Chala
Encyclopedia
The Chala or "Coast" is one of the eight natural regions in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

. It is formed by all the western lands that arise from sea level up to the height of 500 meters.

In this region, the flora includes vegetation that grows near the rivers, like the carob tree, the palo verde
Parkinsonia aculeata
Parkinsonia aculeata is a species of perennial flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include palo verde, Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia, Jerusalem thorn, and jelly bean tree.-Etymology:...

, salty grama grass
Grama Salada (Distichlis spicata)
Distichlis spicata is a species of grass known by several common names, including seashore saltgrass, inland saltgrass, and desert saltgrass. This grass is native to the Americas, where it is widespread...

, manglar or mangrove tree
Rhizophora mangle
Rhizophora mangle, known as the red mangrove, is distributed in estuarine ecosystems throughout the tropics. Its viviparous "seeds," in actuality called propagules, become fully mature plants before dropping off the parent tree...

, the carrizo or giant reed
Arundo donax
Arundo donax, Giant Cane, is a tall perennial cane growing in damp soils, either fresh or moderately saline. Other common names include Carrizo, Arundo, Spanish cane, Wild cane, and Giant reed....

 and the Caña brava (ditch reed)
Gynerium sagittatum
Gynerium sagittatum, known locally by various common names, is a tall grass that grows up to five meters long. It is a very vigorous species that grows into a considerably dense mass of vegetation. It is harvested as a semi-crop in some localities to be distributed commercially, mainly in Latin...

; and plants that grow in the hills, such as the Amancay or Peruvian daffodil
Amancae (Hymenocallis amancaes)
The Flower of Amancae is endemic herbaceous plant species of the coastal hills of Peru and belongs to the family of the Amaryllidaceae....

 (Hymenocallis
Hymenocallis
Hymenocallis is a genus of plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. It contains more than 60 species native to tropical and subtropical America. Hymenocallis are bulbous perennial herbs. The flowers have their stamens united to a characteristic corona...

 amancaes
), the wild tomato, the Mito or Peruvian papaya (Vasconcellea candicans), and the divi-divi
Divi-divi
Caesalpinia coriaria is a leguminous tree or large shrub native to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Common names include Divi-divi, Cascalote, Guaracabuya, Guatapana, Nacascol, and Watapana .- Description :C...

 (Cæsalpinia coriaria).

The coastal fauna of the Chala includes sea lions
South American Sea Lion
The South American sea lion , also called the southern sea lion and the Patagonian sea lion, is a sea lion found on the Chilean, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Argentine and Southern Brazilian coasts. It is the only member of the genus Otaria...

, the anchovy
Peruvian anchoveta
The Peruvian anchoveta is a fish of the anchovy family, Engraulidae.Anchoveta are pelagic fish in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, and are regularly caught on the coasts of Peru, and Chile. They live for up to 4 years, reaching 20 cm, with recruitment occurring after only about 6 months when...

 and several sea birds.

Overview

Andean Continental Divide
Westside Eastside
Chala, dry coast Lowland tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...

 or Selva baja
Omagua
Omagua or Low Jungle is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru. It is located between 80 and 400 m above sea level in the Amazon rainforest. In this region, there are a lot of rivers that create meanders, swamps and lagoons....

Maritime Yungas Highland tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...

 or Selva alta
Rupa-Rupa
Rupa-Rupa or High Jungle is one of the eight natural regions of Peru. It is located between 400 and 1,000 m above the sea level. This region has lots of narrow and long valleys and fluvial mountain trails...

Maritime Yungas Subtropical cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...

 or Fluvial Yungas
Quechua
Quechua (Geography)
Quechua is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru and is between 2,300 and 3,500 m above sea level. It is composed of big valleys divided by rivers fed by estival rains.Its flora includes Andean alder, gongapa, and arracacha...

 - Montane valleys
Quechua
Quechua (Geography)
Quechua is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru and is between 2,300 and 3,500 m above sea level. It is composed of big valleys divided by rivers fed by estival rains.Its flora includes Andean alder, gongapa, and arracacha...

 - Montane valleys
Tree line  Tree line - about 3,500 m
Suni
Suni (Geography)
Suni or Jalca is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru. It is located in the Andes at an altitude between 3,500 and 4,100 metres above sea level...

, scrubs and agriculture
Suni
Suni (Geography)
Suni or Jalca is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru. It is located in the Andes at an altitude between 3,500 and 4,100 metres above sea level...

, scrubs and agriculture


Mountain Top:
  • Mountain passes - 4,100 m
  • Puna grassland
    Puna grassland
    The Puna grassland ecoregion, of the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, is found in the central Andes Mountains of South America. It is considered one of the eight Natural Regions in Peru, but extends south as far as northern Argentina and Chile....

  • Andean-alpine desert
  • Snow line
    Snow line
    The climatic snow line is the point above which snow and ice cover the ground throughout the year. The actual snow line may seasonally be significantly lower....

     - about 5,000 m
  • Janca
    Janca
    Janca is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru . It is located in the frozen heights where the condor lives.The fauna in this region is limited because of the very cold weather...

    - Rocks, Snow and Ice
  • Peak
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