Department of Lima Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Department of Lima

Department

Infiernillo viaduct in Huarochirí

Flag

Seal

Location of the Department of Lima in Peru

Country

Peru

Subdivisions

9 provinces and 171 districts

Capital

Lima (de jure)
Huacho (de facto seat of the Regional Government of Lima-Provinces)

Area

• Total

32,129.31 km² (12,405.20 sq mi)

Highest elevation

5,654 m (18,550 ft)

Lowest elevation

0 m (0 ft)

Population

(2017)

• Total

864,853

• Density

26.917883/km² (69.71700/sq mi)

UBIGEO

Dialing code

ISO 3166 code

PE-LIM

Principal resources

N/A

Poverty rate

N/A

Percentage of Peru's GDP

N/A

Website

www.regionlima.gob.pe

The Department of Lima (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlima]) is a region located on the central coast of Peru. It is like a large state or administrative area. The main city for its regional government is Huacho.

You might know Lima, the capital city of Peru. That city is in Lima Province. This province is separate from the Department of Lima, even though they are close. It has its own government and is not managed by the Department of Lima's regional government.

Exploring Lima's Geography
Cool Places to Visit
A Glimpse into Lima's Past
How Lima is Organized
More Places to See
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Lima's Geography

The Department of Lima is surrounded by other regions of Peru. To the north, it borders Ancash. To the east, you'll find Huánuco, Pasco, and Junín. In the southeast, it's next to Huancavelica, and to the south, Ica. On its western side are the Pacific Ocean and Lima Province.

This department has both coastal areas and Andean mountain zones. It has many different natural environments. These range from the warm Coast, or Chala, which is near sea level, all the way up to the cold Janka or Mountain range (Spanish: Cordillera), which is over 4,800 meters high. The most common areas are the Yunga (500 to 2,300 meters above sea level) and Quechua (2,300 to 3,500 meters).

Cool Places to Visit

Lachay National Reserve

Lachay National Reserve

The Lachay National Reserve is a special place in the Huaura province. It's a unique eco-system that gets its water from mist. This reserve is home to many wild plants and animals. It's located in the northern part of the department.

Huacho: The Regional Capital

Huacho is the capital city of the Lima Region. It's the biggest city in the department, not counting Lima city itself. Lima city is managed by its own special government. Huacho is located in a wide bay and has a nice, dry climate.

Near Huacho, you'll find the Huaura River. Farmers here grow crops like rice, cotton, sugar cane, and various fruits and grains. This has led to important factories that make cotton products, soap, and oil.

Lunahuaná: Adventure Sports Hub

Lunahuaná District is in the Cañete Province. It's about 38 km (24 mi) south of the city of San Vicente de Cañete. The ancient Incahuasi Archeological complex is located here. Lunahuaná has a dry climate and lots of sunshine most of the year.

Recently, Lunahuaná has become a popular spot for adventure sports. You can try Canotaje (Whitewater Rafting) on the Cañete River, which has exciting rapids up to level 4. You can also go Parapente (paragliding) and Ala Delta (hang gliding). The main town in this area is also called Lunahuaná.

A Glimpse into Lima's Past

The Department of Lima has a very long history. Scientists have found signs of early people here from over 6,500 years ago. These were hunters and fishermen who used harpoons. Their remains were found in places like Chivateros, near the Chillón River. Over time, these people learned to use nets, hooks, and started farming, making pottery, and weaving.

People living on the coast built temples and homes in the valleys and on the lomas (hills). These grew into large ceremonial centers. Some examples include Huacoy on the Chillón River, Garagay and La Florida on the Rímac River, and Manchay on the Lurín River. There were also many other sites in valleys to the north and south, like Chancay and Supe. Some temples were beautifully decorated with figures made from clay.

Ancient stone tools, called projectile points, were found at Ancón. This site is about 40 kilometers northeast of Lima, in the Chillón River Valley. The 5,000-year-old ruins known as El Paraíso are also in this area. One temple there is believed to be around 5,000 years old.

In 2006, a team of archeological researchers made an exciting discovery at Buena Vista. This site is in the Chillón River valley, a few kilometers north of modern-day Lima. They found a 4,200-year-old observatory built by an early Andean civilization. This observatory was on top of a 10-meter pyramidal mound. It had special features for watching the sun during the solstices. They also found a unique three-dimensional sculpture and detailed carvings from that time. This discovery showed that complex civilizations developed in this area much earlier than thought.

The Lima culture (from 100 A.D. to 650 A.D.) grew in this region. They were known for their buildings made of painted adobe bricks. Later, the Huari conquered the area. This led to new styles of pottery. As the population grew, their culture changed. After the Huari power declined, new local cultures appeared. The Chancay people are very well-known. They built large cities and produced many textiles and pottery items.

Around the mid-15th century, the Incas arrived from their mountain base. They conquered and took over the local cultures. They also used important sites like Pachacamac, turning it into a center for their administration.