Article Archive for November 2010
Facts about Peru’s biodiversity and environment
Japan and the United States are the main export markets of Peru’s biodiversity-based products.
Peru is one of the world’s top 10 “megadiverse” counties.
About 25,000 species of plants or 10% of …
Interesting facts about Machu Picchu
Interesting facts about the lost city of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” in Quechua, the Inca language.
Hiram Bingham rediscovered the lost city in 1911.
The lost city is located at an altitude of 2,430 meters or 7,970 feet above sea level.
UNESCO declared Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Cusco
It is estimated that around 1.5 million tourists visit Cusco every year, and the city of Cusco have become the main tourist attractions in Peru and one of the …
Lima
With over eight million inhabitants Lima, capital of Peru is the second largest desert city in the world after Cairo. It is a city of contrasts. Lima is surrounded by …
Inti Raymi, The Celebration of the Sun
In Quechua Inti means Sun and Raymi celebration. Inti Raymi is the celebration of the God Sun, the most venerated god in Inca religion. According to Inca tradition, Pachatutec, the first Inca, created the Inti Raymi to celebrate the winter solstice which marked the first day of the New Year in the Inca calendar. The winter solstice begins on June 21st but according to the Incas the sun stays in the same place until the 24th when it finally rises.
Tumi, the ceremonial knife
The Tumi is a ceremonial knife made of bronze, gold, silver or copper and usually made of one piece. Its handle has a rectangular or trapezoidal shape, its length varies but it always exceeded the width of a hand. At the bottom there is a sharp semicircular blade. Tumis were used during ceremonies to sacrifice an animal in honor of a god.
The tumi was adopted by the government of Peru as a symbol to promote tourism. Many people in Peru hang a tumi on their walls for good luck.
