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From: NASA
Lima Metropolitan Area, Peru Located on the broad alluvial fan of the Rimac River, Lima is the
capital of Peru and the only megacity (7.7 million inhabitants in 2002) located on the western
coastline of South America. The city was established by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and became an
important colonial port, linking silver mines of the Altiplano of the high Andes Mountains with
the burgeoning Spanish empire. During the mid-20th century, significant numbers of people
relocated from rural mountain communities into the Lima metropolitan area. Problems now facing
the metropolitan region include developing adequate water resources, controlling pollution, and
preparing for natural hazards such as earthquakes and landslides.
This astronaut photograph depicts the wealthier San Isidro and Miraflores quarters of Lima. This
part of the metropolitan area is characterized by numerous vegetated parks, golf courses (such as
the Lima Golf Course—approximately 1 km long), and greenbelts interspersed with residential and
commercial areas. The higher proportion of dark asphalt in the street grid of the residential and
commercial areas lends a purple coloration to the left portion of the astronaut photograph
(downtown Lima is to the north). Regions with fewer built materials and vegetation are light tan.
Wave patterns are visible approaching beaches, popular tourist destinations, in the lower half of
the image.