Capital: Lima.
Official Languages: Spanish and Quechua.
Official Name: Republica del Peru (Republic of Peru).
Area: 496,225 sq. mi. (1,285,216 sq. km). Greatest
distances--north-south, 1,225 mi. (1,971 km); east-west, 875 mi.
(1,408 km). Coastline--1,448 mi. (2,330 km).
Elevation: Highest--Huascaran, 22,205 ft. (6,768 m) above sea level.
Lowest--sea level along the coast.
Population: Estimated 1996 population--24,314,000; density, 49
persons per sq. mi. (19 per sq. km); distribution, 72 percent
urban, 28 percent rural. 1981 census--17,702,400. Estimated 2001
population--26,741,000.
Chief Products: Agriculture--bananas, coffee, cotton, potatoes, sugar
cane. Fishing--anchovies, sardines. Manufacturing--fish meal,
metals, sugar, textiles. Mining--copper, iron ore, lead,
petroleum, silver, zinc.
Money: Basic unit--sol. For its price in U.S. dollars, see MONEY
(Table: Exchange Rates).
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