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Peru     

Tim, Jeffery, Kyle, Trevor   __Table of Contents__
 * General Information ||
 * Population ||
 * Regions ||
 *  Religion ||
 * System of Government ||
 * Climate/Geography ||
 * Economy ||
 * Imports/Exports ||
 * History of Peru ||
 * Entertainment ||
 * Food and Cuisine Customs ||

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-size: 50%; color: rgb(27, 12, 182)"><span style="font-size: 200%; color: rgb(20, 10, 163)"><span style="font-size: 200%; color: rgb(18, 9, 174)">  <span style="font-size: 50%; color: rgb(27, 12, 182)"><span style="font-size: 200%; color: rgb(20, 10, 163)"><span style="font-size: 200%; color: rgb(18, 9, 174)">      General Information

Officially called the Republic of Peru, Peru is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is home to one of the seven wonders of the world and is known for its diverse culture, geography, climate, and people. People from all around the world come to this magnificent place to have an experience of a lifetime. The population, regions, religions, government, climate/geography, currency, and imports/exports also make this country very unique and different from other South American countries.

Population and People

At present day, it is estimated that the population of Peru is around 25 - 28 million people [1]. Out of all the countries in South America, Peru is the fourth largest country in terms of population size. Many ethnicities make up the very mixed culture in the country. The first major group that makes up 47% are the //indígenas// [2], or natives. The majority of the natives live happily in the highlands, working day in and day out farming and herding on the land. The second major group are the //mestizos// [2], or mixed race which make up 32% of the population. The remaining cultural ethnicities consist of 12% white, 5% black, and about 4% Japanese and Chinese [2]. There are three languages, Spanish, Quechuan, and Aymara, that are spoken in Peru. Spanish, which is the most common, is spoken by around 60% of the people. The next 35% of Peruvians speak Quechuan, a language adopted by the Incas who lived previously in what is now known as Peru. And the other 5% of the people speak in the old, indigenous language of Aymara [2], most of which reside on the floating islands of the Uros on Lake Titicaca.<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">   The people of Peru take much pride in their work. For all their lives they have worked day after day making Peru what it is today [3].

Regions

<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center"> Peru is divided up into 25 regions as well as the province of Lima. These regions are sort of like states in our country. Each region is made up of an elected President and a council [1]. By utilizing these types mini-governments within each region, each region can easily plan projects, future developments, and management for the region. The names of the regions are: <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: right">      <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center">  <span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">        <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center"> ||= Lambayeque || ||= Lima || ||= Loreto || ||= Madre de Dios || ||= Moquegua || ||= Pasco<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center">      <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center">       <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center">       <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center">        || ||= Piura || ||= Puno<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center">      <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(228, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(233, 28, 28)"><span style="color: rgb(219, 15, 15); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center">        || ||= San Martín || ||= Tacna || ||= Tumbes || ||= Ucayali || ||= ||
 * = Amazonas
 * = Ancash
 * = Apurímac
 * = Arequipa
 * = Ayacucho
 * = Cajamarca
 * = Callao
 * = Cusco
 * = Huancavelica
 * = Huánuco
 * = Ica
 * = Junín
 * = La Libertad

<span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left"> Religion

In 1532, a group of conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro defeated Inca Emperor Atahualpa and imposed Spanish rule [1]. Along with this Spanish rule came the dominant religion of Spain which was Catholic. All of the natives and settlers in Peru were forced to convert to Catholicism. Today, Catholicism is the main religion in Peru and makes up the majority of it's population. While non-denominational churches are beginning to arise, many of the people of Peru continue to hold fast to their Catholic roots. When discussing religion with people, they quickly refer to the religion of their fathers and the need to be true [3].Today about 93% of the country's population is Catholic, about 6% Protestant, and the other 1% is non-religious [2].

