Peru is a region of great seismic activity, with an average of 200 minor earthquakes each year. According to the Country Studies website, there have been more than 70 significant earthquakes in Peru since 1568, or one every six years.
The main factor behind this seismic activity is the interaction of two tectonic plates along the west coast of South America. Here, the dense Nazca Plate, located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, meets the continental Plate of South America. The Nazca Plate is subducting below the South American Plate, causing an oceanic feature known as the Peru-Chile Trench. This subduction is also responsible for one of the most defining geographic features of western South America: the Andes Mountains.
The Nazca Plate. Safe zones are highlighted with green and white signs that say " Safe Zone in Cases of Earthquakes " ("earthquake" in Spanish is earthquake or earthquake ).
For more tips on earthquake safety while traveling, be sure to read enough information on the subject.
It is also a good idea to register your trip with your embassy before going to Peru.
