The 8 Natural Region of Peru

PeruSpanish divided Peru into 3 regions:

1. COAST

2. HIGHLANDS

3. JUNGLE

JAVIER PULGAR VIDAL

1.Chala or Coast2.Yunga 3.Quechua4.Suni 5.Puna 6.Janca7.Rupa – Rupa or High Jungle8.Omagua or Low Jungle

CHALA• Chala: "maize plant" in Quechua.

•500 meters above sea level.

•Flora: palm trees, coconuts, olive trees, papayas, and grapes: pisco.

•The fauna: sea animals, such as fish, sea lions, and others.

•Weather: warm in summer and humid in winter.

YUNGA•Yunga: "warm valley.

•Located: 500-2300 meters above sea level.

•Flora: avocado, plum and citrus trees. Sugarcane fields.

•Fauna: birds: tortolas and doves. Wild cats and reptiles.

•Weather: dry and some rains.

QUECHUA

•Located: 2300-3500 meters above sea level.

•Flora: maize and wheat. Tomatoes, papayas and peaches.

•Fauna: birds: young eagle and the sparrow hawk (gavilán). Also the gray fox and the puma.

•Weather: dry with drastic changes.

SUNI

•Located: 3500-4100 meters above sea level.

•"Suni" means "high" in Quechua.

•Flora: hardy plants and bushes (arbustos), with very few trees. Quinoa and potatoes.

•Fauna: guinea pig (cuy).

•Weather: cold and dry.

PUNAPuna: “cold high Land”.

Located: 4,100 to 4,800

Fauna: llama, vicuña, guanaco and alpaca.

Flora: Vegetation doesn´t grow a lot. Some species: ichu and the Puca Raimondi.

The weather: cold

JANCA• Janca: "white“

• Located: 4,800 and 6,768.

• Characterized by glaciers and snow-capped peaks: Huascaran.

• The weather: extremely cold (-0)

• Flora: moss (musgo) and liquens.

• Fauna: Some animals and birds such as the condor

RUPA-RUPA OR HIGH JUNGLE

• Rupa-Rupa: “ardent”

• Located: 1,000 to 400 above the sea level.

• Flora: trees: quina, oje and barbasco. Flowers: orchids and begonias. In the valleys: coffee, tea, cocoa and fruits.

• Fauna: gallito de las rocas, oso de anteojos and the monkey choro de cola amarilla.

• The weather: warm and humid

OMAGUA OR LOW JUNGLE

• Omagua or Low Jungle: “Region of the fresh water fish”

• 400 and 80 meters above the sea level

• Fauna: mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. Fish: paiche.

• Flora: Brazil nut tree, Mahogany, and the hallucinogenic ayahuasca.

• Weather: hot and humid.