The first thing that comes to mind when talking about Peru is Machu Picchu and the delicious experience when trying its gastronomy. Because Peru is the meaning of culture, ancient history and endless flavors served on the table. A tourist destination that many want to visit and that nobody should miss. However, the Inca country encompasses much more: in addition to having the most famous ruins on the planet located in Cusco and its avant-garde dishes, it is also notable for its incredible biodiversity.
Many will wonder what it takes to be considered a biodiverse or megadiverse country? They are all those nations in which there is a diversity of unique plant and animal species. To be considered a megadiverse, flora species must exceed 5000 unique specimens and have marine ecosystems within their borders.
For this reason, through its Travel section, the National Geographic website presented a list of the 17 most biodiverse countries on the planet. There, Peru stands out, mainly for its rugged terrain and its changing weather conditions.
“You can’t talk about Peru without mentioning Machu Picchu or the Nasca lines, but this destination is also famous for its rich and complex biodiversity given the diversity of climates and rugged terrain,” appears on the National Geographic website. “In short, in Peru, there are three distinct regions: the Andes mountains, where native animals like the llama, alpaca, and condor live, the Pacific coast, and the Amazon jungle,” they added in the note.
The 17 countries that make up this list comprise 70% of the world’s recognized flora and fauna species, despite the fact that they occupy less than 10% of the earth’s surface. 50% of South American countries (5) make up this list. And they equal the number of the most biodiverse nations to Asia (5). Africa (3), Oceania (2), and North America (2) also contribute to this select group, with Europe being the only continent without representatives.
This is the complete list of the most biodiverse countries:
1. Australia
2. Brazil
3. China
4. Colombia
5. Ecuador
6. United States
7. Philippines
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Madagascar
11. Malaysia
12. Mexico
13. Papua New Guinea
14. Peru
15. Democratic Republic of the Congo
16. South Africa
17. Venezuela
Sources: National Geographic / Peru Info