System of Government

<span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Peru's government is like ours, where there is an executive branch that is detached from the legislative. This executive branch presides. The government also runs off of a system where three or more political parties have the power to take over the government [1]. Currently, Congress is made up of seven different political parties. These are: <span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left"> <span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Climate/Geography
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Peruvian Aprista Party ||
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Peruvian Nationalist Party ||
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Union for Peru ||
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">National Unity ||
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Fujimorista Alliance for the Future ||
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Parliamentary Alliance ||
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Democratic Special Parliamentary Group ||

Peru's climate and geography are some of the most versatile in all the world. Tourists from around the world come to see these magnificent sites. It also has many neighbors. Ecuador and Colombia border it on the northside. Brazil sits on the east side of the country. Bolivia stretches across it on the southeast side. Chile borders it from the south with the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of the few countries in Latin America to have all three classical landforms of the subcontinent [2]. Its climate and geography vary throughout the land. //Peru's three very different climatic regions allow it to boast of an extraordinarily wide range of animals and birds// [2] as well//.// In geographical terms, Peru can be divided up into three regions. The Andes Mountains in Peru divide it in this way:
 * The //costa// or the coast is the arid, mostly desert-like land that stretches along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It only covers 11% of the total area of Peru, but is home to 52% of the population [2]. Even though this area is mostly sand and cacti-covered rock, many of the various foods of Peru are grown in this region due to the 40 oases and 600,000 hectares of fertile soil that provides irrigation for cultivation [2].
 * The //sierra// or highlands consists of the Andean highlands that divide the coast from the jungle. The Andes mountains mostly make up this region and is the source for many of the rivers that flow through Peru. The sierra is also home to almost half of the population of Peru [2]. Typically it is very difficult to grow fresh food on the side of a rocky mountain, but the people of Peru have mastered this obstacle with the utilization of terraces, a farming technique used by the Incas in the past. Foods such as barley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and //Quinua// (a cereal) are grown on the terraces. Another challenge that the people face is the very dry and thing air. Since the only means of transportation in this region is by foot, it is a wonder that they can walk around in these high places with heavy equipment and food bags without getting short of breath [3].
 * The //selva// or jungle consists of the Amazon lowlands, which covers 60% of the country's area [4]. However, although it is the biggest of the three regions, less than one-tenth of the population live there. The warm, humid, and tropical climate contributes to the magnificent variety of trees and forestry. Poisonous bugs and other deadly creatures lurk in this vast jungle, making it a very dangerous place to go through and to live in.

Economy/Currency

In the past, Peru mostly relied on exports in order to provide substantial revenue for the country, however self-sustained growth and a more egalitarian distribution of income have proven elusive [1]. Today their economy is getting better due to macroeconomic stability, improved terms of trade, and rising investment and consumption [1]. Its main economic activities include agriculture, fishing, mining, the manufacturing of products such as textiles, and even tourism. It is estimated that Peru makes about 1 billion dollars per year, which greatly helps the struggling economy [2]. 53% of the economies income is from gross domestic product, 23% from manufacturing goods, 15% from extractive industries (mining, fishing, forestry, etc.), and the other 9% from taxes [1]. 44.5% of the total population of Peru is still poor. Yet, international development projects are currently helping the country improve their power supply, irrigation, sewage, mines, fisheries, and basic health services [2]. The currency of Peru is the "Nuevo Sol" or translated, the "New Sun." One American dollar is worth about three Suns [3]. Due to the hyperinflation in the 1980s, the government changed the country's currency from the //inti// to the nuevo sol. The new currency was put into public circulation on July 1,1991 [1]. The people of Peru are hard workers and are trying to create an economy that can thrive like that of the United States or western Europe. Their educational system is improving gradually over time as well as their law enforcement and judicial systems. They have a lot of work still to do, but they are trying [3].

Imports/Exports

One of Peru’s major things they rely on to survive as a country is their exports and imports. Peru has many exports, some major ones being sugarcane, cotton, coca, copper, gold, zinc, coffee, alpaca wool, fish, and textiles. [2] Its major trade partners are the United States, China, Brazil, and Chile [1]. Like its many exports, Peru as well has to import many fine goods in order to meet the needs of the population. Wheat, cattle feed, soy oil, milk, and corn are all examples of their imports [2].

Food and Cuisine Customs

<span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left">Peruvian food is considered by many people to have the best food in all of South America. Peruvian cuisine is not just a one cultured food. Peruvian cuisine has a diverse amount of ingredients in it[1]. A Peruvian diet consists of many vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and corn, animals, fish, sodas and alcohol[1]. Many other countries have brought over their customs to Peru when migrating. countries such as Japan, Africa, and Italy with their Mediterranean flavors and noodles. These countries took their customs and over-layed them with the Peruvian meal customs[1]. El Chifa is a good example of Peru's diversity in food. A typical Peruvian meal starts off with a soup made with chicken or squash, then it goes to either a pan-fried food like steak with vegetables or a stew[1]. A typical Peruvian drink would be a soda named Inca Kola, or beer[1]. There are more than 3,000 types of dishes on the Peruvian coast, there are more than 2,000 different types of soups, and 250 traditional deserts[2]. A problem that Peru is having, is that hunting turtles for food is illegal, but it still happens. It is expensive in finding a turtle meal and you wouldn't find it //a la carte// in a normal restaraunt[1]. If most people were to describe their feelings about Peruvian cuisine one word would be "surprised." "The Peruvian culinary arts are in constant evolution, and impossible to list in their entirety.[1]"

