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Climate[edit]

Main article: Climate of Peru


The combination of tropical latitude, mountain ranges, topography variations and two ocean currents (Humboldt and El Nio) gives Peru a large
diversity of climates.
Amazon Basin or Low Amazon[edit]
The eastern portions of Peru include the Amazon Basin or selva baja, a region that is larger in the north than in the south. Representing roughly 60%
of Peru's national territory, this area includes the Amazon, Maran, Huallaga and Ucayali Rivers. It is a vast tropical forest with countless rivers and
streams. Rainfall varies from 2,000 to 4,000 mm (78.7 to 157.5 in) per year.
Almost 60% of the country's area is located within this region,[1] (700,000 km2 or 270,000 sq mi) giving Peru the fourth largest area of tropical forest
in the world after Brazil, Congo and Indonesia.[2]
Andean Mountain Ranges[edit]
The Andes shelter the largest variety of climates in the country. The climate is semi-arid in the valleys and moist in higher elevations and towards the
eastern flanks. Rainfall varies from 200 to 1,500 mm (7.9 to 59.1 in) per year. The rainy season starts in October and ends in April. The rainiest
months are January through March where travel can be sometimes affected.
The western slopes are arid to semi-arid and receive rainfall only between January and March. Below the 2,500 m (8,202 ft) mark, the temperatures
vary between 5 and 15 C (41 and 59 F) in the night versus 18 to 25 C (64.4 to 77 F) in the day.
Between 2,500 and 3,500 meters (8,202 and 11,483 ft) the temperatures vary from 0 to 12 C (32 to 53.6 F) in the night and from 15 to 25 C (59 to
77 F) during the day. At higher elevations from 3,500 to 4,500 meters (11,483 to 14,764 ft), the Puna ecoregion, the temperature varies from 10 to
8 C (14 to 46.4 F) during the night versus 15 C (59 F) during the day.


The northernmost regions of the Andes around Cajamarca and Piura regions have Pramo climates.


Coast[edit]
The Peruvian coast is a microclimatic region. The region is affected by the cold Humboldt Current, the El Nio Southern Oscillation, tropical latitude,
and the Andes mountain range.
The central and southern coast consists mainly of a subtropical desert climate composed of sandy or rocky shores and inland cutting valleys. Days
alternate between overcast skies with occasional fog in the winter and sunny skies with occasional haze in the summer, with the only precipitation
being an occasional light-to-moderate drizzle that is known locally as gara. These regions are usually characterized by having mildy cold lows (14 C
or 57.2 F) and also mild highs (29 C or 84 F). Temperatures rarely fall below 12 C (53.6 F) and do not go over 29 C (84 F). An exception is the
southern coast, where it does get a bit warmer and drier for most of the year during daytime, and where it can also get much colder during winter
nights (8 to 9 C or 46.4 to 48.2 F). The occasional drizzle or fog of the central and southern coast is common during winter months, but even during
summer days there are some foggy days. One must not forget that although it may not be as warm as typical tropical latitudes, the sun will hit and
strike as if you were in any other tropical place.
The northern coast, on the contrary, has a curious tropical-dry climate, generally referred to as tropical savanna. This region is a lot warmer and can
be unbearable during summer months, where rainfall is also present. The region differs from the southern coast by the presence of shrubs, equotorial
dry forests, mangrove forests, tropical valleys near rivers such as the Chira and the Tumbes, and is blessed with clear, sunny skies for most of the
year. The average temperature is 25 C (77 F).
Central & Southern Coast[edit]
The central and southern coast has a subtropical desert climate, although this region is located in the tropics. The Humboldt Current is 7 to 8 C (13
to 14 F change) colder than normal tropical seas at 14 to 19 C (57 to 66 F), so this prevents high tropical temperatures from appearing.
Moreover, the Andes mountains are very close to the coast, so this prevents cumulus clouds or cumulonimbus clouds from appearing. Therefore, a
shade effect is created, and there are only few annual rainfalls in this region.
Rainfall averages 5 mm (0.2 in) a year near the Chilean border to 200 mm (7.9 in) a year in the northern coast and near the Andes.
The central coast is composed of regions like La Libertad, Ancash and Lima, having a spring-like climate for most of the year. Foggy and sunny days
intermingle around the humid sand dunes most of the year.
Most summers (JanuaryApril) have pleasant temperatures from 19 to 21 C (66 to 70 F) during the nights to about 28 to 29 C (82 to 84 F) during
daytime. Winters (JuneOctober) are very humid, and range from 12 to 15 C (54 to 59 F) during the nights to around the 17 to 18 C (63 to 64 F)
during the day.
The spring and autumn months have a pleasant climate that ranges from 23 C (73 F) during the day to around 17 C (63 F) during the night. As
you go inland, away from the coast and on to the yunga valleys the climate is drier and warmer during all seasons: around 3 C (5.4 F) warmer in
any given month.
Strangely enough, it also gets warmer if you go north of Lima into La Libertad or Ancash or south of Lima (Pisco, Chincha), at least during the day.
The reason is probably since Lima is located where the Humboldt current prevails, yet there are tropical sun rays above the clouds that create fog


