The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-08-25

prepared by the National Geographic
Society, Washington. ID. c.
Peru, which has been celebrating
the hundredth anniversary of its in
dependence from Spain, in the pres
ence OF commissioners officially repre-
senting the United States and other
nations, is far enough out of the
beaten path of most North Americans
to be but vaguely known TO them. 1t
Is often thought of, no doubt, as
little republic clinging TO the sides of
the lofty Andes lest it slip and be
lost in the Pacific But in area and
interest Peru is by no means neg
ligible; and If il has failed To take
an important place in world affairs,
either commercial or political, il may
well be that that fact is due. not to
lack Of size and resources and poten-
tial wealth and power, but rather TO
iInmaturity.
Peru has every climate under
heaven, together with many of the
products and conditions that go with
them. 1t has the sand dunes Of the
Sahara the fertile, sun-bathed, irri-
gated valleys of California; the dry
grazing lands Of Australia; the pro-
ductive mountain valleys and uplands
Of Kashmir; the bleak plateauS of
Tibet; the snowy peaks of SwitZer-
land; and the tropical jungles of Cen
tral Africa and Brazil. And off its
shores, tropical in latitude but mild in
temperature, the waters, so cold that
often they are uncomfortable for bath
ing, are alive with the sea life of the
near-antarctic.
Much of Peru is occupied by the
towering Andes, with few passes less
than $4,000 feet high. and with numer-
Gus peaks exceeding 21.000 feet.
These great ramparts are chiefly re-
sponsible for the diversity Of Peru's
climatic conditions. They precipitate
the moisture of the Atlantic winds
and SO create the tropical jungles that
stretch from their bases toward the
interior Of the continent thrust slopes
and plateauS up into the cool regions
of the upper air: and cut off the Pa
cific coast section from the moisture
laden winds, making much Of it
desert.
Coast Strip Has Rivers but No Rain.
Although the strip of Peru between
the Pacific and the western foothills
of the Andes is devoid of rain and
largely desert. many streams from the
mountains break across this region 10
the sea, and the relatively narrow val
leys. irrigated from their waters. con
stitute the most fertile land of the
country.
Most of the desert land between the
fertility but because Of the absence
of life-giving water. This is a most
unusual region lying within the tropics
and adjoining the sea. where normal
ly vegetable growth would he abund-
ant. If IL could be viewed from II
distance of thousand miles through
n telescope IL would probably appear
much as the supposed canals OF Mars
have been described as appearing To
some observers-dark, roughly parallel
lines of vegetation on n drab, verdure-
less background. Some of the bench
lands have been reclaimed for consid-
cradle distances from the rivers, and
projects have been considered to i'm
pound the waters that rush down from
the melting Andean SHOWS and bring
under cultivation practically the whole
coast region.
Peru has an area Of about 100000
square miles and is therefore only
slightly smaller than Mexico and we'll
over quarter the size of the United
States exclusive Of Alaska. If Peru
could he laid down on the surface of
the United States So that its southern
most point conceded with the south
ernmost projection of Texas its north
eastern corner would lie near Peoria,
H.. and its northwestern extremity
near Cheyenne. Wyo The rough tri-
angle would cover practically all Of
Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, half of
Nebraska, parts Of Illinois, Missouri.
Colorado, Iowa and South Dakota,
and fragments of New Mexico and
Wyoming.
Where the lncas Flourished.
Just as the United States was set
tied from the Atlantic coast and de-
velopcd first its coastal strip, leaving
as an unknown region for generations
the country 10 the west beyond its
mountains and deserts, so Peru has
developed in the reverse direction.
The European conquerors of its Inca
empire entered the country from the
Pacific ,oast. and It IS along this strip