__Zone Foods__ - The first main food zone is the Coastal zone[5]. The Coastal zone is known for Peru's national dish, Ceviche as we learned from some popular dishes. This zone is known for it's thick, rich sauces and taste[5]. - The second zone is the Highlands zone. This focuses on "refreshness" of the food and also spices. Dishes in this zone include alpaca (almost like a llama but smaller with a delicious taste), pachamanca, and rocoto relleno (very spicy stuffed pepper)[5]. - The Third zone is the Jungle zone. This zone focuses on plants and animals that come from the jungle. It is not known however, for the way the food looks but for the way the food tastes. A Chirimoya is a fruit that comes from the Peruvian jungle that looks like an avacado but tastes like strawberries and cream. Also Inkicapi is a spicy chicken soup that is made with peppers and other spices from the jungle[5]. Many people wouldn't want a hot and spicy chicken soup in a warm, and humid jungle, but it gets very good praise in the taste.

=<span style="font-size: 200%; color: rgb(21, 255, 0); font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; background-color: rgb(6, 0, 255)"> = History of Peru

"Peru has undergone many changes in its history but has never lost its Incan character"[1]. The <span class="wiki_link">Incan civilization inhabited Peru along with all of South America for a long period of time, but "Peru has been ruled by a diverse range of peoples, from the nomadic tribes of the prehistoric period to the city states from which the Incan empire developed"[1]. Peru has been its own country for about 200 years, and the 300 years before that they were controlled and owned by Spain.

The Beginning

The first inhabitants have been said to come from Asia. These "nomadic tribes moved into South America over successive generations, and some eventually settled in Peru" [1]. At around 5000 B.C., the first communities started to develop. Their main source of survival was their agriculture and cultivation of corn, gourds, and cotton.[1] The Chavín culture was the first culture that united people into a distinct cultural group. The Mochica and Nazca cultures dominated Peru from 200 to 1100 A.D. "These cultures were skilled in producing fine ceramics and elaborate metalwork and were adept at weaving complex designs" [1]. The Incan culture has come from these various smaller cultures and tribes, and learned much of their knowledge of architecture, religion, and art.[1] They used these skills to make the "greatest South American empire even known" [1].

The Incas

They started out a small tribe, only spread through their capital Cuzco. They were always at war with tribes around them, but at around 1200 A.D., they started expanding. [1] They starting expanding rapidly when the ninth emperor, Pachacuti, came into rule from 1438 to 1471. [1] They are known for their ability to make massive structures made from stone and other things. Their precise engineering and artwork skills made their cities and buildings fascinating still to this day. [2] Machu Picchu, also called the Lost City, is a city of the Incas that has hundreds of captivating structures. The Incan empire was almost 380,000 square miles at its peak of power, along with around 16 million people. [1] It was connected by a huge road system that was, "administered through a complex bureaucracy that divided labor and land between the state the gods, and the villages" [1]. They worshiped many gods, but most of all the Sun God because it was what controlled the agriculture and the growing of crops.

Towards the end of the 15th century, the Incan empire was getting too large to control. The emperor at the time, Huayna Capac made a new Incan city name Quito. He liked this city more than Cuzco, so he chose to rule in Quito with his favorite son, Atahualpa, and station hes oldest son Huáscar in Cuzco to rule that region. [1] Huayna Capac suddenly died in 1527, and immediately a civil war began. Atahualpa was backed up by hes father's army, and was way more powerful than Huáscar. It took Atahualpa only two major victories to overrule his brother. After this, Atahualpa "retired with hes army to the hot baths of Cajamarca in the north of the country" [1].

