Peru, officially known as the Republic of Peru, is a country located in western South America. It occupies a land area of 1,285,216 km² (496,225 sq mi), making it the third largest country in South America and the 19th largest in the world. The nation shares borders with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, and Chile to the south, while its western and southern coasts meet the Pacific Ocean.
The country is characterized by its megadiverse habitats, which range from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west to the peaks of the Andes mountains. To the east lies the tropical Amazon basin rainforest, which contains the Amazon River. Peru has a population exceeding 32 million people, and its capital and largest city is Lima.