Landforms of Peru

The Altiplano is a high plateau region in west-central South America where the Andes are the widest. The bulk of the Altiplano-Puna plateau lies in Bolivia, its northern parts lie in Peru, and its southern parts lie in Chile and Argentina. The Altiplano Basin is a sedimentary basin located on the plateau.

The Andean Volcanic Belt, along the South American coast, is segmented into four main volcanic zones. These volcanoes, along the backbone of the Andes, are part of the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean basin where earthquakes and eruptions occur due to the collision of tectonic plates.

The city of Ica lies along the desert coast of southern Peru. Huacachina is a village built around a small desert lagoon. Dunes surround this natural oasis in what is often called the "Ica Desert." Ica, as well as Huacachina, is famous for its Pisco.

The Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru, known for the soaring Andean Condors that can be seen throughout the year. The Colca Valley is a colorful Andean valley with pre-Inca roots and astounding scenic beauty.

The Cordillera Blanca is a mountain range in Peru that is part of the larger Andes mountain system. It is located in the north-central part of the Cordillera Occidental (the westernmost part of the Peruvian Andes) and is the world's highest tropical mountain range.

The Cordillera de Vilcabamba is a small mountain range located within the Cordillera Central of the Peruvian Andes in the Cusco region of Peru. The range extends northwestward from the city of Cusco and contains Machu Pichu.

Cordillera del Cóndor is a mountain range in the eastern Andes that is shared by and part of the international border between Ecuador and Peru. El Cóndor National Park is located in Ecuador, bordering the Santiago-Comaina protected area of Peru.

The Cordillera Huayhuash is a mountain range within the Peruvian Andes. The range is a compact but spectacular cluster of summits comprising dozens of snowy peaks, considered by many adventure and nature lovers as one of the most spectacular trekking circuits in the Andes.

The Cordillera Negra is part of the Cordillera Occidental, one of three ranges in the Peruvian Andes system of west-central Peru. The range has rocky peaks with very little winter snowfall. The gullies of the range are gloomy, dark, and mostly dry.