Starting in 1513, when the Pacific Ocean was discovered, the Spanish became interested in Peru. Francisco Pizarro, a well known Spanish soldier, decided to conquer the new territory in 1528. Shortly after, in 1532, he arrived on Peru's nothern coast with less than 180 other Spanish Conquistadors. They set out to talk to Atahualpa, who was still in Cajamarca with an army of 30,000. [1] Pizarro sent a message to him saying that he needed to talk to him and wanted to see him. Even though Atahualpa was the emperor and people should come see him, he went because he was "curious to know about

these strange people" [1]. He brought 5,000 men as safety and did not believe he would be harmed. But, even though the Spanish were outnumbered, they surprised Atahualpa catching him off-guard. They also had guns, cannons, and horses, which the Incans had never seen or thought of before. They also had "armor and chain mail which made the Incan wooden weapons useless" [1]. They killed most if the Incans and captured Atahualpa. The empire then became confused and they still were barely healed from the civil war, so they were very weak. Atahualpa agreed to their ransom and promised to "fill a room full of gold and another another smaller room twice with silver" [1]. He recieved this from all over Peru and finally had enough. He was sending secret messages to his people in Cuzco because he believe his brother Huáscar was involved with Spain. He had him killed, which worried Pizarro so he brought Atahualpa to trial in July of 1533, where he was executed. In November 1533, Pizarro went to Cuzco and appointed an emperor under his control. [1] This was the beginning of Peru's colonial rule.

Colonial Time

The Spanish control did not start out well, but got better. Pizarro founded the new capital Lima in 1535 because it made "a better transportation center than Cuzco" [1]. Wealth was brought from all over the country, then shipped off to Spain. Peru was seperated into regions and local chiefs collected taxes from the villages. Pizarro was assinated in 1541, and was replaced by Diego de Almargro, a son of his fellow conqueror. [1] This led to a civil war for seven years over the sections of the land. Spain got worried by this and sent a viceroy named Blasco Nuñez de Vela in 1544. He was killed in less than two years and Spain then sent their government forces to establish control in 1548.

The Spanish that came from Spain also brought diseases which shrank the native population from 32 million to 5 million. These diseases were mainly smallpox and other epidemics. [1] The labor decreased, so they brought over black slaves from Africa which brought over even more diseases. Peru then started getting out of hand so the Spanish government divided the country and appointed parts of it to different royal administrators. These people gave less power to the actual independent leaders, giving Spain more control, but it only caused friction between them. This began to spark of rebellion and because of the new revolutions in Europe and the Americas, there were thoughts of becoming an own country.

Spain had too much rule over Spain until Andean neighbors came into the picture and made it possible. [1] A man named José de San Martín was a great liberator of South America. He had helped free Chile and decided it was time to liberate Peru. In 1820 he went to Peru with 5,000 men and on July 28, 1821, he barged into Lima and declared Peru a republic. San Martín the made a constution for Peru that " gave freedom to slaves, abolished native service, proclaimed the descendants of the Incas to be citizens of Peru, and even banned the insulting term 'Indian'" [1]. He then returned home but kept the army in Lima. The then asked Simón Bolívar to help him defeat the royalist armies. Bolívar then became the first president of Peru and the royalist troops were finally defeated in 1824 at the Battle of Ayacucho. [1] Peru became an indepenent country and have had some problems and conflicts between them and other countries, but they have held strong and are still and independent country to this day.

=<span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left"> = <span style="display: block; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left"> Entertainment

Peru is world-renown for its diversity in culture. There is much art, music, sports, hobbies, past times, artists, musicians, athletes, and actors which contribute hugely to the growing culture of Peru.

Art

Peru is made up of a large variety of different cultures providing for numerous different forms of art. Thousands of years before the first Europeans arrived to the Americas New World civilizations, New World civilizations traveled to the land area of what is now called Peru[1]. These new world civilizations spread a wide variety of art, music, and dance, making Peru a very diverse and cultured part of the world. Among the most famous of these artistic tribes are the Incas and Nazcas.

The artistic achievements accomplished by Peru fall into four main periods: Pre-Incan, Incan, colonial, and Post-Colonial[3]. There was little disruption between the pre-Incan and Incan periods, but colonization brought increasing tension and division in the artistic world between the traditional native cultures and the new[1]. The Spanish conquerors destroyed much of the artwork created by the Incans. Nearly all of the metal-work done in gold or silver was melted down. The Spanish imposed their own culture, destroying native art cultures and traditions[2].

Many of the ancient art remains of Peru can be found with Pottery. Peruvian civilizations such as the Chavin, Paracas, Nazcas, Chimu, and Mochica developed numerous forms of Peruvian pottery[2]. These unique forms of sculpture were passed down and are still widely used today. Motifs for Peruvian pottery typically consisted of the portrayal of animal life (more specifically aquatic life) and human behavior[1]. Many famous sculptures dating all the way back to 400 A.D. portray women bathing, men hunting, and children playing[1].

