| The Port of Callao is the biggest, most important port in Peru. Part of the Lima metropolis and Lima's harbor, it is located just west of Lima on the Pacific Coast. Having one of the best natural harbors in South America, the Port of Callao is protected by a long promontory and the offshore island, San Lorenzo. Port History The Port of Callao was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1537, and it was Spain's most important port for the shipment of gold and silver from the Inca Empire and goods from Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. Its riches also made it a frequent target of pirates and Spain's rivals in Europe, like Sir Francis Drake in 1578. In 1746, a tsunami destroyed the city. But it was soon rebuilt, and the Real Felipe fortress was constructed. The Port of Callao survived several Spanish sieges during Peru's wars of independence. Simon Bolivar landed at Callao in 1823. Then in 1825, the Spanish surrendered at the Port of Callao. South America's first railroad connected Callao and Lima in 1851. A serious earthquake forced rebuilding of the port and the city in 1940. Port Commerce La Empresa Nacional de Puertos ENAPU S.A. administers and develops the Port of Callao under state ownership. The Port of Callao covers over 43 hectares and contains over 3.6 kilometers of moorings at a depth of about 11 meters. The port contains almost 26.5 hectares of storage space, including 2.1 hectares of roofed area and 24.3 hectares for containers, and has a capacity for storing 25.8 thousand metric tons of grain. In 2007, over 20.7 million metric tons of cargo passed through the Port of Callao, with 16.4 million of those through the Callao terminal. The Port of Callao handled 1.2 million TEUs of containerized cargo, one million of those handled through the Callao Terminal. The Port of Callao's Terminal of Paita contains a warehouse of 280 square meters and handling areas of 8.6 thousand square meters with a capacity for handling 690 TEUs of containerized cargo. Its North and South Courtyards contain over 23 thousand square meters for handling both loaded and empty containers. In 2003, the Port Terminal of Paita handled almost 771 thousand metric tons in 68.8 thousand TEUs of containerized cargo. The Port of Callao's Salaverry Port Terminal Facilities include two jetties for direct mooring of 455 meters of total length and draft of 9-10 meters. Two general warehouses and a sugar warehouse cover 11.6 thousand square meters. Open areas of 45 thousand square meters handle general cargo, containers, and alcohol tanks. In 2003, the Salaverry Terminal handled 961 thousand metric tons of cargo including 100 TEUs of containerized cargo. The General San Martin Port Terminal Facilities contain a jetty for direct mooring of 700 meters This terminal covers over 9 thousand square meters of warehouse with capacity to handle 30 thousand tons of cargo. Its eight zones cover almost 80 thousand square meters and have a capacity to handle 161 thousand tons of general merchandise, bulk salt, and containers. In 2003, the General San Martin Terminal handled over a million metric tons of cargo. The Ilo Port Terminal Facility contains an anti-seismic jetty for direct moorings with a total length of 630 meters and capacity to handle 100 thousand deadweight tons. The Ilo facility includes a warehouse covering 1.6 thousand square meters. Six open areas cover 40.5 thousand square meters and have a combined capacity for over 96 thousand metric tons of cargo including general merchandise, roll-on/roll-of cargo and containers, vehicles, grain, and some hazardous cargo. Cruising and Travel The Port of Callao is Lima's center for cruise passengers. While Callao does not contain tourist attractions, the city of Lima is a colorful, historic, and cosmopolitan attracting visitors from arou |
