Where Everyone Lives ๐๏ธ
More than 10 million people call Lima home! ๐ That's almost one-third of Peru's entire population. This makes Lima the most populated city in Peru and the second most populous city in all of the Americas, after Sรฃo Paulo in Brazil ๐ง๐ท. If you visited Lima, you would meet people from many different backgrounds, as the city is a melting pot of cultures from all over the world ๐.
Languages and Yummy Food ๐ฝ๏ธ
In Lima, most people speak Spanish - about 80% of the population uses it as their first language ๐ฃ๏ธ. Some people also speak Quechua, which is an indigenous language of Peru.
Lima is known as the "Gastronomical Capital of the Americas" because of its amazing food! ๐ฒ The most famous dish is ceviche, which is Peru's national dish made from raw fish ๐ marinated in lime juice with salt, garlic, onions, and hot peppers. In 2023, a restaurant in Lima called Central was named the Best Restaurant in the World! โญ
Magic Water Park ๐ฆ
One of the coolest places to visit in Lima is the Magic Water Circuit (Circuito Mรกgico del Agua). This amazing park has colorful fountains ๐ that dance to music ๐ถ and light shows. It's like watching water perform magic tricks! ๐ฉโจ Kids love running through some of the fountains on hot days.
A Famous Musician ๐ค
Lima has many talented musicians! One of them is Greccia, a singer-songwriter who makes Dream pop, urban alternative, and R&B music. In 2024, she released her first album called "devut" and was named Spotify's Radar Andes Artist of the Year ๐. Her music is helping put Lima on the global music map!
A Potato Scientist ๐ฅ๐ฌ
Carlos Ochoa was an important scientist who worked at the International Potato Center in Lima. He was like the "Indiana Jones" of potatoes! โ๏ธ He went on dangerous expeditions high in the Andes Mountains ๐๏ธ to find wild potato species that no one knew about before. Thanks to his work, scientists can now make better potato varieties that can resist diseases and grow in difficult conditions. He helped make sure people around the world can enjoy potatoes!
Fun Fact ๐ค
Here's something surprising: Lima has black vultures called "gallinazos" that help clean up the city! In 2016, the city even put GoPro cameras ๐ท and GPS trackers ๐ก on some of these birds to help find places where people were illegally dumping trash. These vultures are like flying environmental helpers! ๐ฆ
Lima truly is an amazing city with rich history ๐, delicious food ๐, and fascinating people. Maybe someday you can visit the City of Kings yourself! ๐