Lima

Lima

City coat of arms
Also called: "La Ciudad de los Reyes" ("The City of Kings")
Founded	January 18, 1535
Subdivisions	30 districts
Mayor	Luis Castañeda Lossio
Area	2,664.67 km²
Population - Total - Density	8 866 1601 3 327.3/km²
Time zone	UTC/ GMT-5
Latitude Longitude	12°2.6′S 77°1.7′W
Official website: www.munlima.gob.pe
1 source 1 for population source 2 source 3 Source 4

Lima is the capital and largest city in Peru, as well as the capital of the Lima Province. It is the cultural, industrial, financial, and transport hub of the country. The city is located in an area encompassing the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers. It lies on a desertic coast adjacent to the bay in the Pacific Ocean where its port was built and named Callao.

Founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Lima is also known as the City of Kings. For more than three centuries, Lima was the most important city and the greatest metropolis in South America. More than four centuries have passed since its founding as a Spanish city, and Lima has become an expression of Peru's mestizo heritage, with nearly one-third of the nation's population living in its metropolitan area.

The city covers most of the Lima and Callao Metropolitan Area.

History

See Also Historical Center of Lima
The city was founded by conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, naming it Ciudad de los Reyes as the location was decided at Epiphany, the January 6. Lima, its original name, however persisted. It is uncertain where the name originated, but it is thought that it derives from the Aymara word lima-limaq, (yellow flower) or from Quechuan rimaq (talking). In the oldest Spanish maps of Peru, both Lima and Ciudad de los Reyes can be seen together as the names of the city.

Lima became the most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru, which encompassed nearly all of Spain's possessions in South America during the colonial era (mid 1500s to early 1800s).

In 1746, many important and monumental buildings were damaged and or destroyed (later repaired) in an earthquake.The City of Kings' cultural patrimony and incomparable, beautiful architecture remained prevalent. Its architectural and political importance in Latin America were equalled only by Mexico City.

In 1996, the Japanese embassy hostage crisis took place in Lima, an affair which received global media attention. It ended on April 22, 1997 when Peruvian Armed Forces commandos stormed the building by carrying out a frontal daytime attack after tunneling underground into the embassy to rescue the seventy-two hostages. One hostage died of medical complications, two soldiers and all fourteen kidnappers were killed in action.

Demographics

The Lima Metropolis is among the world's most populated areas (6'954,583 2005 census) with a very complex and diverse racial groups that make of Lima a true cosmopolitan city.

Political and economic instability during the latter half of the twentieth century created unprecedented poverty and violence in the rural highlands, forcing thousands of campesinos to migrate to Lima looking for work and a better life. Today, Most of them nowadays are becoming the new middle class increasing their economic power and some others still live in shantytowns, locally known as pueblos jóvenes, many of which lack such basic services as electricity and running water.

On the other hand, Lima has the second biggest Japanese community in South America and also a big Chinese Peruvian; German and Italian communities are present as well.

Geography and climate

Lima is located in the Peruvian coastal desert, in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers. With an area of 2,672.28 km², it is the second largest city in the world located in a desert, after Cairo. Due to the Humboldt Current, Lima has a temperate climate, but is shrouded in fog seven months a year. The temperatures in the summer rarely rise above 30° C, while in winter temperatures almost never fall below 13° C. The sky is nearly always overcast between the months of May and November. Lima gets virtually no rain because of being in a desert area.

Districts and neighborhoods

The Lima city proper is comprised of thirty districts in the Lima Province. Each of them is headed by a mayor, although the Metropolitan Lima Municipal Council (Municipalidad Metropolitana de Lima), led by the mayor of Lima, also has authority in these districts.

The historical downtown of the city is located in the Lima District, which is locally known as Cercado de Lima. This is where most vestiges of Lima's colonial heyday remain, as well as the Presidential Palace and the Metropolitan Lima Municipal Council.

The upscale neighborhoods of Miraflores and San Isidro are among the wealthiest in the city, and most of the better hotels and other tourist destinations are located in them. The latter district is also an important financial center that is noweadays far more important in Lima's daily business life than the Cercado. The districts of La Molina and Santiago de Surco offer quieter, upscale residential areas with several gated communities.

The traditional middle-class districts such as Jesús María, Lince, San Borja and Magdalena del Mar surround the "rich" districts.

Barranco, south of Miraflores, is known as a bohemian neighborhood and has earned recognition for its population of writers and intellectuals.

The most populous districts of Lima lie in the north and south ends of the city. Their population is comprised principally of immigrants from other regions of Peru. Many of them are poor people of indigenous origin who arrived during the mid and late twentieth century after being displaced by terrorism, agrarian crises, and general economic frustration. These peasants invaded the vast desert areas and hillsides in the districts of the Cono Norte and Cono Sur areas, populating new slums known as pueblos jóvenes. Economic growth during the late 1990s helped these districts, and today they have a fast-growing middle class and lively economic life, with malls and other commercial services being inaugurated in former marginal districs such as Comas, Los Olivos and Villa El Salvador.