and since there is no passage of hot clouds from the Amazon to the coast, the climate is cooler that similar tropical latitudes. This created a lot of
humidity and fog in winter times.
The southern coast composed of Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna regions have a drier and warmer climate during the day-time for all months
except for winters. There are regions famous for their sand dunes and impressive deserts since the climate is drier and hotter. The temperatures can
go as high as 36 C (97 F) in the Nazca and regions inland, yet can fall to 8 or 9 C (46 or 48 F) during the winter months. During the daytime
temperatures rarely go below the 22 or 23 C (72 or 73 F) for all months. These fact determine that the southern coast have a semi Mediterranean
desert like climate yet there is small variations between temperatures during night time or day time, as regions in tropical latitudes. Clear skies are for
the most part attractive near the coastal cliffs, home to a variety of fish and marine mammals.
Northern Coast[edit]
The northern coast consists of the eastern region of Lambayeque, the Piura Region and the Tumbes Region. They are characterized by having
different climate and geography from the rest of the coast. Right between the 3 hour drive on the Sechura desert, which is located north of the
Lambayeque Region and south of the Piura Region, is the evidence of climate change from the common subtropical desert found on the south to
visible tropicalization effects of the tropical dry climate or tropical savanna. Examples of this are the tropical dry forests that begin to appear. They are
composed of shrubs, thorny trees, carrob trees, faique trees, huayacan trees, hualtaco trees, palo santo trees, ceibo trees and on the coast
mangrove forests. It is also a biodiverse area where typical wildlife can be observed such as crocodiles, reptiles, iguanas, boas, pava aliblanca,
anteater, bear, sloth (bearh) and many more.
This climatical reasons for change are the presence of the warm Nio Current during the summer months (December to April), the eventual El Nio
Phenomenon and the passing of Amazon Jungles clouds due to mountain openings and lower altitudes of the Andes Chain. These are the causes for
a climate change in a short two or three hour trajectory that is visible between the Lambayeque Region and the Sechura Province, where not only
geography changes but a temperature rise of 6 C (10.8 F) or more depending on the month. It is directly off the shores of the Sechura Region
where the cold Humboldt current and warm el Nio current meet, at about 5 to 6 south of the equator. From this point warm temperatures are most
common, and there are no true winters. Average temperatures range between 24.527 C (76.180.6 F). Clear skies, beautiful warm valleys, eroded
terrains with reddish colored sands, rice fields, palm trees, savannas, bushy forests, dense rivers, beautiful warm turquoise beaches, orangey or
yellowish terrains, clearer sands and a sun that hits like the African plateau, where shade is almost impossible.
Summer (December through March) is more humid and very hot, with average temperatures that vary from 25 C (77 F) during the night to around
34 C (93.2 F) during the day, although north of Lambayeque it can reach the 40 C (104 F). Winters (JuneSeptember) are cooler during the
nights; around 16 C (60.8 F) during the night, to around 27 C (80.6 F) during the daytime.
There are protected areas in Tumbes and Piura filled with tropical canelo forests and tropical dry forests such as Caza de Coto and Cerros de
Amotape, both extending into southern Ecuador. The areas of Eastern Lambayeque also have tropical dry forests which are found in the Chaparri
and Chongoyape provinces. These forests have the particularity of connecting to the Amazon basin through the Maraon passage (an area where
there are also tropical dry forests). Mangrove forests are located in four specific areas from Sechura to Tumbes.


In these regions there are mangroove forests at the ending strips of the Piura River in the Sechura Province Vice (the southernmost mangroves in the
Pacific Ocean). To the north the ending strips of the Chira River, Tumbes River, and Zarumilla River also have mangrove forests that flow into the
ocean.
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva).
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower.

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