San Lorenzo Megaport Project
Encyclopedia
The San Lorenzo Megaport Project is a proposed plan to build a huge air, naval, and terrestrial port on the island of San Lorenzo
in Callao
, Peru
using land reclamation
techniques. It plans to be the largest port and only megaport in Latin America
. The island is strategically located on the middle west coast of South America
where it has easy access to Asia
, North America
, and Oceania
. It also has easy access to the Atlantic by a proposed railway to connect it to the Amazon River
which is only 700 miles away through Pucallpa
. Its plan is to link the world to Latin America through Callao
. It would be linked to the mainland by a proposed four kilometer long underwater tunnel with access for subway, freight trains, and automobiles. A financial center would also be built on the island.
s. From the terrestrial port hundreds of freight trains every day will originate to be transported cross-country to the city of Pucallpa
where they will be shipped via the Amazon River
to the Atlantic. From the port it will go through the tunnel under the ocean and keep going underground for 15 kilometers until it leaves the Lima Metropolitan Area
at around Lurigancho
. From there it will cross the Andes
then into the Amazon
until it reaches Pucallpa
in the Ucayali Region
. From Pucallpa
it will travel up the Ucayali River until it merges with the Amazon River
and will pass by the city of Iquitos
, the nation's fifth largest city. There it will pick up cargo and continue on the largest river in the world to the Atlantic Ocean
.
is located in the middle of South America
at a strategic location for connect to the rest of Latin America
. It would be replacing the Jorge Chavez International Airport
. The Peruvian aviation industry has been historically one of the strongest in Latin America but is currently in a large downwards movement. Investors predict this project would be enough to give a large enough boost to send it back into its former glory. There are currently non-stop flights from all the major cities in the Americas
and from four Europe
an airlines. Many Asia
n airlines such as Japan Airlines
, Singapore Airlines
, and Air China
have had interest in the past to flying to Lima as Peru
is the only country in South America
accessible non-stop from Asia
. The airport would have 3-4 runways depending on how many airlines would be flying to the airport. Developers plan to make the airport building be in the shape of a Nazca figure
.
which is a perfect location to connect with the rest of Latin America
. The water is over 50 meters in depth. It can fit Post-Panamax ships. These ships can carry over 15,000 containers. The port is designed for trans-oceanic voyages. It is 7.4 kilometers long. Under the airport would there be subterranean warehouses to store the cargo. When they are ready to be loaded onto the ships they would be elevated to the port and lighting would rely on fiber-optic technology.
in the area. It is safe to say that the financial center of the island will rival that of Downtown Callao
-to-be. The third part of the tunnel will be the rail section. This part will be the most important part as it will be one of the most important keys in linking the Pacific and Atlantic corridor. The Lima Metro
will also use the rail section when it expands to the airport. They would be lighted using fiber-optic technology. The tunnel will be built using special drilling machines which will probably be manufactured in Peru
.
and naval port
will be located on reclaimed land
. The island itself is not completely flat so this is necessary. The port design requires it as well.
San Lorenzo Island, Peru
San Lorenzo Island is the largest island of Peru. The island is in the Pacific Ocean near the port of Callao and measures .-Access:As of 2011, San Lorenzo is not open to the public...
in Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
, 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....
using land reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
techniques. It plans to be the largest port and only megaport in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. The island is strategically located on the middle west coast of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
where it has easy access to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. It also has easy access to the Atlantic by a proposed railway to connect it to the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
which is only 700 miles away through Pucallpa
Pucallpa
Pucallpa is a city in eastern Peru located on the banks of the Ucayali River, a major tributary of the Amazon River. It is the capital of the Ucayali region, the Coronel Portillo Province and the Calleria District....
. Its plan is to link the world to Latin America through Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
. It would be linked to the mainland by a proposed four kilometer long underwater tunnel with access for subway, freight trains, and automobiles. A financial center would also be built on the island.
Terrestrial Operations/BiOceanic Corridor
Located on the non-reclaimed part of the island will be the terrestrial port. It will be located near the airport. This is where all the parking, transit, buses, subways, micros will be located. Most importantly however, it will be the link between the Pacific and Atlantic oceanOcean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
s. From the terrestrial port hundreds of freight trains every day will originate to be transported cross-country to the city of Pucallpa
Pucallpa
Pucallpa is a city in eastern Peru located on the banks of the Ucayali River, a major tributary of the Amazon River. It is the capital of the Ucayali region, the Coronel Portillo Province and the Calleria District....
where they will be shipped via the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
to the Atlantic. From the port it will go through the tunnel under the ocean and keep going underground for 15 kilometers until it leaves the Lima Metropolitan Area
Lima Metropolitan Area
The Lima Metropolitan Area , is an area formed by the conurbation of the Peruvian cities of Lima and Callao. It is the largest metropolitan area in Peru, the eighth largest in the Americas, and among the thirty largest in the world. The conurbation process started to be evident in the 1980s. The...
at around Lurigancho
Lurigancho
Lurigancho-Chosica is a district of the Lima Province in Peru, located in the valley of the Rímac River which it shares with neighboring Chaclacayo and Ate districts. It was created on January 2, 1857. Its capital is the town of Chosica. The district has a total land area of 236.47 km²...