Education

Universities

The city has the largest concentration of higher-education institutions in the country. The National University of San Marcos, founded on May 12, 1551 during Spanish colonial regime is the oldest continuously functioning university in the Americas and considered by many peruvians "La decana" in the sense of " dean of universities" across Peru.

The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú is the oldest private university (established on 1917). Other notable private institutions that are located in the city are Universidad del Pacífico, Universidad San Martin de Porras, Universidad de Lima, Cayetano Heredia University and Universidad Ricardo Palma.

Other state owned universities also play key roles in teaching and research, such as the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería and Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina.

Libraries

Founded by José de San Martín, Peru's oldest and most important library, the National Library of Peru is located in downtown Lima. As it has suffered wars and earthquakes throughout history, a new location for the library is being built in the San Borja district and is scheduled to be finished in early 2006. This modernization program aspires to turn the library into one of Latin America's most modern libraries.

Commerce and industry

Lima has substantial textile, paper, paint, and food products industries.

In recent decades, Lima has rapidly expanded and the city has seen much unregulated development. In the last decade, air pollution has risen to alarming levels, as no restrictions are allowed on the age or efficiency of motor vehicles. Leaded petrol is still widely used.

The " Estadio Monumental "U"", located in Lima, is Peru's largest and most modern stadium; it seats eighty-thousand spectators.

Commercial services in Lima have increased drastically since the mid- 1990s, malls are starting to be built everywhere. Examples of this are Primavera Park & Plaza, Parque Canepa, Minka Mall, Plaza Sur Mall and Megaplaza Norte, located strategically in Los Olivos where a a new middle class is quickly rising. Old malls are being redesigned, such as Lince's Risso Mall , Camino Real in San Isidro or San Miguel's Plaza San Miguel. The biggest mall in the city is Jockey Plaza, which is also one of the biggest and currently considered the most modern in South America. A new one under construction called Paruro Plaza, Lima Center and a new building called Larcomar Fashion Mall which will be only for designers shops such as Gucci, Versace, Polo, Hugo Boss, Armani, Dior, DKNY, Prada, Guess, Calvin Klein, D&G, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino among others, making of it one of the most exclusive fashion centers in South America.

Supermarkets are also using aggressive marketing strategies and old stores are being bought by these large companies. The largest supermarket chains in the city are Wong (which also owns all Metro stores), Tottus (owned by Saga Falabella), Vivanda, Santa Isabel, Plaza Vea and Eco Almacenes.

Gamarra is one of the biggest Peruvian business emporiums and the biggest one in South America. Guarded by the Comando Centurion, a group of security officers, 150,000 shoppers per day can browse the hundreds of shops in the area. The stores offer designer clothes at affordable prices. Fashion shows presenting the latest trends are a weekly event.

Transport

Lima has an extensive bus system, which connects all of Lima's main streets and avenues. These buses are commonly known as micros or combis. Although very cheap and convenient (they stop virtually everywhere), they are often poorly mantained and the smaller buses run at excessive speeds.

Taxis vary in quality of service and price. They can be stopped at any street, or private taxi companies can be called to pick up passengers at a certain address.

Numerous inter- urban bus companies offer transportation to other cities in Peru. Quality varies depending on the price, from luxury express buses to uncomfortable and crowded micros.

Nowadays Lima`s mayor is working on a new bus system called Metropolitano where all busses will have exclusive lines; it has been told that new busses must be acquired by the companies working in the metropolitan area, this busses will be bought from a Chinese company, the same company that sells busses to Italy. The mayor's hope is to see a new massive transport system in the next few years.

To improve the quality of taxis running in Lima, a new law has been released where its forbidden to import used cars; thanks to this law, the city of Lima ensure to always have new cars all over the city, reducing smog.

An agreement signed by Mayor Luis Castañeda and President Alejandro Toledo on February 17, 2005, provided funding for finishing the Lima Metro, an above-ground mass-transit system which will link the downtown area with the financial district, San Isidro. The project was launched in the late 1980s but left unfinished by former president Alan García.

Lima's main passenger gateway for national and international air travelers is Jorge Chávez International Airport.

Tourist attractions

The Historic centre of Lima, located in downtown Lima and the Rímac District, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 due to the large number of historical buildings dating from the Spanish colonial era, a small number of which have now been restored. In particular, the monumental Plaza Mayor, with the 16th century Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, and the catacombs of the Convento de San Francisco are popular with visitors.

Several sections of the Lima City Walls can still be seen. These fine examples of Spanish medieval fortification were used to defend Lima from attacks from pirates and corsairs.

The city also has a number of fine museums, notably the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology, and History and the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum, both in the Pueblo Libre district.

Many small beaches, which are heavily visited during the summer months, are located by the southern Pan-American Highway. The most well-known ones are located in the districts of Santa María del Mar, Punta Hermosa, Punta Negra, San Bartolo and Pucusana. Also, the district of Ancón, located north of the city, has a very popular beach resort.

