Department of Loreto

Loreto
Departamento de Loreto (Spanish)
Luritu suyu (Kichwa)
From top to bottom and from left to right: Tree house in the dense vegetation for Ecotourism, Bora community dance, Jaguar at Quistococha Zoo, Iquitos Malecón Tarapacá boulevard, Tourist cruise in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Cumpanamá Petroglyph, Sapi Sapi lagoon, Hot springs in the "Aguas Calientes" reserved area on the outskirts of Contamana, Amazon Ferry, The Marañón and Ucayali rivers meet nominally giving birth to the Amazon River in the district of Nauta.
Flag of Loreto
Official seal of Loreto
Location of the Department of Loreto in Peru
Location of the Department of Loreto in Peru
Coordinates: 4°00′S 74°19′W / 4.0°S 74.32°W / -4.0; -74.32
CountryPeru
Subdivisions8 provinces and 53 districts
Established1853
CapitalIquitos
Government
 • GovernorJorge René Chávez Silvano
(2023–2026)
Area
 • Total
368,851.95 km2 (142,414.53 sq mi)
Highest elevation
220 m (720 ft)
Lowest elevation
70 m (230 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
1,027,559
 • Density2.8/km2 (7.2/sq mi)
DemonymLoretan
UBIGEO
16
Dialing code065
ISO 3166 codePE-LOR
Principal resourcesRice, cassava, wood, fruit trees, rubber and cebu cattle
Poverty rate24.9%
Percentage of Peru's GDP2.51%
Websitewww.regionloreto.gob.pe
Map
Interactive Map of the 8 Provinces:
  1. MAYNAS_
  2. ALTO AMAZONAS_
  3. LORETO-NAUTA_
  4. REQUENA_
  5. UCAYALI_
  6. MARISCAL RAMÓN CASTILLA_
  7. DATEM DEL MARAÑÓN_
  8. PUTUMAYO_

Loreto (Spanish pronunciation: [loˈɾeto]) is Peru's northernmost department and region. Covering almost one-third of Peru's territory, Loreto is by far the nation's largest department, slightly larger than Japan; it is also one of the most sparsely populated regions due to its remote location in the Amazon Rainforest. Its capital is Iquitos.