. From there it will cross the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
then into the Amazon
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
until it reaches Pucallpa
Pucallpa
Pucallpa is a city in eastern Peru located on the banks of the Ucayali River, a major tributary of the Amazon River. It is the capital of the Ucayali region, the Coronel Portillo Province and the Calleria District....
in the Ucayali Region
Ucayali Region
Ucayali is an inland region in Peru. Located in the Amazon rainforest, its name is derived from the Ucayali River. The regional capital is the city of Pucallpa.-Boundaries:...
. From Pucallpa
Pucallpa
Pucallpa is a city in eastern Peru located on the banks of the Ucayali River, a major tributary of the Amazon River. It is the capital of the Ucayali region, the Coronel Portillo Province and the Calleria District....
it will travel up the Ucayali River until it merges with the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and will pass by the city of Iquitos
Iquitos
Iquitos is the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest, with a population of 370,962. It is the capital of Loreto Region and Maynas Province.Located on the Amazon River, it is only above sea level, although it is more than from the mouth of the Amazon at Belém on the Atlantic Ocean...
, the nation's fifth largest city. There it will pick up cargo and continue on the largest river in the world to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Mega Airport
The city of LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
is located in the middle of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
at a strategic location for connect to the rest of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. It would be replacing the Jorge Chavez International Airport
Jorge Chávez International Airport
Jorge Chávez International Airport , known as Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez in Spanish, is Peru's main international and domestic airport. It is located in Callao, 11 kilometers from the Historic Centre of Lima and 17 km from Miraflores. Callao is the port city now fully...
. The Peruvian aviation industry has been historically one of the strongest in Latin America but is currently in a large downwards movement. Investors predict this project would be enough to give a large enough boost to send it back into its former glory. There are currently non-stop flights from all the major cities in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and from four Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an airlines. Many Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n airlines such as Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines
is an airline headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flag carrier of Japan and its main hubs are Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport , as well as Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair International Airport and Osaka's Kansai International Airport...
, Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
, and Air China
Air China
Air China is the flag carrier and one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China. Based in Beijing Capital International Airport, Air China is the world's 10th largest airline by fleet size. The airline ranked behind its main competitors China Southern Airlines and China Eastern...
have had interest in the past to flying to Lima as 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....
is the only country in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
accessible non-stop from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The airport would have 3-4 runways depending on how many airlines would be flying to the airport. Developers plan to make the airport building be in the shape of a Nazca figure
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The high, arid plateau stretches more than between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the Pampas de Jumana about 400 km south of Lima...
.
Mega Naval Port
As with the airport the location of the port is perfect as it is the middle of South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
which is a perfect location to connect with the rest of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. The water is over 50 meters in depth. It can fit Post-Panamax ships. These ships can carry over 15,000 containers. The port is designed for trans-oceanic voyages. It is 7.4 kilometers long. Under the airport would there be subterranean warehouses to store the cargo. When they are ready to be loaded onto the ships they would be elevated to the port and lighting would rely on fiber-optic technology.
Financial/Hotel Center
The island would also have a financial center due to the large amount of commerce occurring on the island. Many of that area would also be airline offices. The area would also have, as with almost any other major airport of the world, many airport hotelsHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
in the area. It is safe to say that the financial center of the island will rival that of Downtown Callao
Callao District
Callao is one of the six districts of the Constitutional Province of Callao in the Callao Region, Peru. It is also the downtown district of the city of Callao.The Chillón River marks the district's northern border with Ventanilla...
The Tunnel
The tunnel will have three parts. One part would serve for inbound traffic. Another other part would serve outbound traffic. They will have sufficient lanes for the estimated traffic to be generated for the megalopolisMegalopolis (city type)
A megalopolis is typically defined as a chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas. The term was used by Oswald Spengler in his 1918 book, The Decline of the West, and Lewis Mumford in his 1938 book, The Culture of Cities, which described it as the first stage in urban overdevelopment and...
-to-be. The third part of the tunnel will be the rail section. This part will be the most important part as it will be one of the most important keys in linking the Pacific and Atlantic corridor. The Lima Metro
Lima Metro
The Lima Metro, regarded by peruvians as Tren Eléctrico is a metropolitan railway currently linking the south of Lima, with the centre of the capital of Peru...
will also use the rail section when it expands to the airport. They would be lighted using fiber-optic technology. The tunnel will be built using special drilling machines which will probably be manufactured 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....
.
Breakwaters
The island-port will not require many breakwaters. The strong southern currents would be blocked by a new breakwater located in the Chorrillos District.Land reclamation
The airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
and naval port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
will be located on reclaimed land
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
. The island itself is not completely flat so this is necessary. The port design requires it as well.
Project cost
The total cost for the project is an estimated $12 billion USD. The Project is planned to begin construction operations in 2020.Environmental Costs
The island of San Lorenzo is home to thousands of sea birds, as well as a large breeding colony of sea lions. It stands in contrast to the sprawling polluted megalopolis of Lima and Callao. The island is a natural resource that could be exploited for tourism.See also
- CallaoCallaoCallao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
- Jorge Chavez International AirportJorge Chávez International AirportJorge Chávez International Airport , known as Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez in Spanish, is Peru's main international and domestic airport. It is located in Callao, 11 kilometers from the Historic Centre of Lima and 17 km from Miraflores. Callao is the port city now fully...
- La Punta DistrictLa PuntaLa Punta is a district of the Constitutional Province of Callao in Peru, and one of the six districts that make up the port city of Callao.It is located in a peninsula in the western part of the province and is almost entirely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, except on its northeastern side, where...
- LimaLimaLima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
- List of Pacific Ports