Numerous restaurants, clubs and hotels have been opened in these places to serve the many beachgoers. The beaches in Lima itself are not suitable for swimming because the city's sewage is dumped raw into the ocean.

The suburban district of Cieneguilla and the town of Chosica (in the Lurigancho District) provide attractive green landscapes at a short distance from the city. Because of their elevation (over 500 meters), the sun shines in these areas even during winter and hence they are visited by residents of Lima to escape from the winter fog.

Recently, the Palomino Islands near the port of Callao have attracted visitors due to a population of sea lions.

Situated in Monterrico, the Gold Museum, together with the even more interesting textile museum. Here can be seen almost perfectly preserved thousand year old garments and feathered capes recovered from the waterless deserts of Western Peru. Also in the same building, an arms museum with a huge range of antique Spanish firearms, among muskets and arquebuses.

Sites of interest

• Historical Center of Lima
• Beaches and Waterfront
  • Barranquito
  • Aguadulce
  • Los Pavos
  • Las Cascadas
  • Las Sombrillas
  • Costa Linda

• Museums
  • Gold Museum
  • Park of Walls Museum
  • Museum of the Nation (Museo de la Nacíon)
  • Japanese Inmigration Museum
  • National Museum of the Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru (Museo Nacional del Arqueología, Antropología, e Historia del Perú)
  • Arts & Peruvian Popular Traditions Museum
  • Miguel Grau House-Museum
  • Ricardo Palma House-Museum
  • Morro de Arica soldiers Museum
  • Italian Arts Museum
• Colonial Buildings
  • Justice Palace
  • Rimac Building
  • Governor's House
  • Lima's Cathedral
  • Saint Lorenzo Church
  • Saint Rose of Lima Church
  • Congress of the Republic
  • Lima's Mayor House
  • Segura Theater
  • Italian Arts Museum
  • Lima's Art Center
  • Lima's City Walls Park
  • Torre Tagle Building
  • Acho Plaza
  • Saint Martin Plaza
  • National Culture Institute
  • University Park
  • Desamparados Train Station
  • Rosa Nautica Restaurant
  • Perez Aranibar Children House
  • Naval Heroes Park
• Islands
  • San Lorenzo Island
• Amusement Parks
  • Lima's Zoo, San Miguel
  • Huachipa's Zoo, Huachipa
  • Kart Circuit, Magdalena del Mar
  • Daytona Park, Surco
  • Sports Center, Miraflores, Costa Verde (Green Coast)
  • Apolo (Ice-Skating Park), San Isidro
  • Lima's Hippodrome, Surco
  • Parapente & Ala Delta, Miraflores
  • Play Land Park (From June to August)
  • La Granja Villa

Notable people born in Lima

Scientists

• Pedro Paulet

Artists

• Felipe Pinglo Alva, father of Peruvian Musica criolla
• Susana Baca
• Rosa Flor
• Eva Ayllon
• Pepe Vasquez
• Chabuca Granda
• Boris Vallejo

Historical

• Saint Rose of Lima ( April 20, 1586- August 30, 1617) Patron Saint of America, first Roman Catholic saint born in the Americas.
• Saint Martin of Porras

Tycoons

• Dionisio Romero, banker and entrepreneur.
• Pedro Brescia, entrepreneur.
• Carlos Boloña Behr, industrialist and former CEO of San Ignacio de Loyola University.
• Hurtado Miller, tycoon and former Finance Minister of Peru in 1991.

Politicians

• Javier Valle Riestra, lawyer and politician
• Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, first Latinoamerican to become Secretary-General of the UN.

Sportspeople

• Jefferson Farfán, football (soccer) player
• Hans Gildemeister, tennis player
• José Paolo Guerrero, football (soccer) player
• Luis Horna, tennis player
• Carlos di Laura, tennis player
• Sofia Mulanovich, world champion surfer
• Roberto Palacios, football (soccer) player
• Claudio Pizarro, football (soccer) player
• Luis Villalta, boxer (d. 2004)
• Jaime Yzaga, tennis player

Writers

• Alfredo Bryce Echenique, writer (novels, memories, and short stories), among which the renowned A world for Julius ( in Spanish: "Un Mundo para Julius".
• Julio Ramón Ribeyro, writer best known for his short stories, and awared in 1994 by the Juan Rulfo prize.
• Ricardo Palma, writer of "Tradiciones Peruanas"
• Jaime Bayly, controversial writer and former media personality

Contemporary Musicians

• Leuzemia
• Christian Meier
• Pedro Suarez Veriz
• Libido
• Miki Gonzales
• Patricia Loaiza
• Anna Carina Copello
• Julie Freundt
• Gianmarco
• Madre Matilda
• Arena Hash
• Campo de Almas
• Julio Andrade

DJ's

• Jumi Lee
• Nucleus