The Phoenix Regenerates in Peru Quiz

Answer: South

Lima is almost due south of Miami. You will be in control of the plane (and the lives of your passengers) during a flight time of 5 hours, 45 minutes, and your flight will cover 4421 km (2623 mi). As you get more comfortable during your first time in the captain's chair, be sure to look out the window and catch the high-altitude views of Cuba, Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia.

This question was flown into the quiz by Chiroman of Phoenix Rising's Gold Crew as part of the team's Global Tour 2022.

Answer: Chile

The Republic of Peru (República del Perú) lies on South America's central western coast on the Pacific Ocean, where its coastline measures 2,414 km (1,500 mi). It is the 19th largest country in the world by area, and the third largest in the continent after Brazil and Argentina.

The land borders total 7,461 km (4,636 mi). To the north are Ecuador (1,420 km/882 mi) and Colombia (1,800 km/1,118 mi). Brazil lies to the east (2,995 km/1,861 mi), with Bolivia southeast (1,075 km/668 mi).

Chile, with the shortest border (171 km/106 mi), is south of Peru. The two countries have shared a relationship since the times of the 15th-century Incan Empire. Once both countries achieved independence from Spain in the 19th century, relations have fluctuated from peace to wars and subsequent treaties. In 2009 a Peru-Chile Free Trade agreement came into force.

Brazil is a full member of the Mercosur Southern Common Market (1991), a South American trade bloc. The other countries mentioned in this question - Peru, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador - are associated members, while Bolivia is transitioning to full membership.

This question was edged into the quiz by psnz of Phoenix Rising's Gold Crew as they competed in their team Global Tour 2022.

Answer: Mestizo

According to the 2017 census 60% of people identified as mestizo, 22 identified as Quechua, 6% identified as white and 4% identified themselves as black. Nearly 6% belonged to other ethnic groups or did not answer. Mestizo is a term or classification used to refer to a person of a mixed European and indigenous American ancestry. Quechua people are any of the aboriginal people of South America who speak the Quechua languages, predominantly but not exclusively from Peru. There are a small number of another indigenous group called Aymara. Most of the people in this group live in the Andes and Altiplano regions of in northwest Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and eastern Peru.

This question was written by 1nn1, from Phoenix Rising's Gold Crew who are participating in a Global team challenge.

Answer: 3,810 m/12,500 ft

Lake Titicaca lies between two rows of the Andes, 3810 m (12,500 ft) above sea level, in a huge basin (58,000 km²/22,400 sq mi in area) that comprises most of the Altiplano (High Plateau) of the central Andes. The lake runs northwest to southeast for 193 km (120 mi) and is 80 km (50 mi) wide at its widest point. Its average depth is 107 m (351 ft). More than 20 rivers feed into the lake but only one drains it, and then only 5% of excess water is drained by this river called the Rio Desaguadero. The remainder is lost by evaporation due to the strong winds of the dry Altiplano.

This question comes down from the Plateau courtesy of Gold Crew member JAM6430 of Phoenix Rising.

Answer: Canada

The flag of Peru is a vertical triband of red, white, and red bands. The civil flag with the Peruvian coat of arms in the centre is the state flag. The vertical triband is very similar to the Canadian flag, which has the same colour arrangement but with a maple leaf in the middle. The flag dates back to the colours of José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras (known as José de San Martín), who was the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru. The significance of the colours at that time is unknown: however, officially red represents the blood that was spilled during the Peruvian war of independence, and white represents purity and peace. Flag day is 7 June, which is the anniversary of the Battle of Arica, a key battle in the independence of Peru.

This question was written by 1nn1, Phoenix Rising's amateur vexillologist.

Answer: Mario Vargas Llosa

Born in Arequipa, Peru in 1936, Mario Vargas Llosa has established a reputation as one of the greatest Latin American writers, culminating in being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2010 with a citation reading "for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat." From his early works including "The Time of the Hero" (1963) and "The Green House" (1965), he became known for incisive depiction of conflicts of ideas writ large and small, usually meshing his own experiences within an historical narrative. In addition to the Nobel Prize, he has received a large number of international literary awards and has also served as a member of the Royal Academy of Spain, that regulates the Spanish language.

Politically aware and active, he originally embraced Marxism and the progress of Fidel Castro in Cuba. He became disillusioned with this ideology over time and moved towards civil freedoms and personal liberty. In 1987 Vargas Llosa was one of the founders of Movimiento Libertad which was dedicated to free market solutions rather than central control over an economy suffering hyper-inflation. With the support of governments including the USA, he ran for president in 1990 as the leader of a coalition of centre-right groups. He was eventually defeated by Alberto Fujimori and subsequently withdrew from the political centre stage.

