PERU MAPS

Peru is the third largest country in South America and has among the most diverse range of habitats. Along the southern coast, the Atacama Desert ranks among the driest regions on earth, whereas the Andean altiplano is characterized by alpine habitat. The Amazon Basin region to the east of the Andes boasts Peru's highest biodiversity.

In this map of Peru, produced by the Central Intelligence Agency (U.S. Government), the three main tributaries at the headwaters of the Amazon are shown: the Marañon, Huallaga and the Ucayali. The main towns of the Peruvian Amazon, of which Iquitos is the biggest, are also shown.

In this National Geographic map of Peru, the country's highest peak is shown. Further south in Peru along the Andes near Arequipa is the Amazon's source, discovered in 2000 by a five-nation National Geographic expedition.