Peru, home to the Inca Empire, is 70% mountainous with the Andes forming parallel ranges: Western Cordillera at 4,000 m and Central at 5,000 m, peaking at Huascarán (6,768 m)—Peru's highest. Cordillera Blanca hosts 35 peaks over 6,000 m and 722 glaciers covering 450 km². Formed by Andean uplift 45 million years ago, these include the Colca Canyon (3,400 m deep)—world's second deepest. The Amazon rainforest covers 60% in the east, while the Pacific desert west spans 1,800 km coast. Sacred Valley at 2,800 m cradles Machu Picchu. This topography features 76 protected areas with spectacled bears and 1,800 orchid species.
