Due to its unique and varied range of ecosystems, Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. A small band of arid lowlands line the Pacific coast before the altitude quickly soars to the high peaks of the Andes, home to glacial lakes, tropical montane forests, and wind-swept plateaus. Continuing to the east, the altitude plunges back down into the terra firme and flooded forests of the Amazon basin, where dense green foliage blankets the horizon as far as the eye can see. For millennia, Peru’s rich natural resources have supported human communities and an incredible diversity of wildlife found nowhere else on the planet.