Peru (puh-roo)
Country
Peru, in western South America, is a country of incredible geographic and biological diversity, with landscapes ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region to the peaks of the Andes mountains and the tropical Amazon basin. Its rich history is most famously encapsulated by the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu, an iconic symbol of Incan civilization. Peru's cultural heritage includes the traditions of the Quechua, the Aymara, and many other indigenous peoples, alongside those of the Spanish colonizers who arrived in the 16th century. The name Peru is believed to come from a local ruler's name, Birú, encountered by early Spanish explorers along the Pacific coast.
