THE SEA

Peru has the greatest bio-diversity in the world, thanks to the presence of the Andes, Amazon and Pacific. There are 53 protected natural areas throughout the country. There are over 1,800 species of birds (120 endemic to Peru), hundreds of mammals including rare cats like jaguar and pumas, bears, and river dolphins; the coast is rich in marine life and a great place to see sea-lions and myriad seabirds.

The Peruvian Sea area is called to that 200 miles (370km) of territorial sea that runs parallel to the coast. Here, the Pacific Ocean spreads a wealth of marine life, produced specially by the effect of the Humboldt Current cold water, about 250 miles wide, that encounters with the warm water of the El Niño Current. This phenomenon allows the presence of plankton, a microorganism (food for fishes) that has made this sea the richest of the world. The plankton is the basic organic food for marine life in the rich fishing grounds of territorial waters.

The Humboldt current generates a prolific chain of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and guano birds. The latter was Peru's greatest wealth in the last century, since the birds formed mountains of natural manure (guano) which was highly prized. Among the majority species are sardines, horse mackerel, and hake, used mainly for making fish oil and fishmeal, where Peru holds first place.

The Ports of Peru
On the Pacific coast from north to south, Talara, Negritos, Paita, Bayovar, Pimentel, Pacasmayo, Salaverry, Chimbote, Paramonga, Supe, Chancay, La Pampilla, Callao, General San Martín (Pisco), San Nicolás, Matarani, Mollendo, Iloy.

(From Peruvian Graffiti)