In around 500 A.D. Peruvian civilizations took on the practices of drawing and painting[3]. The civilizations would use natural substances to create colored oils that would be used for canvas and fresco painting. It should also be noted that Peruvian paintings typically consisted of very bright colors such as orange, yellow, and red.

During the 16th century Peru became a mass center for Gold. The quantity of Gold Peru had obtained at the height of the country’s economy was colossal. It is said that over 85% of all of Peruvian gold was in some form of art, whether it be massive monumental structures, sculptures or jewelry[1].

Peruvian music offers a wide variety of different styles and genres that reflect a multitude of different regions, ethnicities, and histories. The most famous and widely recognized Peruvian music is the Andean Folk Music originating from the highlands of the Andes Mountains. Both sad songs and upbeat songs are all combined into one, communal and stylized dance[3]. Andean folk music dates back to the ancient civilizations of Peru. Clay panpipes have been found in ancient graveyards on the coast. The Incas used a variety of flutes and panpipes, conch-shell trumpets, and drums made from Puma skin[2]. The Spanish introduced string instruments, which the native musicians soon adopted. Some very unique Andean instruments are the Cburrango, a kind of mandolin using an armadillo shell as a sound box, and the Andean harp[3]. Other standard instruments in folk bands are cane flutes, panpipes and drums[2].

Throughout Peru exist night clubs called Penas. Though somewhat primitive at times, these night clubs are home to the Peruvian music of Criolla, or Creole music. With a mix of traditional Spanish guitars and percussion instruments, Criolla accounts for a very lively form of music that locals love to dance to[1]. media type="custom" key="721233" media type="custom" key="721163" media type="custom" key="721237" media type="custom" key="721243"

Another form of Peruvian music is “Musica negra” or Black Music. This unique style of music consists of various percussion sounds created by drums and other wooden instruments[2]. This style of music originated in the old Peruvian slave communities on the coast. The music is linked to social protest and portrays daily life in the communities[3].

Film/Theatre

The Peruvian film and theatre industries have not accomplished as much as those of Mexico and Argentina but the growing industry has proved itself to be very popular among Peruvian citizens[4]. With over 600 major theatres/cinemas, 250 major films, and thousands of successful plays, the entertainment industry has been quite successful over the years[1].

Among the most successful movies are "No se lo Digas a Nadie", and "La Mujer de mi Hermano." Peruvian actor, director, film maker, and producer Francisco Jose Lombadi plays a key role in the success of the Peruvian film industry[1].

Sports/Hobbies

Similar to that of other South-American countries, Soccer is very popular among the Peruvian peoples. The national soccer team has been very successful over the years with 4 world cup appearances and numerous tournament victories. Other popular sports include basketball, tennis, bull riding, and cockfighting.

Chess is also a popular indoor game with the people of Peru[1]. Julio Granda, a world giant in this sport, is a legend in this country. Volleyball is a popular sport amongst the people of this nation. Women's volleyball has brought several laurels to the country[5]. In Seoul Olympic Games in 1988, Peru procured the silver medal among several competitors[5]. It has also been the South American champion on 12 occasions in this sport[5].

The Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world is located in this region[5]. Several rivers, such as the Ucayali, Marañón, and Amazon, flow through this region. These water bodies have made water sports such as surfing and sailing quite popular[5].

The sport of surfing has become quite popular with the young crowd, with Sofia Mulanovich ruling the roost in the Women's section and being crowned the Women's World Surf Champion in 2004 and 2005[5]. Sailing is also another sport that is fast gaining on the popularity front. In the Sunfish Class, Peru has won the world cup for six consecutive years[5]. It has been World Champion in Team-Racing for three consecutive years, in the Optimist Class[5].

Famous Artists/Musicians/Entertainers

Peru offers a wide variety of different styles of music providing for thousands of musicians. Among the most famous of these musicians was Lucha Reyes, one of the most respected and influential musicians in South America[1].

Other famous entertainers include comedian Juan Paposa who performs world-wide and his famous for his ventriloquist act. Los Ninos a Los Hombres are a popular male band who also perform nationally[4].

Famous artists include Julio Donta, Marco Franz, and Pedro Diota. All three of which are famous for their abstract paintings[2].

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