This question was written in a narrative style by Phoenix Rising member and Gold Team world tour 2022 participant MikeMaster99.

Answer: armadillo

A member of the lute family, looking a bit like an ukulele, the charango is one of the iconic instruments of Andean music together with the siku, or panpipe, and the quena, a notched-end flute. This diminutive instrument is believed to be a direct descendant of the vihuela, an ancestor of the modern classical guitar brought to South America by the Spanish in the 16th century. The charango was developed by the native peoples of the Altiplano, probably in the early 18th century, and was traditionally made with the dried shell of an armadillo - the only shelled mammal, found in most parts of South America. Modern charangos, however, are made of wood, with a bowl-like back that imitates an armadillo shell. The charango has ten strings (five pairs), and comes in a wide variety of sizes and styles.

The song "El Condor Pasa/If I Could" by Simon and Garfunkel (1970), a cover of a well-known Peruvian orchestral piece, is based on an instrumental track by folk ensemble Los Incas where the charango is featured prominently.

This question was gently strummed by LadyNym of Phoenix Rising's Gold Crew for the team's 2022 Global Tour.

Answer: Komodo dragon

Komodo dragons are native to Indonesia, and this largest extant lizard species is only found in the wild on islands of that country.

The Andean cock-of-the-rock, also called the tunki, is native to the Andean forests and is widely considered to be Peru's national bird. A male Andean cock-of-the-rock proudly displays his vivid scarlet or orange plumage. Peru's national bird is one of over 1,800 species of birds that can be seen in this ornithophile's dream of a country. Jaguars and llamas are also common Peruvian animals. The Manu Biosphere Reserve affords fortunate opportunities to witness jaguars amidst its riverbanks, and llamas (and alpacas) have been important animals in Peruvian culture for millennia.

There are more than 50 wildlife preserves that are protected in the climactically diverse country of Peru, hosting hundreds of different species of mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects.

This question was flown in, clawed over, and spat out by Phoenix Rising Gold Crew member Rizeeve.

Answer: Chinese

An outstanding example of fusion cuisine, chifa fuses traditional Peruvian and Chinese (mainly Cantonese) ingredients and techniques. The name is believed to have derived from a Mandarin phrase meaning "to eat rice", or from the Cantonese for "let's eat". Chinese immigrants, mostly from the southern province of Guangdong (Canton), came to Peru in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, settling mainly in Lima and on the coast. Though many authentic ingredients they were only available in limited quantities, or had to be imported, these Chinese immigrants began to supplement them with locally available foods. The first chifa restaurants were opened in Lima in the 1920, and were a big hit with the local population; now thousands of them can be found throughout the country, and also outside Peru.

Among the most popular chifa dishes there are "arroz chaufa" (fried rice with eggs and meat) and "lomo saltado" (steak strips stir-fried with onions, tomatoes and peppers, and served with rice and French fries). Rice, soy sauce, ginger, and the stir-frying technique - now considered essential components of Peruvian cooking - were all introduced by Chinese immigrants. On the other hand, chifa cooks have adopted local ingredients, especially fish, seafood, or meats such as guinea pig or paca (another large native rodent) - as well as the ever-present "ají amarillo" (yellow chili pepper) sauce.

This question was concocted by LadyNym, who loves Peruvian food and would not mind having some during Phoenix Rising's 2022 Global Tour.

Answer: Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo

Michael Bond's "A Bear Called Paddington" (1958) was the first of more than 20 books. The anthropomorphised Paddington proved a favourite in children's literature, with his idiosyncratic ways and tendency to wind up in trouble. Television adaptations and a film series followed.

Aunt Lucy was Paddington's guardian and sent him to London when she had to move to a "Home for Retired Bears" in Lima, Peru. Paddington arrived with her note attached to his coat, reading: "Please look after this bear. Thank you." The Brown family found him at London's Paddington Station, and subsequently adopted him. According to the story, Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo rescued Paddington after the demise of his parents and were not biological relatives. Pastuzo is a wealthy globe-trotter, named after a boxer by the explorer Montgomery Clyde.

Though originally Bond had wanted Paddington to come from "darkest Africa", he was told by his agent that no bears lived in Africa, so he settled for Peru, where the only bear species native of South America - the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) - can be found.

Complete with marmalade sandwiches, this sticky question was written by psnz of Phoenix Rising's Gold Crew as they competed in their team Global Tour 2022.