosion as changing
climates bring heavier rains, flooding, and strong winds. Who’s responsibility is it to
protect international treasures like those found in Peru from human and environmental
damage? Use www.courant.com to research methods being used to protect World
Heritage places across the globe.
Online Resources:
Great link for geographic use:
http://goperu.about.com/od/planningandpacking/ss/Where-Is-Peru-Located.htm
Link to the Peruvian languages:
www.frommers.com/destinations/peru/686144#sthash.pgdYPmsr.dpbs
Link to the History and Culture:
www.limaeasy.com/peru-info/peruvian-economy#economy-history
For students who are blind, learning disabled or print challenged, visit CRIS Radio at
http://www.chrisradio.org and click Kids On-Demand for a free audio version of Geography Connections.