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Tapping into Peru

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Sep 2, 2016

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Before you head out on your educational adventure with The GREEN Program, we want to make sure you have some basic information about Peru and its role as a leader of water resource management & sustainable practices. Whether you are an engineer or a liberal arts student, the future of energy production and its’ effect on the world will impact us both the same.

Water resource management & practices in Peru:

  • Peru accounts for approximately 4% of the world’s water resources; in fact, more than 98% of it’s water is located east of the Amazon region
  • Through a series of numerous water resource management techniques, technologies, and platforms, the nation has been undergoing a series of developments and legislature to help create and improve upon a centralized approach toward national water management across the country. This is being maintained and developed through a combination of laws, governmental organizations, stakeholders, and legislative policies.
  • Despite new law, there are still challenges that remain and progress to be made. These issues stem from a variety of influences including: limited institutional capacity, water stress across the country, water quality, poor efficiency in the irrigation sector, as well as access to water supply and sanitation.
  • More examples of these policies and accompanying industries can be found below:

Geography & Nature of Peru

Peru is an extremely diverse country, with 11 ecological regions and 84 of the world’s 117 different types of “life zone”; Beyond that, Peru is categorized with having 3 major regions – coast, mountains, and jungles.

  • The coast has a warm-temperate climate, without extreme heat or cold but with high humidity and dense fog that makes it feel extremely cold in winter. In the summer there is very little fog and temperatures reach 30°C.
  • Also known as the highlands, the mountainous region of Peru are where the Andes mountain range dominates the landscape and contains various ecological regions and altitudes
  • It is Peru’s largest region, and consists of highland jungle, or ceja de montaña – the mountain’s eyebrows, (over 700 meters above sea level), which is characterized by its cloud forests, and lowland jungle (less than 700 meters above sea level).
  • It is the third largest country in South America and one of the 20 largest countries in the world. Additionally, extends over 200 nautical miles.

For more information about the climate and geography of Peru click here
 

History of Peru

Click here to learn more about the history of Peru

 

Popular industries in Peru 

The leading industries in Peru are mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas and natural gas liquefaction; fishing and fish processing, cement, glass, textiles, clothing, food processing, beer, soft drinks, rubber, machinery, electrical machinery, chemicals, furniture (according to the CIA)

Peruvian agriculture is primarily based on products like coffee, cotton, rice, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, plantains, and coca. Major exports in Peru include fish products, minerals (like copper, gold, molibdenum, zinc, iron), crude petroleum, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and manufactures. Peru imports commodities like food crops, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics; more information about these industries can be found here.

Fun facts

  • Population: Estimated 30.9 million (2014)
  • Language: Peru is a multilingual nation and includes numerous languages and dialects
  • Spanish is the official language
  • Other popular languages include Quechua and Aymara
  • Religion:  Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, none 2.9% (2007 est.)

For more information

  • Government: Democratic republic

For more information

  • Currency: Peruvian nuevo sol Time Zone: Peru Time (PET)
  • Sports:Major sport is football (“soccer”)

For more information

  • Music: The Peru music is a fusion of sounds and styles drawing on Peru’s Andean, Spanish, and African roots.  Food: Foods that were prepared by ancient civilizations are still enjoyed today, while typical Peruvian dishes also benefit from European, African and Asian influences. Peru’s geography yields diverse ingredients: abundant seafood from the coast, tropical fruits from the jungle, and unusual varieties of grains and potatoes from the Andes. Check out what National Geographic ranked as 10 foods you must try in Peru

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